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London (AP) - The legendary jazz musician Chris Barber is dead. The trombonist, who had a worldwide hit with "Ice Cream" that is still popular today, died at the age of 90 after suffering from dementia, his label Last Music Co. announced Wednesday with.
Barber was one of the last great big band leaders and has played his way into the hearts of jazz fans since the 1950s with hits such as "Ice Cream", "Wild Cat Blues" and "Petite Fleur".
The godfather of British jazz also set the course for the blues and rock explosion, from which giants like the Beatles and Rolling Stones emerged.
The musician was born on April 17, 1930 north of London.
He studied trombone and double bass at the famous Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and founded his first jazz band at the age of 19.
Classical training shaped his view of jazz improvisation: you still have to play the right notes, he said.
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In the 50s, Barbers Big Band was as famous in Great Britain as the Beatles were in the 60s.
In 1958 he and a business partner founded the legendary London Marquee Club, in which the Rolling Stones later performed.
In 1959 Barber made his international breakthrough with "Petite Fleur", a piece with the solo of the clarinetist Monty Sunshine.
In the same year he married the blues singer Ottilie Patterson (1932-2011).
They divorced in 1983 but kept working together.
Barber loved early New Orleans jazz and brought many African American gospel and blues legends to the UK.
In addition, he helped the electric guitar to find its way into the British rhythm and blues scene.
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As a result, the trombonist and his band lost their popularity in their homeland, but became more and more popular, especially in Germany - especially with the cheerful "Ice Cream, You Scream ...".
It was not until the age of 89 that the band leader retired after falling into private life.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210303-99-669914 / 4
"Ice Cream" by Chris Barber on Youtube
Label info on Barber's death