Musician who played at Winter Gardens dies

Jack Johnson was known for playing the trumpet in the Winter Gardens band and at the Opera House, Pleasure Beach and Blackpool Jazz Club.

He died on February 9 at the age of 85.

His friend Edward Cobb said: “Jack was a trumpet player all his life. When you went to visit him he would be playing all day long.

“He had a large following. He was known as the Maynard Ferguson of the north.”

The father-of-two, who lived at Broadway Care Home, took up the trumpet when he was 10-years-old, when he played with the Blackpool Memorial Band.

He went on to play music professionally, performing at the famous Palace Theatre in Manchester and Liverpool Empire Theatre.

His friend Harvey Green said: “He was still playing with the local jazz bands when he was 50 and 60-years-old.

“He was a big jazz fan.

“We grew up in the big band era, with the likes of Bobby Pratt and Dizzy Gillespie.

“He was a very bright trumpet player. His understanding of jazz was very good.”