2008 marks the centenary of Nat Gonella's birth. He was born in Islington on March 7th 1908 and was the first British musician to establish a major reputation as a jazz soloist.Jazz may have come to Britain in 1919 but throughout the 1920's and 1930's it was played at hotels, restaurants and parties - from which the vast majority of the population were excluded. When Nat left the Lew Stone orchestra at the Monsigneur Restaurant to play variety halls around the country - and make radio broadcasts - he brought jazz music for everyone. He made the music accessible and hot. Nat Gonella almost singlehandedly broke black music on British ears.Come his centenrary year little is planned in celebration of his life and you are pushed to find his recordings in the large record stores. The "largest" in the country, HMV Oxford Street, currently has one CD from this vast body of
excellent music which inspired a generation of jazz fans and musicians.Please become a friend of this site and if you have time write to your local radio station, or the BBC, to ask them to remember Nat Gonella on March 7th. If you have a local jazz club please ask THEM to remember Nat.Any news of events which will celebrate Nat's life in 2008 will be posted here - so please let us know of any!
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