Tommy McQuater
Birth nameThomas Mossie McQuater
Born(1914-09-04)4 September 1914
OriginMaybole, Ayrshire, Scotland
Died20 January 2008(2008-01-20) (aged 93)
GenresJazz
Instrument(s)Trumpet
Flugelhorn

Thomas Mossie McQuater (4 September 1914 – 20 January 2008) was a Scottish jazz trumpeter.

Biography

Born in Maybole, Ayrshire, McQuater was most notable for his work in the United Kingdom with Bert Ambrose in the 1930s, and also for some recordings made with George Chisholm and Benny Carter. McQuater showed musical talent from an early age. Largely self-taught, he began on the cornet and by the age of 11 was a regular member of the Maybole Burgh Band – a brass band that won several competitions in the late 1920s – and played at local events and dances.[1]

McQuater turned professional in his teens and got a regular position with Louis Freeman's Band, which played at Greens Playhouse in Glasgow.[2]

In 1934, aged 20, McQuater was offered a job with one of London's most renowned bands: the Jack Payne Orchestra, which played in London and Paris. The following year he joined Lew Stone's band[2] and made the classic recording of "Pardon Me, Pretty Baby". In the 1940s, McQuater joined The Squadronaires.

Leaving the Squadronaires at the end of the 1940, McQuater joined the Skyrockets at the London Palladium for over a year. From 1952 he joined the BBC Show band and started to broadcast regularly with Kenny Baker's Dozen. He freelanced widely in the 1960s, with sessions for radio, television and films and appeared regularly with Jack Parnell's ATV Orchestra.

He can be heard in the signature music for Steptoe and Son, on backing tracks for Thunderbirds and on many of hit records. His TV work included his playing the featured trumpet parts in The Muppet Show, throughout its 1976 - 1981 run.[3]

McQuater often performed with John McLevy[2] in the 1970s and 1980s. In his later years, he concentrated his energy and playing around the Ealing Jazz Festival.[4]

Death

He died in London, aged 93, and was survived by his two sons.

Select discography

With Johnny Dankworth

With George Chisholm

  • Early Days 1935-1944 (Timeless Holland)

With Bert Ambrose & His Orchestra

With Kenny Baker

With Tommy Watt and His Orchestra

With The Vile Bodies Swing Band

References

  1. ↑ The Guardian obituary, guardian.co.uk; accessed 22 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Vacher, Peter (26 January 2008). "Tommy McQuater: The last of a line of great jazzmen, his musical career spanned eight decades". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "Tommy McQuater: Illustrious jazz trumpeter". The Independent. 7 April 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "Tommy McQuater". 24 January 2008. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 26 January 2019.


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