Max Geldray Died
Waldo Centini
It is with deep sorrow that I report that Max Geldray died this morning
(Oct. 2). His wife, Susan, asked Max's oldest friend, Angela Morley, to
write his obituary, which is presented below.
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Max Geldray, Europe's and possibly the world's first jazz harmonica
player, has died peacefully at his home in Palm Springs, California.
He was born in 1916 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. His father played the
piano by ear and, at a very young age, Max followed his example.
Max loved to listen to jazz on the radio and Louis Armstrong became his
idol. At age sixteen, he heard a chromatic harmonica on the radio.
Buying one at the local music shop, he was soon playing jazz on it and, a
year later, formed a harmonica quartet with three other boys. He
broadcast from Radio Hilversum and, in 1936, was invited to play as a
soloist at Windsor Castle for the British Royal Family. In France he
became a featured player with the very popular Ray Ventura Orchestra
which appeared in two films one of which was "Tourbillon de Paris". When
the German Army invaded France in May 1940, Max escaped to England and
served, throughout the war, in the Princess Irene Brigade of the Dutch
Army in Britain. He was injured during the Normany landings and, forty
years later, received four medals from Holland for his service. As soon
as Amsterdam was liberated, Max went to find his parents only to be told
by neigbours that his parents and his twelve year old sister, Xaviere,
had been sent to German death camps. They were never heard from again.
Max decided to settle in England and obtained British citizenship. He was
soon broadcasting for the BBC and, in 1950, teamed up with little known
comedians, Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe, Spike Milligan and Michael
Bentine for a radio show called "Crazy People". The show became the
popular 1950's "The Goon Show" and Max Geldray became a household name.
After the show's nine year run, Max went on a world tour returning via
California. He was so impressed with California's sunshine and easy way
of life that he returned there permanently. Soon after his arrival, he
met a lady who became Mrs Susan Geldray and he became a loving stepfather
to Susan's three children, Judy, Timmy and Holly and some years later,
father to their son Philip. In his later years, Max became a counselor at
the Betty Ford Detoxification Center at the Eisenhower Hospital in Rancho
Mirage. He was also a favorite performer every year for ten years at the
popular "Jazz Without Booze" concerts that included some of Hollywood's
best talents. Max always carried his harmonica in his pocket and loved to
play wherever he found other jazz musicians. He is survived by his wife
Susan, his son Philip, stepdaughters Judy and Holly and several
grandchildren.
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Dick Baker - Falls Church, Virginia, USA
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Waldo
*** Is This A Dead Parrot I See Before Me ***
To respond through email remove removespam
Ben Ohmart
fans. I sent his wonderful book, Goon with the Wind, for him to sign,
which he did without delay. If you can find it used, it's well worth
reading for Goon fans.
Ben
On 3 Oct 2004 10:00:28 GMT, Waldo Centini
<waldoREMOVE...@zonnet.nl> wrote:
Voice of Disney's Haunted Mansion, The
Pillsbury Doughboy, half the Beatles & more:
http://www.paulfrees.com