I received the sad news today from Ray Shenton that his brother Joe Shenton (pictured left.) died earlier today - Lance
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Dear Lance.
Sorry to have to tell you but my brother Joe Shenton passed away today at a hospital in Kettering.
Joe played washboard with the River City Jazzmen for three decades after the birth of the Band in the late fifties.I last played with him at the Great Whittington Jazz Picnic in August 2010. His amazing washboard playing gave the band their distinctive sound.
Ray Shenton.PS: Joe was 82. his funeral is on Friday June 15 at Kettering Crem.
PPS: Colour pic from Brian Bennett (see comments).
River City photos.



Here's a pic which my wife, Jan, took of Joe playing tambourine and washboard with his brother Ray's band, The Victory V Jazzmen, at Ovingham Reading Room in January 2008.
ReplyDeleteL to R: Joe Shenton; Mike Harrison, sousa; Bruce Carnaffin, clarinet; Herbie Hudson, trombone; Brian Bennett, banjo; John Cowan, trumpet; (Ray Shenton, piano, not in picture).
You'll notice the date on Joe's washboard is 1955, presumably the year the River City were founded. RIP Joe, a true legend on the north east jazz scene.