Peter Charles Strange was born on December 19, 1938 in Plaistow, Newham, London, England. He played violin as a child before switching to trombone as a teenager.

His first major gig was with Eric Silk and his Southern Jazz Band when he was just 18 years old. In 1957, Silk's clarinetist Teddy Layton split off and formed his own band, and Strange went with him. Called up for National Service in 1958 he became a bandsman in the Lancashire Fusiliers, whilst serving in Cyprus. 

Following his discharge from service…