My father, the trad jazz trumpeter Mike Peters, who has died aged 89, was renowned for telling gags on stage. One of his well-worn favourites when roll-calling the band was to refer to a band member as “the late [insert name here]” along with a story of their tardiness. Now he is himself “the late Mike Peters”, the memory of his funny one-liners, tall stories and entertaining musicianship will still raise a smile among family and friends.
Born to Francis, an ironmonger, and Natalie (nee Lazarus), in Harrow, north-west London, Mike first fell in love with jazz and the trumpet at the age of 10. The object of his affection was the playing of the trumpeter Avery “Kid” Howard on the Climax Recordings with George Lewis and his New Orleans Stompers.
