James Shepherd

James Shepherd (25 November 1936 – 22 June 2023) was an English cornet player from Northumberland, described as one of the world's most respected players of the instrument, having won the Championship Soloist of Great Britain Prize in three consecutive years (1962-4). He was principal cornet of Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band from 1960 to 1963, then the Black Dyke Band from 1963 to 1973, before forming a brass ensemble, James Shepherd Versatile Brass, which he led until 1989. He was also principal cornet of the Virtuosi Brass Band, a recording ensemble assembled by Eric Ball.

Biography

Early life He was born on 25 November 1936 in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, the son of James, a coal miner and cornet player, and Elizabeth, née Wood. He began playing at around age 8 and initially learned from his father, and then with George Wright, the conductor at Newbiggin Colliery Band.

He left school at 15 to work at the local Co-op store, then did national service in the Royal Army Medical Corps, where he also developed his musical skills.

His time with Black Dyke also gave Shepherd the opportunity to play in smaller brass ensembles, including a quartet that won the British Quartet Championships, and the Black Dyke Octet. This interest would eventually lead him to form his own brass ensemble. and contributed the theme music for the 1983 sitcom Hallelujah!. He continued to play regularly with the group until 1989. The band continued, with Shepherd making occasional guest appearances, until they played for the last time at the Millgate Arts Centre in Delph on 16 December 2015.

In 1972, he was selected as principal cornet of the Virtuosi Brass Band of Great Britain, a recording ensemble of top players assembled by composer Eric Ball, and helped Ball to select the rest of the players. The ensemble would go on to record nine LPs for RCA Records.

In 1980 he won the Best Soloist prize at the Brass in Concert championships with the Ever Ready Band.

A biography, entitled Legends in Brass: James Shepherd, The Famous Newbiggin-by-the-Sea Cornet Player, was written by Christopher D. Helme and published by Mews Publishing in 1999.

In 2009, Jayess Newbiggin brass band was founded, named in honour of Shepherd.

In 2022, Brass Bands England presented Shepherd with a Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual conference. His obituary in the Daily Telegraph described him as "the outstanding cornet player of his generation.