Cyril Laurie was an English jazz clarinettist and bandleader.
10 Facts About Cy Laurie
1.
2.
Cy Laurie put together his own band in 1947; George Melly debuted in this ensemble in 1948.
3.
Cy Laurie was a leading figure in the post 1945 trad jazz boom in the UK.
4.
Cy Laurie ran his own club in Windmill Street, Soho, London from 1951 and headed a seven-member ensemble; sidemen in this group included Chris Barber, Alan Elsdon, Al Fairweather, Graham Stewart and Colin Smith.
5.
Cy Laurie's Club was in a basement in Ham Yard in Great Windmill Street, opposite the Windmill Theatre, which went on to become the famous subculture club The Scene in the 1960s.
6.
Cy Laurie quit music from 1960 to 1968, and travelled to India to study meditation with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
7.
Cy Laurie returned in 1968 to lead another ensemble at the end of the decade.
8.
Cy Laurie's career saw a resurgence late in the 1970s; he toured in ensembles as a soloist and sometimes led his own groups.
9.
Cy Laurie played with Eggy Ley and Max Collie in the 1980s.
10.
Cy Laurie died on 18 April 2002, and was survived by his partner Ronnie.