It's nice to be asked to a birthday party: even when it's an 80th; especially when it's an 80th and the birthday boy is an old friend whose band I played in during 1964 and 1965.
Keith Wilson ran a very fine group during that time and I was pleased to be involved. I had just started to add clarinet to my repertoire and was most impressed with his clarinet playing. What a beautiful sound, I thought. When he told me it was a plastic clarinet I decided that is what I would get, and I did. But in 1965 things changed. I was called up and went to Sydney where I stayed for 10 years. The first three years were in a military band and then I moved on into local group work and then orchestras.
Meanwhile, Keith and mutual friend Brian Fitzgerald took their music to Vietnam and I saw them very rarely after that. After some decades, Brian and I enjoyed presenting shows with my group Serenadio featuring his great playing , singing and arranging. It was he who mentioned Keith's 80th and on a lovely Saturday in May, we met again in a Geelong bowling club taken over for the party.
It. was a great occasion with many friends and family of course, and lots and lots of music. And who was playing? Well it was Keith of course, his wife Christine playing superb keys (also Brian on keys), their two sons and old colleagues on bass, drums and guitar. And at 80, Keith was in great form, and that's what I am including in these clips from the party.
C Jam Blues at 80th
Keith on flute
An interesting item which I had not told Keith was this:
a couple of years ago, I was listening to an Arts program interview with Benjamin Northey, Resident Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, a fine musician indeed. He said, "I have to say I was very fortunate to have great teachers and mentors, like Keith Wilson." Well said, Ben.