I came across the following in Jazz Journal whilst searching for something else. I pass it on without comment but as the writer notes the intentions were laudable. In 1958 I guess 1,000GBP was a substantial sum of money. Any Brit here "of an age" to have attended either of these events?
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BRIAN NICHOLLS
JAZZMAN'S DIARY
Good Health, Bill
? About the only laudatory thing one can say about the two benefit concerts held in London in aid of Big Bill Broonzy was that they raised about ?1,000 for him. One must admit. of course, that this was the object; but the undertones of ill will that were sparked off were surely unnecessary.
? ?We will say no more about them at this stage, mainly because they would no doubt be libelous, but also because it is time that the wounds were allowed to heal.
? ?The concerts were curious affairs. The first one at the Coliseum was organised by H. Croft Associates, and was distinguished by some great jazz from the Lyttelton Band. Humph had his band and the guest stars who appeared with him at the theatre some two hours before the concert started. This was the sort of unselfish gesture that one associates with benefit concerts. During a collection amongst the audience, three prominent figures were pushed through the curtains to speak on behalf of Bill. One can only assume that a very poor briefing had been given, because the overall effect was hardly calculated to have us all digging in our pockets. Sandy Brown came for ward to harangue us in his thickest Hibernian accent with a lengthy anecdote about how Bill was used to drinking a bottle of Scotch a day, and we were left with the impression that our money would immediately upon receipt be turned into bottles of Scotch for Bill. Next Humph appeared and accused us of being insincere. His speech was a little involved, but the gist of it seemed to point to the fact that if Bill had made a recording of Hound Dog, and made a lot of money, we wouldn't have supported him now. Very true. He wouldn't have needed it. Lastly, through the curtains came Sister Rosetta Tharpe. She, of course, went off on a different track, and ended with a statement which can only be summarised as follows: "The good Lord's will will be done, and he will provide". In other words, don't bother to give any money, everything will be alright.
? ?On the following Friday, the midnight matinee at the Dominion took place. This raised ?500, almost entirely through the drawing power of Lonnie Donegan, Chris Barber and Ken Colyer. Certainly the people who came to help Big Bill ? other than the artists and the NJF [National Jazz Federation - BH] officials who organised the concert ? were very limited. This became apparent when Chris Barber stepped forward at the end to explain that they couldn't carry on playing any longer much as they would like to. "There is a penalty clause in our contract with the Theatre" he said "which means for every minute that we go on playing, money is being taken from Big Bill".?"So what", yelled someone in the front row.
---------------------
BRIAN NICHOLLS
JAZZMAN'S DIARY
Good Health, Bill
? About the only laudatory thing one can say about the two benefit concerts held in London in aid of Big Bill Broonzy was that they raised about ?1,000 for him. One must admit. of course, that this was the object; but the undertones of ill will that were sparked off were surely unnecessary.
? ?We will say no more about them at this stage, mainly because they would no doubt be libelous, but also because it is time that the wounds were allowed to heal.
? ?The concerts were curious affairs. The first one at the Coliseum was organised by H. Croft Associates, and was distinguished by some great jazz from the Lyttelton Band. Humph had his band and the guest stars who appeared with him at the theatre some two hours before the concert started. This was the sort of unselfish gesture that one associates with benefit concerts. During a collection amongst the audience, three prominent figures were pushed through the curtains to speak on behalf of Bill. One can only assume that a very poor briefing had been given, because the overall effect was hardly calculated to have us all digging in our pockets. Sandy Brown came for ward to harangue us in his thickest Hibernian accent with a lengthy anecdote about how Bill was used to drinking a bottle of Scotch a day, and we were left with the impression that our money would immediately upon receipt be turned into bottles of Scotch for Bill. Next Humph appeared and accused us of being insincere. His speech was a little involved, but the gist of it seemed to point to the fact that if Bill had made a recording of Hound Dog, and made a lot of money, we wouldn't have supported him now. Very true. He wouldn't have needed it. Lastly, through the curtains came Sister Rosetta Tharpe. She, of course, went off on a different track, and ended with a statement which can only be summarised as follows: "The good Lord's will will be done, and he will provide". In other words, don't bother to give any money, everything will be alright.
? ?On the following Friday, the midnight matinee at the Dominion took place. This raised ?500, almost entirely through the drawing power of Lonnie Donegan, Chris Barber and Ken Colyer. Certainly the people who came to help Big Bill ? other than the artists and the NJF [National Jazz Federation - BH] officials who organised the concert ? were very limited. This became apparent when Chris Barber stepped forward at the end to explain that they couldn't carry on playing any longer much as they would like to. "There is a penalty clause in our contract with the Theatre" he said "which means for every minute that we go on playing, money is being taken from Big Bill".?"So what", yelled someone in the front row.