Ronnie Verrell facts for kids

Ronald Thomas Verrell (born February 21, 1926 – died February 22, 2002) was a famous English jazz drummer. He played in two of the United Kingdom's most well-known big bands. These were the Ted Heath Orchestra and the Syd Lawrence Orchestra.

Ronnie also worked a lot in television. He was a drummer for the Jack Parnell's ATV Orchestra. He also played on Sunday Night at the London Palladium. Many people know him as the drummer for Animal on The Muppet Show. He was also a "Skinnerette" on The Frank Skinner Show. People called him "Britain's best-known big band drummer for half a century."

Ronnie's Early Life and Music Journey

Ronnie Verrell was born in Rochester, Kent, England, on February 21, 1926. At first, he wasn't very interested in music. But that changed in 1938 when he saw the Benny Goodman Quartet. They were performing in a movie called Hollywood Hotel.

Ronnie was so amazed by the drumming that he watched the movie twice! He decided he wanted to be a drummer. He taught himself how to play after only one lesson.

Starting Out as a Musician

In 1940, when he was 14, World War II started. Ronnie was sent away for safety to Porthcawl in South Wales. There, he started playing drums with local bands. These were his first public performances.

He came back to Kent in 1943. He then played professionally with the Claude Giddins band. After that, he was asked to work as a Bevin Boy in the coal mines. This was part of the war effort.

Playing in Famous Big Bands

In the mid-1940s, Ronnie started playing with other musicians. These included Scottish saxophonist Tommy Whittle and Belgian trumpeter Johnny Claes. From 1947 to 1951, he played with several big bands. These included bands led by Carl Barriteau and Cyril Stapleton.

Joining the Ted Heath Orchestra

In September 1951, Ronnie joined the Ted Heath Orchestra. He stayed with this band until Ted Heath retired in 1964. At that time, Heath's band was the top British big band.

They played many concerts, including Sunday-night swing shows. These shows were held at the famous London Palladium. In 1956, they toured America. They were the first British big band to become popular in the US. Ronnie played on many of their hit songs. These included "The Champ" and "Hot Toddy". One of his most famous drum solos was in "Hawaiian War Chant".

Session Work and Television

After leaving Heath's band, Ronnie became a session musician. This means he played drums for many different popular artists. He played with stars like Tony Bennett, Tom Jones, and Shirley Bassey.

Ronnie also joined Jack Parnell's house band at ATV. He played with them for ten years. In 1980, Ronnie joined Syd Lawrence's band. He played with them for almost 20 years.

Ronnie Verrell on Television

Ronnie was also a star on television shows. He played drums for Animal, the wild puppet drummer on The Muppet Show.

One time, Ronnie's hero, American drummer Buddy Rich, was a guest on the show. Ronnie, as Animal, had a drumming battle with Buddy Rich! Animal won by smashing a snare drum over Rich's head.

Later Years and Final Performances

In the mid-1990s, Ronnie started his own band. It was a quintet, which means it had five musicians. He based it on Benny Goodman's band.

A few years later, Ronnie was in a serious road accident. He couldn't perform for almost a year. But after he got better, he kept playing with Lawrence's band. In 2000, Ronnie toured with an all-star band called Best of British. His drum solos were so good that people gave him standing ovations. His very last show was on The Frank Skinner Show in 2001.

Ronnie Verrell's Legacy

Ronnie Verrell passed away on February 22, 2002, in Kingston-upon-Thames, England. This was just one day after his 76th birthday. He had a chest infection after an operation. The operation was to fix a crushed bone in his back from a fall.

Ronnie was married three times and had three daughters: Sherry, Faye, and Lara. He also had three grandchildren. People remembered Ronnie as a "driving band drummer" and an "exciting soloist." He was known for his amazing skill and exciting showmanship.