William James Eyden (4 May 1930 – 15 October 2004) was an English jazz drummer.

Biography

The son of James Eyden and Ivy (née Tiller), his first professional gig was in 1952 with the Ivor and Basil Kirchin Band. He was soon working with Ray Kirkwood and Johnny Rogers, and appeared on TV in 1953 with the pianist Steve Race. In 1955 Eyden met

Tubby Hayes Edward Brian "Tubby" Hayes (30 January 1935 – 8 June 1973) was a British jazz multi-instrumentalist, best known for his virtuosic musicianship on tenor saxophone and for performing in jazz groups with fellow sax player Ronnie Scott and trump ...

, with whom he would play regularly for the next two decades, joining Hayes and

Ronnie Scott Ronnie Scott Order of the British Empire, OBE (born Ronald Schatt; 28 January 1927 – 23 December 1996) was a British jazz Tenor saxophone, tenor saxophonist and jazz club owner. He co-founded Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London's Soho district ...

in The Jazz Couriers. When the Couriers folded in 1959, he went on to play with the Vic Ash- Harry Klein Quintet, supporting

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th century music, 20th-century music. Davis ado ...

on his first British tour in 1960. He was also a member of the Ray Ellington Quartet when it worked on ''

The Goon Show ''The Goon Show'' is a British radio comedy programme, originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960, with occasional repeats on the BBC Light Programme. The first series, broadcast from 28 May to 20 September ...

'', appearing on the video of the reunion programme '' The Last Goon Show of All''. Eyden joined Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames in September 1964 and remained until December 1965. He joined the Dick Morrissey Quartet, replacing Phil Seamen, and did session work for various rock and R&B groups, including

Procol Harum Procol Harum () were an English rock music, rock band formed in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, in 1967. Their best-known recording is the 1967 hit single "A Whiter Shade of Pale", one of the few singles to have sold more than List of best-selling si ...

on their seminal hit " A Whiter Shade of Pale." He was a member of the resident trio, led by Stan Tracey, at Ronnie Scott's club until the late 1960s. Eyden also played or recorded with Dizzy Reece, Jimmy Deuchar, Dickie Hawdon, Harry South, Ian Hamer, Keith Christie, Terry Brown, Bobby Wellins, Jimmy Skidmore, Joe Mudele, Roy Fox, Harry Roy, Long John Baldry,

Alexis Korner Alexis Andrew Nicholas Koerner (19 April 1928 – 1 January 1984), known professionally as Alexis Korner, was a British blues musician and radio broadcaster, who has sometimes been referred to as "a founding father of British blues". A major i ...

and others. During the 1980s he was a member of Bill Le Sage's Bebop Preservation Society and until the onset of a lengthy illness he played in quintets led by Jack Honeyborne and Ken Baldock.

Discography

*'' Sonny Stitt / Live at Ronnie Scott's'' (May 1965) - Dick Morrissey Quartet *'' Here and Now and Sounding Good!'' (September 1966) - Dick Morrissey Quartet *'' A Whiter Shade of Pale'' (April/May 1967) -

*'' The Greatest Little Soul Band in the Land'' (1969) - J.J. Jackson *'' Live at the Bull - Tribute Vols. 1-2'' (recorded live 1987/8 - released 2007): - Dick Morrissey, Spike Robinson, Bill Le Sage, Alec Dankworth, Bill Eyden and others.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eyden, Bill 1930 births 2004 deaths People from Hounslow English jazz drummers English male drummers English male jazz musicians 20th-century English male musicians