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Tommy Webster Birmingham Musician (Drummer)!
- Thread starter sospiri
- Start date
norfolk brummie
gone but not forgotten
Here I go Maurice.
I got to know Tommy Webster when he was the drummer in the Sonny Rose Band at the old West End Ballroom. When Sonny added John Patrick on piano, and Alan Randle on vibes, the rhythm section, with Vic Mortiboys on bass, became a 'must see' for most Birmingham musicians.
Tommy turned down every big band name in the country, even turned down an offer from the great Tommy Dorsey in America.
Tommy Webster was a true Birmingham man. He loved the city, the music, his home and his wife, and would never leave any of it.
When the great drummers came to Birmingham they would all flock to see Tommy....Jack Parnell, Phil Seaman, Ronnie Verrell, Kenny Clare, Eric Delaney, and lots more. They all spoke in awe about his drumming. Tommy taught Tony Kinsey, Ray Price (who later joined emigrated and played for George Shearing, Oscar Peterson and Stan Kenton, as well as the Lucille Ball Show. He also taught Pete Cater Snr, who's son Pete Cater Jnr. is now a top British drummer. May I modestly say that Tommy also gave me a few lessons at no charge, when I would meet him after a evening show, and drive him home to Selly Oak. He never drove.
Eventually Tommy had a nervous breakdown, lost confidence, and never really played again, but bought the little grocery shop on the corner of Medlicott/Walford Road, and lived the rest of his life there.
There have been many fine drummers that came out of Birmingham, but there will never be another Tommy Webster. He was the foundation stone of every Birmingham drummers rise to fame.
A lovely man, and I miss him.
Eddie.
I got to know Tommy Webster when he was the drummer in the Sonny Rose Band at the old West End Ballroom. When Sonny added John Patrick on piano, and Alan Randle on vibes, the rhythm section, with Vic Mortiboys on bass, became a 'must see' for most Birmingham musicians.
Tommy turned down every big band name in the country, even turned down an offer from the great Tommy Dorsey in America.
Tommy Webster was a true Birmingham man. He loved the city, the music, his home and his wife, and would never leave any of it.
When the great drummers came to Birmingham they would all flock to see Tommy....Jack Parnell, Phil Seaman, Ronnie Verrell, Kenny Clare, Eric Delaney, and lots more. They all spoke in awe about his drumming. Tommy taught Tony Kinsey, Ray Price (who later joined emigrated and played for George Shearing, Oscar Peterson and Stan Kenton, as well as the Lucille Ball Show. He also taught Pete Cater Snr, who's son Pete Cater Jnr. is now a top British drummer. May I modestly say that Tommy also gave me a few lessons at no charge, when I would meet him after a evening show, and drive him home to Selly Oak. He never drove.
Eventually Tommy had a nervous breakdown, lost confidence, and never really played again, but bought the little grocery shop on the corner of Medlicott/Walford Road, and lived the rest of his life there.
There have been many fine drummers that came out of Birmingham, but there will never be another Tommy Webster. He was the foundation stone of every Birmingham drummers rise to fame.
A lovely man, and I miss him.
Eddie.
For anyone interested, BBC Radio Birmingham broadcast a repeated radio programme at 6.00 pm on Monday, 18/2/1974, in which Tommy Webster talked about the jazz men who influenced him. Perhaps there's a recording of the programme somewhere.