Chris Barber OBE, jazz legend, and former racing driver and entrant, died on 2 March, less than seven weeks before his 91st birthday. His many friends in the motor-racing and classic car worlds will be saddened by his passing; but for jazz it is the end of an era.
Born Donald Christopher Barber on 17 April 1930, he was a consummate trombonist and bass player, and led Britain’s best-known, and best-loved, jazz band for more than half a century. In fact his music career lasted 70 years, from the formation of his first group in 1949 until he announced his retirement in 2019.
He was the single biggest force in the British revival of jazz after the Second World War, and at the height of his popularity was able to fill the Royal Festival Hall.
He was also responsible for introducing to British audiences top American jazz and blues artists. Having first played in the pure New Orleans traditional idiom he broadened his band’s horizons over the years to encompass rhythm and blues, skiffle, jazz-rock and big band jazz, and stars of the rock and pop worlds were happy to perform with him.
The Chris Barber Band performs at Brands Hatch after the Race of Champions on 13 March 1965
