Isle of Wight jazz drummer Bill Wills celebrated his 90th birthday in style by hosting a special Newport Jazz Club concert and raised £350 for his favourite charities too.
Bill wanted to celebrate in style so a Jazz concert was organised at the Apollo Theatre with his grandson also a professional musician taking the lead!
41-year-old Jonathan, admitted he was a bit nervous as his Grandad was in the front row, but says he was honoured to join the line-up for Bill’s Big Birthday Bash at the Apollo Theatre.
Bill said:
“I taught Jonathan everything I knew then, after he graduated from music school, he started to teach me!
"I’m thrilled he still plays some jazz and hopefully one of his children will carry on the tradition.”
Jazz has been a lifelong passion for Bill:
“My dad was a drummer and there were always drums around the house,” he explains. “During the war, there weren’t many toys around so, when I was five or six, I started to play them. I grew up listening to a lot of good jazz musicians, but Buddy Rich was the greatest drummer ever.
“I first came to the Isle of Wight in 1951 to do two years national service where I met my future wife Pauline. With my friends Peter Trueman and Mike Whitehead, I took over Newport Jazz Club about 12 years ago and Wightlink has been supporting us ever since so we can bring performers across the Solent to join us, we couldn’t have done it without the ferries.”
The Birthday Bash line-up was Nette Robinson (vocals), Tony Woods (saxophone), Alan Barnes (saxophones), Andy Urquhart (trumpet), Dave Newton (piano), Jonathan Wills (drums), Nick Page (guitar), Jon Thorn (bass) and Gary Plumley (saxophone). Newport Jazz Club favourite Cass Caswell was unable to be there because of health problems.
The generous audience donated £348 to Bill’s charities Marie Curie Nurses and Blind Veterans UK. A raffle in support of Newport Jazz Club raised £153.
Wight Link Ferries, sponsors the Newport Jazz Club as one of its community initiatives and representatives were delighted to join Bill to celebrate.
Maritime Units Heading For Isle Of Wight Armed Forces Day
Funding Boost For Council Chairman's Chosen Charity
Medina Way Works In Place This Sunday
Islander Georgie To Star On BBC1's Great British Sewing Bee
Labour's West Wight Candidate Outlines Island Plan
Scam Warnings Issued For Isle Of Wight
Islanders Invited To Take Part In Charity Fire Walk For St Catherine’s
New Company To Bid For Digital Radio Licence On The Isle Of Wight
Police Respond To Anti-Social Behaviour Involving Electric Motorbikes In Puckpool
New Records Set Following ‘Extraordinary’ Walk The Wight
Appeal Launched Following Ryde Cashpoint Theft
Islanders Urged To Make Sure They're 'Emergency Ready'
Cast Your Vote For New Sea Defence Scheme To Win People's Choice Award
Operation Sceptre - A Number Of Surrender Bins Across Isle Of Wight
Man Jailed For Ryde Burglary And Knife Offences
Top Marks For Gurnard Primary Playground Project
Marathon Runners Raising Funds For Isle Of Wight Youth Trust As Part Of Mental Health Awareness Week
Body Of Man In 40s Discovered Following Brighstone Fire
Food And Fuel Support Extended For Island Families In Need
Hovertravel Releases More Than 60 Late Flights For July And August
