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Freddy Randall was born Frederick James Randall on May 6, 1921 in Clapton, East London, England. Becoming interested in music in school the self-taught musician took up the trumpet at 16, never learned to read music but still achieved a high degree of technical proficiency with a flair and exuberance which marked him out. He began playing in local bands including Albert Bale’s Darktown Strutters and Will De Barr’s Band.

Randall’s heroes were the so-called Dixieland players out of Chicago like Wild Bill Davison and Muggsy Spanier and his own playing reflected their influence as he led the St. Louis Four in 1939. After military service he played Freddy Mirfield and John Dankworth before leading his own Dixieland groups in the late forties that featured many well-known English trad jazz stars of the era.

By 1958 Freddy left music due to lung problems, not resurfacing until ’63 playing with Dave Shepherd and recording for Black Lion Records. Over the course of his career Randall played with visiting American jazz musicians Sidney Bechet, Bud Freeman, Wild Bill Davison, Pee Wee Russell, Bill Coleman and Teddy Wilson.

Freddy Randall, trumpeter and bandleader, died on May 18, 1999 in Teignmouth, Devon at age 78.

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