Kenneth Colyer, born on April 18, 1928, in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, was
an English jazz trumpeter and cornetist. He grew up in Soho, London, and his
early exposure to jazz came from his brother's records. At 17, Colyer joined the
Merchant Navy, traveling extensively and hearing famous jazz musicians in New
Orleans, Louisiana. In the UK, he played with various bands before joining the
Crane River Jazz Band in 1949, which performed at the Royal Festival Hall on
July 14, 1951. Colyer later formed Ken Colyer's Jazzmen, including Chris Barber
and Monty Sunshine, releasing the...