[Dixielandjazz] The "Who's" Entwhistle dead at 57

[Henry B. Stinson]

Parts from a story by Dean Goodman on Reuters:
(Jazz content?  Read on...)

        John Entwistle, the bass player for veteran
         British rock band The Who, died in Las Vegas
        on Thursday at age 57, just one day before the
        group was set to begin a North American tour in
        the city, officials said.    ... natural causes ...

        Entwistle, a bearded, taciturn musician
        affectionately known as "Ox" or "Thunderfingers,"
        died in his room at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino,
        officials said.

        Born John Alec Entwistle in the London suburb
        of Chiswick on Oct. 9, 1944, he studied piano,
        trumpet and French horn as a youngster before
        moving on to a homemade bass.*

(*Does that mean he played a tea chest bass?  If so, then perhaps he is
one more of a long list of famous Brit musicians to have come out of the
"skiffle" movement -- 1958 to 1960-something.  -- Henry)

        At the age of 14, he formed a traditional jazz band
        at his grammar school, the Confederates, and invited
        schoolmate (Peter) Townshend to join the short-lived
        combo. He then joined the Detours, a band formed
        by an older boy at their school, Roger Daltrey.
        At Entwistle's suggestion, Daltrey brought in Townshend,
        and the early "The Who" started to take shape.

         The band trashed its equipment at the end of
        each show, and it was years before it made enough
         money to pay off its bills for new instruments.

--
Henry Stinson, BSECE, Website Developer and Software Engineer (Visual
Basic)
Vocalist, Jazz Harmonica, Jazz Whistling and "Mouth Trumpet".
Orpheus Jazz Ensemble, Blue Heaven Jazz Band
Msg: 703-742-4670 Day: 703-893-8930 (Ring once, then call right back.)