Don Lusher, born in Peterborough, started on trombone at six years old, becoming the third generation to play in the Peterborough Salvation Army Band, alongside his father and grandfather. During the war he served as a gunner signaller in the Royal Artillery and on being demobbed entered the music profession playing with the bands of Joe Daniels, Lou Preager, Maurice Winnick, The Squadronaires, Jack Parnell, Geraldo and eventually Ted Heath, by which time he was topping the music polls.
His nine years as lead trombone with Ted Heath included several coast to coast tours of America where he took advantage of studying with Dick Nash and the late Will Bradley. He also met Tommy Dorsey and the members of his band at the Statler Hotel in New York.
As one of Britain's top session men he worked for some of the world's most prestigious Musical Directors and led the trombone section for Frank Sinatra's European tours. He was also much in demand as a soloist with Brass Bands, Wind Bands, Jazz Groups and Big Bands such as Manhattan Sound Big Band. As well as fronting the Don Lusher Big Band he was a member of the Best of British Jazz. The Best of British Jazz was founded in the 1970's and changed its personnel several times during the long period of its life. The group is now swinging forward with younger members among the older original members. It now features Digby Fairweather (trpt/cornet), Roy Willox (clari/alto) and Don was in the front line with Brian Dee (piano), John Rees-Jones (double bass) and Pete Cater (drums) in the rhythm. In July 2002, the group recorded a new CD at the Abbey Road Studios, called The Best of British Jazz - Abbey Road sessions. Vocalion CDSA 6805..
First performances include Gordon Langford's "Rhapsody for Trombone", at the Royal Albert Hall in 1975 and at the same venue in 1980, Gareth Wood's "Dance Sequence". That same year he premiered Gordon Carr's "Concerto for Trombone" at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall and in 1990 Scot Stroman's "Concertine for Trombone, Strings and Percussion" at Lichfield Cathedral.
In 1979, BBC Television's hour long spectacular, "Don Lusher's World of Music" produced by Yvonne Littlewood, featured The Don Lusher Big Band and Marti Caine, The Don Lusher Quartet, The Black Dyke Mills Band conducted by Major Peter Parkes and Michael Antrobus, a 10 Trombone Ensemble and perhaps the highest accolade of all, Nelson Riddle conudcting the orchestra on his own scores including "Here's That Rainy Day" a feature for Don Lusher and strings.
He endorsed for Yamaha trombones.
On BBC Radio 2, Don has sat in for Alan Dell and presented his own band on "Big Band Special".
As a member of the International Trombone Association, Don served on their Board of Advisors and performed on several occasions at their International Workshops, always held in America until 1989 when, at the invitation of the newly formed British Trombone Society, the ITW was held at Eton College. He has twice been President of the British Trombone Society.
Don always enjoyed leading his own Don Lusher Big Band, which ended on 11th. December 2005 so that Don could concentrate on his solo work with small groups.
For thirty years, the Don Lusher Trombone Prize was awarded annually in BBC Radio 2's National Big Band Competition. As a member of the jury, Don selected many of today's top young players for the award over the years, including in 1983, the current President of the British Trombone Society, Mark Nightingale. BBC Radio Two have now decided to finish this programme with the last programme in the year 2005.
Don Lusher spent some years as Professor of the Royal College of Music Big Band before becoming Professor of Trombone at the Royal Marines School of Music, Portsmouth in 1997. Don retired from the Royal Marines School of Music in 2004 as the school was taken over by the Civil Service and no one over the age of 60 was allowed to continue teaching!
In 2001 Don recorded an album with Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk, John Chilton & the Feetwarmers, John Dankworth, Humphrey Lyttelton & George Melly called "British Jazz Legends Together", which has been nationally acclaimed. Decca 470 271-2.
He was always interested in teaching young people and wrote several pieces for beginners such as Don Lusher's Trombone Album for trombone and piano suitable for varying standards published by Boosey and Hawkes and "Sweet and Sour" for beginners published Warwick Music.
Don Lusher Died 11.45 am Wednesday, July 5th 2006. Don had to have an operation to remove a growth on his colon and never managed to recover from the shock of the operation.
The Don Lusher Memorial Service will be held at Regent Hall, Salvation Army, 275, Oxford Street, London W1C 2DJ on Monday September 25th, 2006 at 12 noon. All welcome.
From Oxford Circus Tube Station walk towards Marble Arch. Regent Hall is on the left opposite British Home Stores.
Donations if desired to: The Don Lusher Memorial Fund, Salvation Army, Freepost KE3466, London SE1 6BP. Telephone 0207 367 4800.
