Our recent story about the discovery of T-shirts promoting a Ronnie Scott’s music festival almost 30 years ago has resulted in fabulous memories from a pianist who took part.
Pianist Ben Waters, who has played with The Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck and Chuck Berry, featured in the Rhythm & Blues Showcase at the then Ronnie Scott’s club in Broad Street in September 1994.
The 36 T-shirts had remained hidden inside a cardboard box ever since, until recently being opened following the relocation of Big Bear Music’s offices from Hagley Road to Quayside Tower in Broad Street earlier this year.
Our coverage of that story has now led to a request for one of the historic shirts from Ann Waters, the mum and former manager of Ben, who performed on that day 29 years ago as the Ben Waters Boogie Band.
And, to add to the nostalgia, Ann included a photo of Ben with comedy film star Leslie Nielsen and another musician, Julian Rout, who is wearing one of the original 1994 Ronnie Scott’s T-shirts.
The photo was taken during the recording of one of broadcaster Ned Sherrin’s Loose End BBC radio shows in Taunton, where Mr Nielsen had been promoting a local cider for which he filmed a series of TV ads in the early 90s.
Ann, who lives in Dorset, said: “I remember these T-shirts so well and it would mean so much if I could obtain at least one of them. Looking back through Ben’s archives I see that he performed at Ronnie Scott’s on 13 September 1994.
“And I see that James Hunter and The Jokers were also mentioned on the T-shirt, a band that went on to perform at Ben’s wedding in June 2000!”
Several of the size XXL t-shirts, which bear the words ‘Ronnie Scott’s proudly presents Rhythm & Blues Showcase’ and the dates 12-17 September 1994, have already been sold, with the rest included in a music memorabilia jumble sale on 17 September at Velvet Music Rooms.
Ann, who managed her son for more than 30 years, said he was “born to play piano”. She recalled: “One Christmas, when he must have been about 11, he picked up one of those Casio cassette players that all the kids wanted and found he could play anything.
“He then saw Fats Domino’s 60th birthday on television when he was about 13 and that inspired him.”
Ann said Ben, who is now 49, enrolled at music college but regularly played gigs at the same time.
“After a year in college, when he was 17, he received a call from Shakin’ Stevens inviting him to audition for his band. He went to Scarborough the next day and ended up playing for Shakin’ for 12 years before his own shows came in.
“Ben worked really hard in those early years but he’s gone on to great things, working with many of the most iconic musicians in the world.”
For the last 10 years Ben, who is married with two children, has also been a tour operator with his rock & roll holidays company including special music trips to see The Rolling Stones in Argentina and Bruce Springsteen in Rome.
For more information, visit www.rocknrollholidays.com. And, to learn more about Ben, visit www.benwaters.com
Main picture: (from left) Julian Rout, Leslie Nielsen and Ben Waters
