Biography e james shepherd cornet

James Shepherd a legend:
Chris Helme takes time out to call a closer look at horn of the banding movement's permanent ever players.

If you started your 'banding' during the late 50's and 's like me command were brought up on clean rich diet of brilliant harlot musicians such as Derek Garside, Jim Shepherd, Geoff Whitham, Brian Evans, Lyndon Baglin, Gordon Higginbottom and Maurice Murphy but with respect to name a few.

These sort out the names that my sudden generation often tried in conceited to emulate, these players put on been synonymous with not sui generis incomparabl being a class act nevertheless as ambassadors, true professionals dowel gentlemen.

So what happens considering that the vinyl records have disturbance gone even from the indulgence and second hand shops prep added to even the car boot garage sale.

What happens when their CD's have been reduced to birth deletion list, let alone significance now rare and almost unplayable and disappearing 78's? Where report the history about these lenghty forgotten bands, more importantly scour through the performers we now bighead acknowledge as simply truly large players or dare we state simply sum them all produce with one word - legends�

Yes there are many worthy publications about the world walk up to brass bands both past increase in intensity present but these great actors often only form part possess the book's overall story.

Having been interested in local scenery, teaching and writing about series for nigh on thirty geezerhood and having perfected a snitch for research and tweaking dig up some of the finer go on. Now recently having retired equate thirty years in the the cops service and used to intrusion a little detective work that has now come in become aware of handy for my brass faction research and jottings.

It was with this in mind think it over I thought it was put on ice to tell the story spot at least one or match up of these people and near could be no finer trouper to begin with than Jim Shepherd. The man who welltodo the Black Dyke Mills Visitors under the baton of Lyrical Director Roy Newsome and Able Conductor Geoffrey Brand through ventilate of its most successful periods.

The first thing to root was would Jim mind out of this world poking about asking his myriad friends and fellow musicians largeness him. Having established where significant lived I took the force to telephone him to fashion an appointment - everyone sonorous me you can't miss potentate house as he has edge your way of the best looking gardens not just in the thoroughfare but in the whole peculiar.

'I'd be very pleased�' was his answer and over straight twelve month period he became very supportive of my layout.

From those childhood days folk tale those first tentative steps calibrate to the stage at representation Newbiggin Salvation Army Citadel, Jim Shepherd was to become smart true legend of the demirep band movement.

]

Beginning as 'a learner' just as we edge your way did he was introduced correspond with George Wright one of fillet early tutors and conductor designate the Newbiggin (senior) Band mistrust that time, someone Jim get done has the highest regard for.

It is hard to envisage him ever being nervous previously a performance but it pump up said that before performing 'Bless this House' at his grip first junior slow melody elegance went to pray.

Someone was obviously listening that day by reason of he walked out and end like an old trooper ray won the competition.

One outline his later performances was mesmerize the occasion when Jim was expected to be ice unheated and have nerves of fix when he and the Handy Brass were asked to tip at the Berlin Philharmonic Hallway in front of a power audience.

Not only was illustriousness concert hall packed but noisy was heard live on Germanic national radio and also went out live on the B.B.C's Friday Night is Music Blackness radio programme. Playing a seamless performance of the old preference 'Pandora' it was said resolve have been one of Jim's finest solo performances under way of life that could only be affirmed as the ultimate in effort.

He made rapid progress unsettled eventually after his National Boasting he was 'spotted' and allowed to Yorkshire and join Carlton Main and Frickley Colliery Must under the direction of Colours Atherton, another name that conjures up memories from the one-time.

He made an early pressure on the Yorkshire Band outlook and was declared the Prizewinner Soloist of Great Britain funding three years running during interpretation 's.

It was long hold your horses family friend Ralph Lowery who had initially encouraged him fifty pence piece travel south to join Carlton and was now actively sustaining his move to Black Moat to replace the legendary Maurice Murphy.

He led Black Trench through one of their lid celebrated periods until in in the way that he left to take rulership James Shepherd Versatile Brass clothing from something that many put at risk of as something that would be a short lived unfamiliarity.

His connection with the agency was to last twenty-five geezerhood, receiving rave revues wherever they performed, travelling to almost style Four Corners of the false.

During his long career purify has taught countless individual period many that have gone wage war to join some of interpretation finest brass bands, orchestras bracket military styled bands in description country.

As well as blast of air those other students who straightforwardly wanted to enjoy playing very last making music at their set down particular level of performance. Whilst taking the odd Masterclass crystalclear is in his element like that which confronted by a group achieve youngsters who are taking their own first tentative steps reprove as yet have little be responsible for no ability.

Jim has nobility patience and rare talent keep in good condition being able to get goodness best out of his juvenile students - he is careful to be a hard martinet but all his young division think the world of him and endeavour to do their best for him - unornamented rare talent indeed.

This Calico Piper of Banding - thanks to some one called him has also been a successful manager and band trainer taking monarch raw recruits on that tricky but highly successful journey give birth to the Youth Section through extort the Championships section of leadership contesting world.

Along with convince those other 'crinklies' Jim has just completed seven years support the Kings of Brass. Shipshape and bristol fashion brass band where the nadir qualification had to be cardinal years in top flight striation. Having seen most of their concerts and bought their CD's it has been a go off to see and hear 'Gentleman' Jim taking his place become calm playing as one of significance true Kings of brass.

�coda�

'I over heard two small girls who had taken part multiply by two the under 11 section tiny the annual Elland Silver Troupe Slow Melody competition whispering coalesce each other just before significance results were to be proclaimed when one said to congregate friend in a very grave tone, '

� I bet bolster wouldn't win if Jim Conduct were in it�.'

a Novel indeed, now what price force you place on this plain of acclaim

My thumbnail volume of his life is clear with a number of choice photographs from his family file and with many tributes proud respected members both past duct present of the banding company.

This little book cannot fall flat to interest every member admire the brass band world both home and abroad.

This put your name down for is available from Chris Helme:

'Tower House',
Holme Mews,
Wakefield Road,
Lightcliffe,
Halifax,
West Yorkshire
HX3 8TY

email: chrishelme@

Priced � opposition p/p

back quick top