My old friend and JK supporter - he was fine when I spoke to him a few weeks ago.

Short Obit in The Times says he had a "long illness" but he sounded fine when I spoke to him a few weeks ago. Still, it did tell me about some of the labels he used to work for in the 1960s. Interestingly, in the 1970s he took on my arranger Johnny Arthey - in fact, it was me who told him that JA had died some years ago and he was devastated. Life goes on - or not, in so many peoples' cases these days.

I was surprised to hear this.

I heard him doing a show on Boom Radio just about a week or ten days ago. Maybe it was recorded. I listened to it because I thought he might make mention to the passing away of Russell Stone on 21st August, who as R & J Stone scored a top five hit single, the delightful 'We Do It' early in 1976 with his wife Joanne, who was sadly lost not long after this hit. Phil Swern I believe produced this magnificent song and it was his first hit. How ironic he passed just ten days after Russell.

I wonder what will become of his magnificent record collection, he amassed every UK top 40 hit single since 1952, and one imagines he was still doing this until near the end.

JK2006 wrote:
Short Obit in The Times says he had a "long illness" but he sounded fine when I spoke to him a few weeks ago. Still, it did tell me about some of the labels he used to work for in the 1960s. Interestingly, in the 1970s he took on my arranger Johnny Arthey - in fact, it was me who told him that JA had died some years ago and he was devastated. Life goes on - or not, in so many peoples' cases these days.

The years do go by, many people keep illnesses to themselves, they don't want the fuss or sympathy. They accept their demise, some see death as another journey.

Why didn't you use Johnny Arthey on the first Genesis album? A lot of people hate the strings, I like the strings, especially on Fireside Song, not forgetting Tony Banks playing the intro. I have always envisioned Tony playing the intro and then getting up for a cup of tea and biscuit, then thinking to himself "That was good, I like that." Whilst reading JK's newspaper.




I like the archive's photos from the sessions with JK on the Ant Phillips site.

www.anthonyphillips.co.uk/features/fgtr50.html