Norman Sage on Saxophone

Norman Sage

   

 It’s with great sadness to write the passing of the Bands oldest member Norman Sage, at the age of 86 passed away in the early hours Saturday 14th April 2007.

Norman was a much loved and respected member of the Band a gentleman with a tremendous talent and passion for music. Our prayers and thoughts at this sad time are with his wife Margaret and family.

 

“Despite James' jocular remarks concerning the ages of some of the members of his band, at 86 this year I am in fact the oldest member of the band and my musical history is a long one…

After winning a Cinema talent competition in 1933 with two school friends on piano and guitar, I played lead alto-sax and clarinet with various bands in the local North London dance band scene. Gravitating to the West End, on the way playing with Peter Amore’s Band at the Tuffnell Park Palais and switching to tenor sax, my first full-time profes­sional job was with Ivor Kirchin’s band at the Paramount, Tot­tenham Court Road in 1939.

 

I then went freelance, playing with many bands in London’s dance halls and hotels etc., working for among others, Oscar Rabin, Harry Roy, and a young Geoff Love.

 

1943-1946. I was invited into the R.A.F. to help win the war, and found my way into No 1 Bomber Command Band, being subsequently posted to various other units to initiate and in­stall other dance bands. During this time, I was able to play in the resident house band at the Queensbury All-Services Club (The London Pavilion), Leicester Square, during the time that Glenn Miller’s Army Air Force Band played their concerts, re­cordings and broadcasts prior to their move to Bedford.

 

1946-1953. After de-mob, I took over the band at the Muswell Hill Palais in North London opened by the Oscar Rabin organisation.

I played with the George Evans 10 Saxophone Band for a while, but he took a residency at The Newcastle Galleries. Then formed a big-band based at Stoke Newington Town Hall

 

1953-1964. Moved to Potters Bar and then to Northants. Played with, and took over, Arthur Roat’s Hertfordshire-based band doing the Society, Hunt Ball and Dinner-dance circuit, and a residency at a well known out of town dance hall, The Spot, near St Albans

 

1964-1984. Resident band at the Water Splash Hotel near St Albans for 12 years, and The Comet Hotel at Hatfield for 8 years. Also MD of a well-known rehearsal band at The Green Dragon Borehamwood and for the Northampton M.U. Re­hearsal band during this time.

 

1984-1994. Played on the Northampton Club Circuit for a while and was M.D. for the Mid Herts. Jazz Orchestra during this time then joined the Johnny Harris Band for 10 years. Resigned to go free-lance and now enjoy playing for dance, Jazz and big bands as required. I joined James’s band a cou­ple of years ago.

 

I am very lucky; music has never stopped for me”.

  Norman Sage                                                

                                                                                                                              

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 

 Brian Peploe on Saxophone (Baritone)

 

Brian Peploe
 

Brian plays the Baritone Saxophone

 

 “I started my musical career as a chorister at St Michael’s Church in Northamp­ton, my home town. This led to me taking piano lessons with the choirmaster, Brian Hall, and after a while, trumpet lessons with Harold Coleman. These lasted for a year before I decided to switch to alto saxo­phone. Eventually I did several stints with local dance bands and ended up running my own sextet for about ten years.

 Brian's Saxophone

At about this time my business career took off and the music had to be put on hold. In 1992 along came the recession and I found myself in a position to re-activate my musical career. I am now involved in various musical activities again and have played in The James Goff Big Band since 1994”.

 

Brian Peploe

Brian's Saxophone                                                                      

  

 

 
 

 

 Dave Cox


Dave Cox

 

 

 “As a teenage boy I sang in a choir and had piano and organ lessons with the local church organist, but my brief musical training ended when I left school. I was very keen on big band music, especially Benny Goodman, Count Basie and Nelson Riddle. My career was in electric power engineering.

 

In my thirties I bought a 2 manual electronic organ and added a full pedal board so that I could play entertainment and classical music. This eventually deteriorated and produced strange noises and even picked up the police radio messages. My wife decided that a piano would be preferable so the organ had to go.

 

As the prospect of early retirement approached, I wanted to take up a hobby that would involve music and other people. I saw a clarinet for sale at the local second-hand shop in Dunstable, and decided to buy it, have lessons and work through the grades. I was able to practise in my lodgings whilst working away from home. The clarinet was soon joined by alto and tenor saxophones and I joined the South Beds Concert Band in 1997. I became their secretary and helped to organise their concerts.

 

I became a regular follower of the James Goff Big Band and started to attend the rehearsals, hoping to develop my musical ability. The late John Greenwell (the former secretary who used to operate the Pennsylvania 6-5000 bell) gave me an insight into the organisation. Eventually one dark and stormy night, when many members were unable to make it to the rehearsal, James gave me the chance to have a blow with the band, flanked by Norman, Colin and Brian, who gave me friendly encouragement.  

 

I have recently taken over arranging the band bookings and hope to find some venues for next year.”

Dave Cox

 

                                                                                        

 


 

Peter Hopkins

Peter Hopkins

 

Peter Hartley

Peter Hartley

 

Colin Bell

 

Colin Bell

 

Peter Barber

Peter Barber

 

 

John Shelley

John Shelley

 

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