Phil Cook: Maurice Murphy was a great player and a great person too. His solo performances with Black Dyke in the late 50s and early 60s are legendary.
He helped us out on principal cornet at Grove House Gardens in Dunstable in the mid 90s when our principal cornet was on holiday. And he played a solo piece “My Love is like a Red Red Rose”.
Rod Franks who was sub-principal trumpet of the LSO at the time used to help St Albans Band regularly and Rod brought his LSO principal, Maurice, along to help out, and he did it just because of that: helping out a band. Rod also brought along Ian Bousefield of the LSO and Gordon Higginbottom, ex Black Dyke, along to a concert at the Alban Arena a few years later, again, to help out, and Higgy played a solo on the Alp Horn (I think that’s what it was).
Here’s a piccy of the Grove House Gardens Sunday afternoon job with Maurice in the principal seat.
I have to say my beard wasn’t too attractive and it fell off when I turned 40!
