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Ray Dempsey - Jazz Guitarist
Five Foot Films met Ray Dempsey two years ago as
part of their research on Ken Sykora.
He was living in London and in very good form. They spent the
evening chatting with him about his recollections of Ken,
Guitar Club and of course Django (Ray's another huge fan).
Ray sat in the Guitar chair for Edmundo Ros, Vic Lewis, Kenny Grahams
Afro Cubists
Bill Russo -
London Jazz Orchestra c1962
The personnel:
Ron Simmonds, Leon Calvert, Gordon Rose, Kenny Wheeler or Tony Mabbett (trumpets)
Johnny Edwards, Don Lusher, Bobby Lamb, Keith Christie or Tony Russell,
Jack Thirlwall (trombones)
Johnny Scott, Al Newman, Duncan Lamont, Art
Ellefson, Ronnie Ross (saxes)
Ray Dempsey (guitar),
Arthur Watts (bass), Kenny Clare (drums)
Raymond Clark, Derek Simpson, Hilary Robinson, Jack Holmes (‘cellos)
Richard Morgan (oboe)
Kenny Graham - tenor
Victor Feldman - vibes, piano, drums, conga
Phil Seamen - vibes, drums, timbales
Ray Dempsey - guitar
Eric Peter - bass
Dizzy Reece - conga
Barry Morgan - maracas, timbales
 Ray
Dempsey was contracted along with Rupert Nurse
(Doublebass) and Tony Kinsey (drums) by Mary
Lou Williams, the pianist to play with her London Quartet, in
1953 they made a number of recordings with
Carlo Krahmer (Esquire Records) including tunes sponsored by
Melody Maker and the New Musical Express.
First issued on 78rpm's. I believe several were later issued on a series
of EP's - a couple of which are in my vinyl collection. Ray stayed with
Mary Lou for all of her British residencies. She was also an early
player in the US Civil Rights movement and was
encouraged by many British Jazzmen and notably Beryl Bryden
who had assisted her with finance.
Ray was in great demand as a session man and appeared
on dozens of recordings, usually un-credited. He played
with Tony Crombie's short lived 'Sweet Beat'
orchestra... One 1957 LP - 'Sweet Beat' (Parlophone 33s
1117) in my library
The basement of Carlo's Bedford Court Mansions served as a makeshift
'Studio' and we have to observe that without Carlo's 'make do and mend'
studio many of the 50's jazzmen would not have been recorded.
Info from archives and research completed on Esquire Records, late 90's
by Alex B
Ray gave me Guitar lessons in 1952,
when he lived in Milborough Crescent SE6, after one lesson, he took me to Ken
Sykora’s flat (in Gower Street) when they played some marvellous duets. Ken also
had one of those disc recording machines.
After about a years lessons, Ray went on tour with a dance
troupe, the name of which I cant remember, and he recommended Roland
Harker (Segovia’s Understudy) as a very good teacher, so I had some
more tuition from Roland. In
November 1949 Rays photo appeared on the front page
of the BMG magazine, (which I have) and again in mid 50s with Peter Sensior,
which I dont have.
May I ask if Ray is still with us?, he would be 88, I am sure Ray wouldn’t
remember me, but if you have contact with him, could you pass on my best wishes,
and thanks for being such a patient teacher.
I would always welcome any
info about Ray's career after 1952. Hoping you can find
something of interest in this Email, thanks for reading, - Dennis T
If anyone has an Image of Ray Dempsey or can add information please
advise.
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PAUL
VERNON CHESTER
