Tony was a blues singer from Hucknall, Notts and not to be confused with the Tony Jackson, singer and bass player who was a member of Liverpool band The Searchers and then The Vibrations and who coincidently died in Nottingham in 2003.

Tony was in a skiffle band in 1957. In 1959 in sang for a summer season at a Jersey holiday camp. He then sang with the Leen Valley Jazzmen for two years. Tony also sang with the Ray Crane Group at the Boat Club, The Riverside Modern band at the Town Arms, Trent Bridge. The Riverside Club was a Monday night Jazz session at the Town Arms on Trent Bridge which was founded by West Bridgford born Clarinettist John Crocker.

He guested with the Giles Thibault Modern Jazz Ensemble at Juan-les-Pins on the French Riviera with Beryl Bryden in the audience. Giles Thibault wrote the song that was the basis for the international smash “My Way,”. Beryl sang with Lonnie Donegan and the Chris Barber band.

Tony also founded the Folk songs and Blues club at the Imperial on St James Street, Nottingham.

Tony Jackson joined the Arthur Coyne Jazzmen in the summer of 1962 playing often at the Strutt Arms Hotel, Milford. They were based in Derby.

Although the chap in the dark sweater looks a little like Tony Jackson in the picture above I don’t think it is. It may well be Campbell Burnap, trombonist who was with the group until 1958 after which he emigrated to New Zealand.

Graham Newton remembers “Went to see Arthur Coyne’s Jazz Band playing there (The Duke of York, Burton Road) in the very early 60s. Ended up “poaching” his drummer, Mick Lancashire to join the band I was in, The Heralds”.
Arthur Coyne was the brother of rock musician Kevin Coyne. They also had a sister, Angela.

Tony also sang with the Richard Hallam Band.

More coming later ………….