The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #143010   Message #3298914
Posted By: GUEST,Dave Illingworth
30-Jan-12 - 07:12 AM
Thread Name: Obit: Tony Goldsmith (piano) 1946-2012
Subject: Obit Tony Goldsmith (piano_) 1946-2012
Sad to report Tony Goldsmith (pianist) died on 19th January (age 65) after 12 months battling cancer. in 50 years of music Tony played in various bands and styles. He was at his best playing a slow blues, up-tempo boogie or jazz-stride piano, but could accompany ballads such as "Raglan Road" with great sensitivity. One of his early bands was Sunday St. Petersburg (1967) with the late singer Alan Briars (who later ran the Trowbridge Village Pump Festival). I first met Tony at the Fuddling Folk Club at the Prince of Wales, Hampton Wick in 1984. With me he joined Terrapin Station, who did several gigs at SW London folk clubs. Then we started Pigfoot, playing not only London and the home counties but also South Wales (two years running at the Pontardawe Festival) and Amsterdam, plus broadcasta on BBC Radio Kent and BBC Greater London Radio. Tony's day-job meant a move to Devizes (Wiltshire) in 1989 and fewer Pigfoot gigs.
However, he reunited with Alan Briars in The Jelly Roll Boys and Tinker's Cuss. After Alan's death, Tony formed several other bands
including the Tony Goldsmith Blues Band and The Blue Lizard Kings
(playing a mix of Irish tunes and jazz standards). It was in this latter group that he played his very last gig in July 2011 at the Marlborough Jazz featival.
Funeral on Wednesday 1st February at St. John's Church, Devizes (2pm).

Dave Illingworth