'Dave Smith Hangs Up His Banjo'

The Midland jazz scene will never be quite the same again, but then, neither will The Heart of England Jazz Band, since Dave Smith hung up his banjo, just before Christmas. As with most of the ‘senior’ members of The Heart of England Jazz Band, Dave had played in The Arthur Brown Jazz Band, joining it in 1987 and remaining therein until 1997 when Arthur joined Pete Allen and with the acquisition of Pete Ainge The Heart of England Jazz Band was born.

Inspired, as were many of us of Dave’s generation., by the Trad/Skiffle boom of the 1950s, Dave initially learned to play the guitar and joined a school-based skiffle group; he transferred to the banjo in the late 1950s. The first jazz band he joined in the early 1960s, called The Saratoga Jazz  Band, was led by Tony Billingsley. Dave then took time out from jazz until 1976 whilst family commitments took priority.

On returning to the jazz scene, Dave joined ‘Big’ Eric Dodgson’s Trent Valley Stompers, staying for three and a half years, until joining The Dixieland Stompers  in 1979. Avid for even more notoriety, he also joined the The Royal Garden Hot Six - an offshoot of The Dixieland Stompers. In 1982 Dave formed The Muskrat Ramblers, with Dave Chisholm.

1984 saw the beginning of two spells with The Martinique Jazz Band, ending in 1987 when he joined The Arthur Brown Jazz Band. He played for 6 months with the renowned Eagle Jazz Band in the late 1990s and also made regular appearances with the satellite of that band - Tony ’Slideman’ Hobson’s Goodtime Jazz Band.

Always much more than a mere sideman, after 10 years in The Arthur Brown Jazz Band, Dave’s organisational ability and professional skills as a computer graphics businessman were frequently evident in his contributions to the running of a busy band, becoming even more complex and wide-ranging later, as The Heart of England Jazz Band gained in popularity and prestige.

The Band rarely performed any gig without a printed programme for each member of the Band, listing the numbers that were to be played. This frequent and ever-changing task fell to Dave, as did the rôle of wardrobe mistress! Undoubtedly inspired by the galaxy of outfits worn by The Arthur Brown Jazz Band (at one period in that band we had black, white, blue, red and yellow trousers - not to mention shorts - to choose from!), Dave had an eye for the ‘colourful’, even exotic! Any slightly below par musical performance was always countered by the dazzling (sometimes alarming) shirts that the Band sported! The very names the Band had for some of the shirts conveyed their sometimes bizarre nature; names like: ‘yachts, pineapple, plum’ and ‘sunset’!

Undoubtedly, the many people from all reaches of the UK and elsewhere, who accompanied the Band on its many trips to Gran Canaria will have Dave to be grateful to, for undertaking bookings, accommodation arrangements and performing a continuous PR/courier style function during the fortnight stay.

Dave’s banjo playing echoed his administrative skills: always reliable, accurate and well-prepared. He was always happy to attempt new tunes, and although not renowned for his vocal abilities, had bribed a small but vociferous following of devotees who frequently requested his outrageous, Black Country vocal version of ‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love’.

Despite the frequently worried look that often adorned Dave’s face, underneath was a prankster who remained a Just William - like schoolboy at heart. Never averse to hiding under tables from other members of the Band, shaking vigorously their unopened cans of lager, making apple-pie beds, etc.!

It was this kind of humour which characterised the Band, and undoubtedly led to its popularity. Dave was always profoundly aware of the fact that we were performers whose aim was to entertain, and that often meant breaking some age-old musical rules, which for a very sad few meant musical blasphemy.

We hope that Dave enjoys his retirement as much as so many people over many decades have enjoyed his varied but always professional contributions to a musical form that has always, and will continue, to make people happy.

Selwyn  Newton                                                                                          
February 2010