Obit: Lee Abbott bass player with Magna Carta

Subject: RE: Obit: Lee Abbott bass player with Magna Carta
From: GUEST,Ron Eve
Date: 09 Aug 17 - 07:20 AM

I've only just come across this news of Lee.

We both grew up in Bellman Avenue in Gravesend. Both of us went to the Grammar School although he was a couple of years younger. We were friends on and off. He was a lovely chap, very quiet and gentle. Funny thing though, although we both worked in the music biz I never knew he went on to play bass professionally!

Belated condolences to his family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Lee Abbott bass player with Magna Carta
From: GUEST,Clive drummer
Date: 13 Dec 14 - 03:22 AM

I met Lee at a coffee bar in Gravesend in 1963 and mentioned that I was playing drums for a group (Sunbeats - lead Geof Whitehorn) with no bass. He agreed to come along and joined us. A talented musician who made a huge difference. I remember Lee as being very calm, capable and a really nice person.

Subject: RE: Obit: Lee Abbott bass player with Magna Carta
From: cptsnapper
Date: 17 Feb 13 - 09:56 AM

The last posting above was from me.

Subject: RE: Obit: Lee Abbott bass player with Magna Carta
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Feb 13 - 09:36 AM

I agree with those sentiments

Subject: RE: Obit: Lee Abbott bass player with Magna Carta
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Feb 13 - 07:07 AM

Still miss you Lee. A big part of my musical and personal life. Geoff Everett

Subject: RE: Obit: Lee Abbott bass player with Magna Carta
From: GUEST,Dave Caleno-ex original keys
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 02:41 PM

Just found this reference to passing of Lee Abbott. A sad loss to an old friend. I played rhythm guitar in the original group along with Dave Manning, Geoff Everett, Nick Caleno, and a few other old school mates. I remember his old converted six string bass and the times we played gigs and moved all our equipment on the local buses. Condolences, albeit late, to his family, a good person then and sadly missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Lee Abbott bass player with Magna Carta
From: cptsnapper
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 12:32 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Obit: Lee Abbott bass player with Magna Carta
From: cptsnapper
Date: 11 Mar 12 - 01:08 PM

Lee's funeral will take place on Monday 19th.March. at St.John's church Knaresboro' at 12.00

Subject: RE: Obit: Lee Abbott bass player with Magna Carta
From: cptsnapper
Date: 09 Mar 12 - 02:48 AM

IN MEMORIAM

                                                    LEE ABBOTT - Bass

                                    21st January 1950   ~   4th March 2012.

Lee was born in Gravesend, way down on the Thames estuary. His father, Arthur, worked in the docks; his mother, Grace, worked on bringing him into the world.
From school to building sites he had an idea way down in his quiet soul that music was to be the way ahead.
He told me, and I think that went for so many of us, 'I was working on an assembly line at the time and heard the Beatles. That was it. Sorted.'
He had a great love of anything original. A great set of ears. He went on up to London all the time, catching everyone and everything and soaking it in like water into a sponge.
His chosen instrument was bass.
Later heavily influenced by Jaco Pastorious, at this time, he checked out the incredible Danny Thompson, working with the fledgling Pentangle. This led him on to Magna Carta. The acoustic threesome that went on to make inroads into the charts. He loved their originality and Danny, at the time, involved them into Pentangle gigs, apart from playing on the first six albums.
Lee's time was way up ahead.
He went out professionally through various bands touring Europe. Then a set of gigs with Albert Lee.
Cutting his chops as he went, it occurred to him to get in touch with Magna Carta, and sent a resume of his musical journey so far,
He always maintained, 'I was a fan from the start.'
It was Tom Hoy who called him back in '75.
'Want to come on in?'
We checked him out. He was just so good. Folk clubs to the Albert Hall. 8 million albums later.
All these years later; so many countries across the world under his belt.
From the hotlands to the Arctic Circle, we toured. So many albums were made, his stunning basslines underpinning the sound, and what I always loved and respected about him was his deep love of the music and the vast reservoir of experience that he drew upon.
Sure, we fell out, but then that made the falling back in all the sweeter. Is that not the way of things? But I value and appreciate the friendship we enjoyed thereafter so much.
Through Magna Carta, he met his wonderful wife, Shirley. A diamond. Nothing less.
He leaves a son, Tom, and daughter, Alex, and this 'diamond' thing is quite catching.
For they are diamonds too.
Oh, Lee, so many nights we pulled the stars out of the sky and used them for musical place mats. Once you were there on that stage,- I knew it would always be OK.
Today, well, you've moved on and your kind will not come this way again.
I'll miss you. The wit; the crazy stories, but above all - the style of a great musician.
In the words of a Tina Turner hit…you were, and always will be….
'Simply the Best.'
Love you now and always.
Chris Simpson.
Magna Carta

Subject: RE: Obit: Lee Abbott bass player with Magna Carta
From: GUEST,Jan Kestell
Date: 06 Mar 12 - 03:14 PM

Just heard the news from my brother(wackford) cant believe Lee has gone.A beautiful person xx

Subject: RE: Obit: Lee Abbott bass player with Magna Carta
From: cptsnapper
Date: 06 Mar 12 - 08:44 AM

You can checkout the Magna Carta site on Facebook if you're interested.

Subject: RE: Obit: Lee Abbott bass player with Magna Carta
From: GUEST,John James
Date: 06 Mar 12 - 07:12 AM

Like many people I knew Lee through his association with Magna Carta. Chris's group had many line-up changes..but I remember touring Portugal with them and the line-up of Magna Carta was Chris, Doug M.,George Norris (himself) and Lee on bass.
Very sad news. Too young to go.

Subject: RE: Obit: Lee Abbott bass player with Magna Carta
From: GUEST,Dave Manning
Date: 05 Mar 12 - 12:01 PM

I was the drummer in Lee's first band The Original Keyes almost fifty years ago. A fine musician and thoroughly nice guy.

Subject: Obit: Lee Abbott bass player with Magna Carta
From: cptsnapper
Date: 05 Mar 12 - 07:21 AM

I've just had news of the death of Lee Abbott, husband of Shirley and father to my two godchildren Tom & Alex ( Pud ). A brilliant musician and a good friend who will be sadly missed.