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Alex Welsh (9 July 1929 – 25 June 1982) was a Scottish jazz singer, who played cornet and trumpet.
Biography
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Welsh started playing in the teenage Leith Silver Band and with Archie Semple's Capital Jazz Band. After moving to London in the early 1950s, he formed a band with clarinetist Archie Semple, pianist Fred Hunt, trombonist Roy Crimmins, and drummer Lenny Hastings. The band played a version of Chicago-style dixieland jazz and was part of the traditional jazz revival in England in the 1950s. In the 1960s, Welsh's band played with Earl Hines, Red Allen, Peanuts Hucko, Pee Wee Russell, and Ruby Braff.
The band's single "Tansy" (1961) peaked at No. 45 on the UK Singles Chart.
In January 1963, British music magazine NME reported that the biggest trad jazz event to be staged in Britain had taken place at Alexandra Palace. The event included George Melly, Diz Disley, Acker Bilk, Chris Barber, Kenny Ball, Ken Colyer, Monty Sunshine, Bob Wallis, Bruce Turner, Mick Mulligan and Welsh.
Welsh toured internationally and played at the 1967 Antibes jazz festival, the 1968 Newport Jazz Festival, and 1978 Nice Jazz Festival. He performed regularly in the 1970s at the Bell Public House in Maidenhead, Berkshire. He died in June 1982 in Hillingdon hospital in London, England, at the age of 52.
Discography
- Dixieland to Duke/The Melrose Folio (1957/60)
- Music of the Mauve Decade (1960)
- Classic Concert (1971)
With Peanuts Hucko
- Peanuts Hucko Vol. 1 (Lake, 2002 [1967])