John Lawrence

Oct 8 2007 by David Charters, Liverpool Daily Post

WHEN old jazzmen rolled into town eager to reminisce, they often bunked down at the home of the tall man with the thick grey hair and dry humour, who blew his cornet at perfect pitch on that celebrated night, more than 50 years ago, when the Cavern Club opened in Liverpool.

He was young and confident then, this son of a cork merchant, living for tomorrow like all the others, never imagining that he was entering into folk history.

And next Thursday many musicians will line the road down between the lawns to play with soul Just A Closer Walk with Thee, as the coffin of their friend is carried into the chapel at Landican Cemetery, Wirral.

Everyone liked John (Johnny) Lawrence, cornetist with the Merseysippi, now the oldest jazz band in the world.

John was performing with them until about a year ago. “You get to the point when your body tells you to stop,” he said.

He had joined the Merseysippi in 1950 and was with them when they opened the Cavern on January 16, 1957. With him were Frank Robinson (piano and still playing), Don Lydiatt (clarinet, still playing), John Haworth (trombone), Ken Baldwin (banjo and guitar), Dick Goodwin (double bass), and Trevor Carlisle (drums).

More than 600 people had crammed into the cellar to hear their versions of trad-jazz standards such as Muskrat Ramble and Snake Rag. More were locked out on Mathew Street. Some years later, another group of young men would appear there, but that’s another story.

Lawrence was born in Twickenham. After leaving Thames Valley School, he served in the Education Corps of the Parachute Regiment towards the end of the war.

He then managed the Liverpool branch of his father’s business, which dealt in wine corks, flooring and orthopaedic footwear.

Lawrence, who lived in Oxton, Birkenhead, continued the business in Pleasant Hill Street until retirement in 1994.

Although never chart-toppers, the Merseysippi was a respected band, who appeared in jazz festivals all over the world including the Sacramento Jamboree.

Lawrence’s widow, Jasmine, and their son Andrew, along with Tony Davis, a family friend and fellow jazzman, are inviting musicians to gather at the cemetery at 2.30pm on Thursday.

“I will miss my stylish and intelligent buddy so much,” wrote trombonist, Cambell Burnap, on his farewell card.

John Lawrence, jazzman; born April 1, 1925, died October 2, 2007.