Duncan Lamont(1931-2019)

Duncan Lamont was born on July 4, 1931 in Greenock, Scotland. Lamont began his career in the music industry leading his own band as a trumpet player in Scotland, which won him recognition from the illustrious publication Melody Maker in 1951. Following a stint with Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists in London, Duncan eventually switched from playing the trumpet to tenor saxophone and soon established himself as a highly proficient jazz studio player. Besides working with numerous popular British dance bands and jazz groups, Lamont has worked with a slew of top musical artists who include Paul McCartney, Mel Tormé, [error], Peggy Lee, Nelson Riddle, Rosemary Clooney, Fred Astaire, Count Basie, Bing Crosby, Benny Carter, Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, Gil Evans, Spike Milligan, and Willis Holman. Among the songs that Duncan has composed are "Carousel," "I Told You So," "Not You Again," and "Manhattan in the Rain." Moreover, Lamont has not only worked as both a conductor and arranger for the BBC for many years, but also led a dance band for eleven years to raise money for cancer research as well as served as music editor for Crescendo & Jazz Magazine. Duncan won the John Dankworth Jazz Award for Longstanding Talent in 1999.