Mike Cox remembers the ragbag bunch who made up a Llandudno jazz institution.
"It was a big wooden marching bass drum: one you strapped over your shoulders, rested on your belly and banged at both sides with beaters; the pride of Kitchener's army! And there was a matching snare drum. They were buried under years of dust and debris. "What!", said Len Goodey, "You can't use those in a jazz band, but have them if you want. They're no good to us."
We'd found them in the Llandudno Youth Club store room. In the early 1950s, "We" were 14 and 15-year-old fans of Louis Armstrong, Humph and Chris Barber who had decided to form a jazz group of our own. Eddie and Lou just had amazing ambition - they'd never played an instrument before. I was just starting to learn clarinet.
Glyn Dryhurst was posher. A fine musician already, he had played trumpet in the National Youth Orchestra and later blew himself a career as a pro.
Eddie fancied himself as a Gene Krupa and grabbed at the chance of the old Youth Club drums. Arvell Shaw (Sachmo's bass player) was one of Glyn Lou's heroes so the youth club threw in an old cello, a good size match for Lou.
After we got ourselves a bandroom in Jubilee Street (later Back Lloyd Street, then Market Street) and raised our first wailings. Lou found the cello wouldn't get down to the bass notes so we broke an old piano up, took the bass strings off that, and fixed them on the cello. The piano strings were steel - and Lou's fingers soon a bloody wound.
The racket we made aroused interest and we were joined by Alan Hughes (Dyffryn Dairy) who had us falling about at his first appearance when he stood up, stuck one leg up on the piano and tried to imitate Little Richard. Colin "Woggsy" Mullen appeared with a weather beaten alto sax and began his regular habit of playing it sitting flat on the floor with his knees around his ears. John Williams (Dippy), a refugee from the town band, brought his trombone. Another eccentric who suffered the butt of band humour, John developed into an excellent jazz trombone player.
Slowly it all came together and we made some good sounds, getting and giving a lot of pleasure over quite a few years. The Blue Notes, over time, became a minor Llandudno institution, starting the town's first jazz club in Payne's Corner House. Quite a few notable musicians joined as others left: especially Bill Jones and George Brookes who really evolved into accomplished jazzmen, as well as being first class straight musicians in the town band; and Barry Jones on drums who in the mid seventies also played in Glyn Dryhurst's Rhythm Machine at the Stage Door (another story!)"
your comments
Glyn Dryhurst from Miami
More sad news - sax player Graham Spedding passed away shortly after Kenny. I've been living in Florida for about 20 years. I don't play anymore but have a job with a music publisher. I hope you and your family are well Al.
Tue Sep 1 12:31:17 2009
Alan Poulton from Westcliff on Sea, Essex
I just found out from this site that Kenny (as we knew him) Hepting has passed away. I am so sorry Jim. I played with him (drums) in Glyn's band in Athens and Izmir, when Ferruh was doing his national service. Afterwards as we also lived in Tottenham, we used to see Kenny at Monty's house and he played on gigs with me when visiting. During the 80's we spent many a happy holiday with Kenny and Roula on Rhodos and in Glyfada, when they were still married. Sadly we lost touch after moving away from London. Would love to hear from you Glyn, remember the summer season on the Isle of Man? And Cyril Poulton from Cheshunt, could we be related?
Fri Jul 24 12:31:26 2009
Jim Hepting. London.
Ken Hepting was my brother. He used to come over to Tottenham every Christmas to stay with another brother. We all miss him a lot and are so sorry that none of us could have got to his funeral in Greece as everything happened so quickly. He was a brilliant guitarist and was quite happy to have spent his life playing guitar in several well known nightclubs in Greece.
Mon Jan 5 09:32:35 2009
Cyril Poulton from Cheshunt, Herts
Ken Hepting actually died at 2am on 26 December at Rhodes hospital on the Greek island of Rodos where he lived and still played his guitar. He was buried in the village of Maritsa where he lived on 29 December. He will be missed by my wife Susan and I. We became close friends of his over the last few years.
Tue Dec 30 13:19:09 2008
S Read
Miracle guitarist Ken Hepting sadly passed away on 25th December 2008. He remained a guitarist throughout his life and loved playing his guitars. He will be sadly missed by all those that knew him.
Mon Dec 29 10:28:21 2008
Geoff Clifton from TX
Glyn and Ferruh - Sorry, Kenny Hepting passed away in Rhodes on Christmas Day at 2pm. He was a bit nutty, but an amazing friend and musician. Much love and prayers to his family.
Mon Dec 29 10:27:16 2008
Glyn Dryhurst, Miami
Ken, If you google "Trefor Owen" (note the Welsh spelling of Trefor) you will find his web page and he can pass you on to me. He is a well known guitarist in the UK.
Mon Oct 27 09:12:47 2008
Mike Llywelyn Cox exiled in Norfolk
Hello Jacqui. Your Dad was my first cousin and he and his younger brother Alan (Cheese) who was also a brilliant pianist, were my first musical influences. As a kid I lived in Kings Road and your Dad (about 8 years older than me) lived in Dyffryn Road so an easy walk just around the corner meant frequent visits to see Auntie Mellie, John and Alan. John taught me to play trumpet first but fascinated by an old simple system clarinet kept loose in a drawer at the side of the fireplace, I eventually bought myself a clarinet.
Your Dad's tuteledge stood me in good stead though as now play valve trombone as well as saxes and clarinet. In later years I often played with John in the town clubs (The Legion, the RAF Club, the West Shore Club, the TAs etc). Theres too much really to put in here but John was a huge influence in my life.
Mon Oct 6 10:13:42 2008
Jacqui Price, Llandudno
Thanks for that Glyn, Dad died 20 years ago but Billy and George are still going strong. Billy plays rarely now but George and his son George (the younger) still play and march in the town band. George is Bandmaster and marches through all weathers!
Mon Aug 11 10:07:47 2008
Glyn Dryhurst, Miami
Hi Jacqui,I remember your Dad well. He was a nice guy and a really good musician. Along with George and Billy, he encouraged us younger people in the band.
Thu Aug 7 10:15:28 2008
Jacqui Price, Llandudno
I noticed Billy Jones and Georgie Brookes' names here and wondered if any of you remembered my dad, John Edwards,(trombone and piano and organ) played for the Town Band with his dad, Harry, and after started the band the Legionaires? I remember climbing those steps up to the bandroom when to listen to Dad and band practise in my very young days!
Thu Jul 31 09:32:42 2008
Kenny Hepting
I came on this site by chance. I am still playing guitar. only seems like yesterday i was the youngest in the band. Geoff is visiting me on the 7th of june. Next time i visit this site i will post a photo of the Glyn Dyhurst Band. Great musician although he never liked cotton wool.
Tue May 27 09:39:09 2008
Ferruh aric drums from Turkey
Geoff, are you the same Geoff that I played with in the Glyn Dryhurst band back in the 70s? If so please get in touch!
Tue Jan 15 09:14:49 2008
Ed Lloyd-Hughes
Mike, you can find me on Fred Burnetts jazz page........quite a few old faces in there.
Wed Jul 25 10:02:48 2007
Geoff from Newcastle, now Texas
Thanks for the fast reply Glyn. Kenny is alive and well on the Greek island of Rhodes. I live on South Padre Island Tx. and own an audio company.
Mon Mar 26 10:21:11 2007
Glyn Dryhurst, Miami
Hi Geoff,
That's me - guilty as charged. I don't know where Kenny is these days or you for that matter. I have been in the USA for nearly 20 years now. Where are you and what are you up to?
Thu Mar 22 10:39:12 2007
GEOFF CLIFTON BASS FROM NEWCASTLE
Is the Glyn Dryhurst, formally of Welsh
Wales, via Greece and Turkey, and now apparently of Miami, the same one that played with miracle guitarist Kenny Hepting of Tottenham?
Mon Mar 19 10:31:55 2007
Ed Lloyd-Hughes
'Ere Coxy, get in touch when you next reach Llandudno, itza long time since Rhythm Machine at the stage door. I, as if you need reminding, provided the shoulders for you to sit on when you destroyed Sara's ending to 'If a picture paints a thousand words' at the aforementioned venue one night. nothing sacred if it got a laugh eh?
Mon Feb 19 09:59:04 2007
Eryl Dryhurst Waters Littlehampton
Glyn is my brother and Danielle is my half sister I remember the Blue Notes, it seems a long time ago but I have good memories of Glyn lou and mike Cox
Mon Nov 20 10:46:21 2006
Mike Cox from Norfolk
To Paula from Conwy (I still keep going to put the a in)Valley.
Yep 'tis me. I remember Peter - one of the Conwy tribe. We didn't see each other very often but I was fond of my uncle Jim too. I've also been doing some family history research, mainly on my mother's side but I do have some basics on the Coxes. There are contact details on Friends Reunited (in John Brights 1953/4) and on the contacts database for service user organisations in the national network section of the Together website (mental health).
Wed Nov 1 09:30:50 2006
Danielle Dryhurst-roberts from Colwyn Bay
This is a question to Glyn Dryhurst of Miami. I have a distant brother Glyn who i know moved to the US but cant remeber how long ago. My dad was Eddie and owned a Travel Agents in Old Colwyn. I remember Glyn had a jazz club in Colwyn Bay and had played on cruise ships?
Mon Oct 2 10:52:31 2006
Paula from Conwy Valley
To Mike Cox: Whilst researching my family tree my father, Peter, mentioned he had a cousin called Michael Cox who played in a jazz band in Llandudno but moved 'down south' many years ago. Could this be you? He also mentioned his uncle John (your father?)who played football for Llandudno. If this is you, my father would be delighted to hear from you. Thanks.
Tue Aug 15 09:17:32 2006
Darren 'Son of Eddie' Roberts (London)
The old man kept telling me he was once famous - and I never believed him! This will cost me a pint or two...
Mon Feb 27 18:21:32 2006
Glyn 'Lou' Lewis (Llandudno)
Fingers healed! Still playing a few local gigs with a proper bass!
The photo brings back great memories, I would love a copy if possible.
Sat Jan 7 12:18:50 2006
