Brian Lemon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brian Lemon
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| Birth name | Brian Lemon |
| Born | 11 February 1937 Nottingham, UK |
| Died | 11 October 2014 (aged 77) Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1956-2005 |
Brian Lemon was a very talented British jazz musician. He was famous for playing the piano and arranging music. He lived from 1937 to 2014.
Contents
About Brian Lemon's Life
Brian Lemon was born in Nottingham, UK. After finishing school in the 1950s, he started playing music professionally. He performed at places like Nottingham's Palais de Danse.
Starting His Music Career
When he was 19, Brian moved to London in 1956. He joined a music group led by Freddy Randall. After that, he worked with many other famous musicians. These included George Chisholm and Kenny Baker.
Playing with Jazz Legends
Over the years, Brian Lemon played with many jazz stars. Some of these included Benny Goodman, Charlie Watts, and Milt Jackson. From 1961 to 1963, he even had his own music group. They played at a club in London called 'The Establishment'.
Recording and Radio Work
Brian also led an octet, which is a group of eight musicians. They played songs by Billy Strayhorn. Brian was a regular musician for recordings at the BBC's Maida Vale studios. His music was often played on BBC Radio 1's Sounds of Jazz show.
Later Years and Retirement
From 1994, Brian Lemon recorded 27 albums for a company called Zephyr. He was very good at playing along with other musicians. He also knew a lot about classic American songs. Brian stopped playing music around 2005. This was because he developed severe osteoarthritis in his hands.
Brian Lemon's Recordings
Brian Lemon recorded many albums throughout his career. Sometimes he led the music group, and sometimes he played as a sideman. A sideman is a musician who plays with a band but is not the main leader.
Albums as a Leader
Here are some of the albums where Brian Lemon was the main leader:
- Our Kind of Music (1970)
- Over the Rainbow (1995) – with Derek Watkins
- A Beautiful Friendship (1995) – with Roy Williams
- My Shining Hour (1999–2000)
Albums as a Sideman
Brian also played on albums for other musicians:
- 1989: Cookin'
- 1990: Charly Antolini Meets Dick Morrissey
- 1993: The Great British Jazz Band
