TRIBUTES to Gay McIntyre record a man with an enormous talent, considered one of the greatest jazz musicians Ireland has ever produced.
Although he was 88 years old when he died this week, age didn’t stop him playing his alto sax and clarinet. In fact he said that even at 80 he felt his music was getting better and better.
I can speak of him as a man who came to Ulster Television studios on a regular basis, especially to be part of The White Line as a member of the Billy White quartet - Billy on piano, Norman Watson on guitar, Billy McAlpine on bass and Tommy Thomas on drums.
The 1970s and '80s were the days when jazz was king. We jived to it and we slow danced to it, jazz encompassed every mood and Gay was at the heart of it, as Tommy recalls.
“We played together for three years and those programmes were so popular they sold round the network - in fact I was able to buy my house on the strength of them.
"He also played on Tommy James's shows. I remember one of Tommy’s introductions, a Cockney from London and not long in Northern Ireland: ‘And now for Mrs Jennings in County Fur-man-a, Gay McIntyre on alto sax’.
"I’m honouring the memory of many happy years playing with the inimitable Gay McIntyre, a huge loss to the Northern Ireland jazz fraternity, but he leaves a legacy of inspiration to many young aspiring musicians. My sincere condolences to Irene and family.”
Gloria Hunniford spoke of her fond memories of a professional, “reliable and lovely to be around”.
“We used him on Good Evening Ulster as often as possible for his superb playing and his dry sense of humour."
Candy Devine sent her thoughts from Brisbane, Australia: “I am so sad to hear of Gay’s demise. He was the head of the talented McIntyre musical dynasty and a great ambassador for jazz. I loved working with Gay, particularly on The White Line with the other jazz legends.”
I was a production assistant in those days, working in the studio control room timing programmes and calling shots. Between finishing rehearsal and going ‘on air’ there was half an hour or so to check sound and lights, props and positions.
Coffee was often brought back into the studio as cameramen and musicians - and me - sat around as the boys began to jam, playing their jazz their way and it was a joy to listen.
Gay was in his element at these times, he was amongst the people who mattered to him and they all understood each other without words.
He knew when he was a teenager that music was his life once he heard a Benny Goodman recording and his father saved up for two years to buy his son a clarinet. It was a precious investment.
His son played with the stars of the time, Acker Bilk, Louis Stewart and Nat King Cole, and travelled across Ireland from the Cork Jazz Festival to the Queen's Festival when we all enjoyed the Guinness Spot, but specifically in his birthplace Donegal and his home in Derry.
The last time I met Gay was some years ago in Cafe Vaudeville in Belfast. We sat in the opulent scarlet and gold setting, palms and pillars, and we agreed it was just the right background for two old friends to sit and reminisce.
There was plenty to talk about and, like his life, it all hinged around music.
We send our love and sympathies to his wife and family.
Anne Hailes
