I don't have many claims to fame, but this one I am most proud of.

My Grandfather , Ian Hamer was a legendary British jazz trumpeter who played with and recorded for all the big names in music from the Beatles to Bing Crosby, Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield, Shirley Bassey, Barbra Streisand, and Ella Fitzgerald. He became very good friends with Dizzy Gillespie after they toured the UK back in 1958, whenever Dizzy was in the UK then he would stay at my Grandads house. My Grandfather knew all the big names in Jazz but did not get along with Miles Davis, once I told my Grandfather that I liked Miles Davis and he was not impressed.

Grandad & Dizzy.

He came from a music family, My great Nan, His Mum had a very popular Dance band in Liverpool that he played in with his brothers until he branched off to do his own thing. He was also part of The Top of The Pops Band for 20 years, Top of The Pops or TOTP was a British music chart television programme which was a significant part of British popular culture from 1964-2006. All the big stars in the music industry would come and play on TOTP and when the likes of the Jackson 5 came over from the States, they would not usually bring their band with them, they would just use the TOTP band which my Grandad was a part of, He also played the trumpet on the theme tune for The Sweeney, He later retired to Brighton and formed The Sussex Jazz Orchestra

This is My Grandad's album he released on Jasmine records in 2005, a year before he passed away, I still have a scratched copy of this album, but nowadays if I ever fancy listening to it then I just go to spotify. There is a lot of great tracks on this album and it's hard to pick a favourite, but my top 3 are, Freakin' Out, What's Her Name and Tobago.

If you have Spotify and you like jazz then check him out, the old boy had some skills.

This first ever album release from the legendary British jazz trumpeter Ian Hamer contains five previously unreleased live and studio sessions by Hamer's Sextet, recorded between 1966 and 1974. Featured musicians include Tubby Hayes, Dick Morrissey and Alan Skidmore.

A major selling point is the hour-plus of previously unheard Tubby Hayes, including a version of "Sienna Red", a Hayes composition never commercially recorded elsewhere and his last ever recording from 1973.

With an extensive 16 page booklet by Simon Spillett, including previously unpublished photos of Ian Hamer in performance.

My Grandad had a very interesting life, and continued playing right up til he passed away in 2006, he like a good smoke which I'm sure is mandatory if you're a Jazz musician, but he also liked a good drink and was always in the pub spending his royalties, as he loved a good drink and a party that's exactly what we all did after the funeral, my Mum put a big bundle of cash on the bar and ordered everyone to get drunk and have some fun while all his old band members and a few big stars played the night away.

This week I will be doing post's about family as I believe family should be the most important part of our lives and after all the bad news we have had concerning family members this week, it has really made me realise you should never take your family for granted.

Peace and love to the World