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Roger Hughes Rae (5 July 1939 - 4 August 2009) was a Scottish trombonist (especially jazz and big band), a composer, an arranger and a musical director.

Roger started playing trombone in the Coatbridge Brass Band and spent much of his time as a student at Glasgow University playing jazz and fixing gigs. (George Penman was one of his early associates and Penman's band celebrated 50 years in the business in July 2009. Unfortunately Roger was too ill to attend the celebrations and George himself died shortly afterwards.)He held a Diploma from Lille and while it is certain that he spent some time in France as a student (and was impressively fluent in both French and German) there have been many stories about his time there ... spending his 21st birthday in a country farm house where the inhabitants gave him their bread and wine while they went hungry ... jumping a train and going AWOL after being mistakenly conscripted into the French Army and narrowly missing being sent to the war in Algeria... and that's just a start ...

Sixties jazz revival …

When Roger came back from France he joined the great sixties jazz revival down in London and played with Dick Charlesworth's City Gents, Monty Sunshine and Terry Lightfoot's bands before returning to Glasgow as Principal Trombone in the BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra.

In 1974, leaving his young family in Scotland, he returned south and joined the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, touring with them for several years before becoming Musical Director of the 'Night Out Theatre Restaurant' Birmingham. During this time he was proud to Musically Direct a Royal Command Performance before HRH Princess Anne. The lure of disco finally finished the club off in 1985 and Roger returned to life on the road with the SLO, and depping with many other bands - including the BBC Big Band.

His association with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra finally ended in 2005 but he continued playing trombone in the Nick Ross Orchestra - where some of his former SLO colleagues still keep their chops in excellent professional playing order.

Roger had an association with school music teaching for many years and most trombone players in the Midlands will have been taught by, helped by or inspired by him. While all musicians have to think seriously about making money to pay the bills, he turned out on a regular basis for local bands and projects for nothing or for the price of the petrol if he thought it was the right thing to do.

Roger Rae is sadly no longer with us. He died at Russell Hall Hospital in Dudley after undergoing treatment for leukemia.

George Penman - in 1959, Rutherglen born pianist and bass player George Penman formed his Jazzmen, with Roger Rae on trombone.

Rae was a fine player and when opportunities came up not long after he had joined Penman’s band, he recommended George Kidd as his replacement. It was the beginning of a long, successful and sometimes fractious relationship between the two Georges.

Firstly, the band became very popular at a time before rock and pop bands took over the music scene. They appeared alongside well known names of the trad jazz boom including Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk and the Alex Welsh band, featured on radio and came to the attention of George Martin, who was label manager for Parlophone Records and about to become famous as the fifth Beatle.

The Penman band, which also included singer, banjo player and later all-round entertainer and TV and radio personality Alastair McDonald, made records including the now collectable Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream for Parlophone in the legendary Abbey Road studios. In 1962 they won the Scottish Band of the Year title and went on to win all the major trophies at the Northern Jazz Festival in Elgin.

By this time they had been joined by the teenaged singer Carol Delaney, who even at that time showed signs of being a major talent. She and George Kidd quickly became soulmates and when she turned 17 they married. In the mid-1960s Carol took time off from singing to become a full-time mum to the couple’s three children. George continued to play with Penman, did freelance recording sessions and broadcasts and toured Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and Canada.

The reason Penman always welcomed Kidd back was that he was such a good player. Even after their marriage broke up, Carol Kidd, who by this time was an internationally recognised talent, would hire George when there was a chance to expand her backing trio and George featured on Carol’s 1987 album, Nice Work, in an ensemble that also included the late saxophonist and broadcaster Gordon Cruickshank.

The Night Out Theatre Restaurant Birmingham opened in April 1974 at which time the resident 9 piece band was Eddie Grey and The Shades Of Grey featuring lead singer Patti Sommers. The support band was Delta Dawn lead by Jeff and Julie Botwood as previously mentioned by Jeff Jr. The General Manager was Clive Preston and head of security was Eddie Lister. David Goddard was Stage Director, Rick Solly on sound and Tony Jover on lights. Compere was Scott Paul Young.

Over the years the support band changed to Moonlight led by Jan and Bob Johnson, and then Misty Morning (I can only remember Misty's drummer's Name - Adge). Eddie Gray and Patti Sommers left and were replaced by Roger Rae and Sue Adams. Scott Paul Young was replaced by Ricky Disoni and then Frank Patterson, and Clive Preston was replaced by Paul Lillicrap (note the spelling - and he changed his name to that by deed poll, or so he told me).

I only went to the night out a couple of times but always preferred the smaller clubs like barbarellas and the dolce vita etc but i do remember seeing the Hollies there in the 70's, in my capacity as a musician I worked with a trombonist named Roger Rae, good player and a great guy ,sadly passed on about 18 months ago of lukeamia, and is much missed on the music scene, turns out that he used to play and arrange for both the house bands at the NightOut during its heyday,

Tony Jacobs brings his latest show to the Borough Theatre Abergavenny tomorrow night at 7.30pm October 12th 2007

‘Lets Face The Music’ pays tribute to two of the greatest musical talents of the twentieth century, Irving Berlin and Fred Astaire and features some of their best hit tunes and songs including - ‘Top Hat, White Tie and Tails’, ‘Always’, ‘Puttin' On The Ritz’, ‘Cheek To Cheek’, ‘One For My Baby’, ‘Alexander's Ragtime Band’, ‘How Deep Is The Ocean?’, ‘Change Partners’, ‘Isn't This A Lovely Day?’ … and many more including a medley of songs that were introduced to the world by the inimitable Astaire.

Jacobs presents the show with anecdotes about the songwriters and performers.

He is joined on stage by Sue Greenway's Hot Five, at the piano is Jacob's regular accompanist Jim Barry (BBC Radio Band) an on trombone is special guest from the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Roger Rae.

Obituary 2009

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A fine musician, he was a true gentleman, and is sadly missed by all those lucky enough to have known him. He led a full and varied life, firstly as Principal Trombone of the BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra and then as a member of the Syd Lawrence Orchestra. He left Syd’s band to become MD at the Night Out Theatre Restaurant in Birmingham, at that time Europe’s largest cabaret venue. During his tenure he was proud to have the honour of being MD for a Royal Command Performance. He was proud of being a Scot and was very much a Nationalist, but would never be argumentative or bullish about politics. He had also found time to be a stunt rider in the movies, appearing in Prince Valiant and had served with the French Army in Algeria. Fluent in several languages he could talk eloquently about any subject. I consider it an honour to have known him.

Marcus Green - Roger Rae was the featured trombone soloist here in this video clip of ‘Yes Indeed’, from the 2005 launch concert of our Every Breath CD. He passed away earlier this week.

I got to know Roger through his work with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, but he was more than a trombonist: composer, arranger and bandleader were also on his CV. And that doesn't begin to describe his gentle Scots wit, his quite love of a smoke or a drink, or his warm humanity. He was a friend to many, and his visits here to St Catherine's were special times.

St Catherine's Pontypridd in February 2005



I hope to be at his funeral next week. There will be many tales told ... and much love in those smiles, and tears. Sarah, his wife, was with him at the sudden and unexpected end. She is also a lovely person, and my prayers are now with her. It is typical of her that as I spoke to her this evening she should ask after my mother.

A true gentleman, who will be sadly missed by many people. Rest peacefully, Roger.

PS - Someone left a note on another of my Youtube videos with Roger on it. I'll add that clip here too, but there are so many I could put up for you. Roger was a lot of fun, and his smile, his quirky sense of humour, his quick eyes - I see them all in these few minutes of music.

Anonymous said ... Roger Rae. This man has been an inspiration to me for my entire secondary school life, having taught me trombone in school for 5 years. A truly special man, his spirit lives on in all of those people who saw him. Whether his clever wit, his constant smile, his love of music or his incredible trombone playing skill is what you will remember, this is one true gentleman who shall always be missed. His patience and firmness helped me through some tough and very unforgiving trombone techniques over the years, and every time I pick up my trombone now I shall remember him. I must say his death came as quite a shock to me. His liveliness and young attitude would never have given you the impression that he was 70 years of age! Altogether, a real legend for me, my school (King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys) and others I know who knew him. His chirpiness and ability to teach anybody and everybody will be sadly missed at camp hill, and my condolences to his family and friends. To the man who was friends with everyone.

RIP Roger Rae 2009.

John Wesley-Barker added ...

Thanks for posting this video of Roger. I only heard yesterday that he'd passed away. Bless him, he was a lovely person. I knew him through Birmingham Music Service, particularly the Birmingham Schools Wind Orchestra while I was conductor and he was trombone tutor for many years. The last I time I saw him was at the doctors surgery in Halesowen when I also had an appointment. I was on hard times after being shunned by the new management at Birmingham Music Service and he told me how the same had happened to him. I saw him with the Syd Lawrence band at the Usher Hall in about 2003 too. Great guy. Thanks for the video.

Anonymous Froggy said ...

I am so saddened to find out about the passing of Roger, a year later. Big John, if you read this comment, I am so sorry I didn't find out earlier. I used to phone Roger at least once a year after I left the UK, but I didn't last year because my mum passed away. My belated condolences go to his wife Sarah and his family. Roger had charisma, he was intelligent talented, refined. Salut l'artiste.

Really sorry to hear about Roger Rae - he was, as you say, a lovely guy.

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