One of the UK's most enduring jazz performers, Chris Barber was a pivotal figure in the UK music for more than 60 years. Born on April 17, 1930, in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, he rose to prominence during the 1950s skiffle boom, having formed a group with Ken Colyer called Ken Colyer's Jazzmen. The lineup included guitarist Lonnie Donegan (later to become famous in his own right), bassist Jim Bray, and drummer Ron Bowden, with Chris Barber playing trombone. When Colyer left, the group rechristened itself The Chris Barber Band. After establishing themselves on the European jazz club circuit with a mix of Dixieland, ragtime, swing, and blues, the band recorded a version of the Sidney Bechet's composition "Petite Fleur," which spent 24 weeks in the charts in 1959. An international hit, the song reached Number 3 in the UK and Number 5 in the US. The success of "Petite Fleur" established Barber as a household name, and during this period he became an active figure in the UK music scene, promoting tours by blues acts such as Muddy Waters, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and Big Bill Broonzy. A multi-instrumentalist whose music blurred the lines between genres, he collaborated with Paul McCartney on 1967's "Cat Call," served as a mentor for future Blues Incorporated musician Alexis Korner, and performed with icons like Van Morrison and Nick Lowe. He also established the independent record company Blues Legacy with Eric Clapton. After retiring in 2019, he battled dementia for two years before passing away on March 2, 2021, one month shy of his 91st birthday.
