Don Lusher, the jazz and big band trombonist best known for leading the Ted Heath Jazz Band, passed away on Wednesday afternoon, his wife said. He was 82 years old.
In a career spanning more than 60 years, he played with a number of groups and was twice president of the British Trombone Society.
Lusher was honoured in the 2002 New Year's Honours list with an OBE for services to the music industry. Born in Peterborough in 1923, he joined the British military during World War Two.
He played with Salvation Army bands whenever possible, and a concert at a military base by Geraldo and his Orchestra - at which Heath would play trombone - convinced him that he could pursue a career in music.
He would eventually become a member of Heath's band and would establish himself as one of the best-known trombonists in the UK.
During the 1990s, Lusher was reunited with some of the musicians who had been in his band to play a number of tribute concerts.
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