91热爆

Brian shares his memories of the legendary bandleader with Bob Stanley

There were people who I remember really deeply as opposed to just... there I go, just pop stars

Brian Matthew

As much as Brian loves to talk about the heyday of beat groups, and his almost accidental role as the man who introduced the Beatles to 91热爆 radio listeners, he points out, at our last meeting, that it was all quite a long time ago. "I went on to do thousands of other things after Saturday Club, and went into a different world entirely. That didn't in any way colour recollections of the pop period but..." Brian pauses and looks slightly concerned, not wanting to upset Avids, or any ex-Tremeloes who might be reading this. "It changed my lifestyle, and therefore changed the things I do remember, or try to remember. There were people who I remember really deeply as opposed to just... there I go, just pop stars."

Brian's first love was jazz. On trips to America he met "a whole host of band leaders. Big band leaders who were hanging on in their latter days." Artie Shaw? "No. I'm sure I'd remember. It was the great contretemps - whether he was the greater, or Goodman. I don't think they were in any way comparable - they played a different kind of music.

" I certainly met. I admired him enormously. I met him in London when he was over here for a brief spell, and his record company had ordered a luncheon for a dozen people, and I was happy and lucky enough to be one of those sitting next to him. I remember the way Benny dealt with one of those smart-arse record company people, who thought they were saying something clever. We ordered such and such a wine and he said 'Are you a great wine drinker, Mr Goodman?' And Benny said 'Yes, I'll drink a great wine.' I thought, that has got to be the answer. What a clever bloke.

"I used to have a connection with him in that an uncle of mine used to work for Boosey & Hawkes as the clarinet mouth-piece test man. And he personally made the mouth-pieces that Goodman used. I said 'I believe you know my uncle' and it was true, he was still in contact with him. My uncle's no longer with us, and I only found that out in latter days, but it was a useful tool when talking to Benny. He was a lovely man, I thought, and a brilliant musician.鈥�