ERIC DELANEY (22 May 1924 – 14 July 2011)

On July 14, the British drumming community lost one of its greatest showmen when Eric Delaney passed away, aged 87. Born in Acton on 22nd May, 1924, Delaney took up the drums at an early age and was touring with ­the Royal Kiltie Junior Band and the Hughie Green Roadshow by the time he was in his early teens. In 1941, aged just 17, he joined the Ambrose Octet, a name band of the day which also boasted George Shearing as a member, before joining the RAF for four years in 1942, sometimes touring in the RAF Gang Show. Upon leaving he was much in demand, playing with Stéphane Grappelli and Cyril Stapleton before joining another well-known bandleader, Geraldo. Delaney remained with Geraldo until 1954 and during this time he began using two bass drums and also pioneered the use of brushes for playing timpani. He left Geraldo to form his own big band and within a year he had scored a hit with ‘Oranges And Lemons’, coupled with ‘Delaney’s Delight’, and won the Melody Maker readers poll n several categories, including best drummer. Delaney became friends with Louie Bellson and in 1967 they released the album Repercussion (recently reissued on Dutton Vocalion). In later years, Delaney worked seaside resorts and summer seasons, including along tenure at Blackpool’s Tower Ballroom in the ’80s. He relocated to Spain in 1998 but returned to the UK in 2006 and was an active player until his passing. Aside from his percussive skills, he was a great showman, firing cannons off onstage, installing lights inside his drum kit and running between two kits and various percussion instruments during his show. His life story is detailed in Eddie Sammons’ book 'The Magnificent Eric Delaney'. He is survived by one son and three daughters from his three marriages.