Wally Wrightman obituary

Mark Bennister

My uncle Wally Wrightman, who has died aged 77, was a larger than life character, a jazz musician, promoter and radio broadcaster. He was born in Tottenham, north London, one of five children, and became hooked on music at an early age. After leaving the RAF in 1955, Wally had a number of jobs, mostly in sales, but he really wanted to perform. He played the double bass and sang in the emerging 1960s London Soho jazz scene, including playing at the famous Mandrake Club. It was in one of these clubs that Judy Garland happened to be in the audience and requested that he repeat one of his songs.

Wally featured on the 1962 Trafalgar Square photo of hip jazz musicians, mirroring Art Kane's famous Harlem photo from four years earlier. However, a close encounter with the Kray twins convinced him that it was time to leave London and led him to seek work as a musician on cruise ships. Cruising took him to Australia where he settled in Sydney.

He became involved in show-business management, enjoying great success throughout the rest of the 60s and 70s with some of Australia's top acts on his books. Wally went on to form Anthem Management and booked acts on many of Australia's top variety shows. He toured stars such as Debbie Reynolds, Dusty Springfield and Count Basie. In the latter years of his career he once again focused most of his attention on jazz. Wally represented many local acts and brought international acts such as Buddy Greco and Barbara Morrison to some of Australia's top jazz venues. He also turned his hand to production with the guitarist Martin Taylor. Wally's contemporaries and friends included Ronnie Scott, Jack Parnell and Laurie Morgan; some of the UK's most iconic jazz performers.

Wally's depth and breadth of knowledge of jazz led him to his dream job as jazz presenter on Eastside Radio in Sydney. He was made for the job and became the station's longest serving presenter. His natural, relaxed style, infectious wit and inside knowledge of the entertainment business instantly made him a favourite on the station. In addition to breathing life into old classics and championing newer jazz acts, he conducted a series of memorable interviews with politicians, writers, poets and entertainers including James Moody, Georgie Fame and Clive James.

Wally is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; brother, Jack; and sisters Betty, Stella and Anne.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2012/jan/29/wally-wrightman-obituary