‘MUSIC WAS LEO’S LIFE’
TRIBUTES PAID TO MUSICAL LEGEND AND FORMER TEACHER WHO INSPIRED GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN
MUCH-LOVED musical maestro Leo Solomon has sadly died after a career spanning most of his 90 years.
He was chairman of The Grimsby, Cleethorpes and district Youth Orchestra and for decades inspired generation of children with his s talents and passion for music.
Many venues in North East Lincolnshire echo to the supreme jazz style of the impeccable musical genius.
Leo hosted concerts at The Beachcomber, The Flamingo Club, Lifeboat Hotel, The Winter Gardens and the Coach House and many y more.
He was consort to his late wife and mayor of f Cleethorpes, Margaret Solomon, in 1994 and then when she was mayor of North East Lincolnshire from 2004 to 2005.
His daughter Ruth has told how he died after a short illness and was cared for in hospi- tal but sadly died on Tuesday.
She said: “Only last week we talked about his future plans, to keep doing gigs, to play for a circus and a Gospel choir, and to not over do it!
“He had bought himself a new keyboard and was practising away last week. My dad was modest, humorous and a superb jazz pianist, he was generous with his time and had time to talk to everyone, he was so proud of being a part of Grimsby’s historic Jewish community and loved his teaching career but music was his life.
“Everywhere we went, someone knew my dad, a shopping trip took hours, he was so happy when he was in the hospital and ex students were looking after him, and at the care home, too. Everyone knew my dad and thought the world of him.
“We shall all miss him very much, he was valued and respected but above all, he was a beloved husband, dad and grandpa.”
Leo was presented with an MBE by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in 2012 for his services to music.
Ruth said: “It was both his and my mum’s proudest moment. They had a lovely day in London and were treated to lunch and a tour of the Houses of Parliament with Austin Mitchell MP.”
Leo was born to Bertha and Philip Solomon. Philip was a master tailor and when Leo was aged eight, someone couldn’t pay for their suit to be fixed, so they gave the family a piano. From that moment, Leo started having piano lessons. l He was always interested in jazz music. m
He became a maths teacher after graduating with a BSc in 1952, in maths, physiology and chemistry with a PGDE in 1953.
He had a wonderful music life at university, he played for all the Saturday night dances, he did a Victor Borg act, Blind mice variations and variations on a theme such as Happy B Birthday or Beethoven’s 5th.
He had a life membership of the Sheffield U University student union.
In Grimsby he first started teaching at Welh holme secondary boys where he was head of music and was an Associate of The Royal College of Music.
He worked at Cleethorpes Girls’ Grammar S School also taught music and maths.
Leo performed Glenn Miller arrangements a and then he won a New Scientist prize which was the first school computer and they won it for the idea of computer-written tunes. Selfridges displayed the computerised pict tures and tunes results and there was a Radio 4 interview on the results.
He was later director of Lindsey School Sixth Form for 22 years.
Ruth said: “He absolutely loved teaching and being head of 6th form.
He had so many success stories and I have had so many lovely messages about how kind, caring and supportive my dad was.”
He was also chairman of the League of Friends, Chairman of GCDYO (started in 1994), chairman of New Waltham Parish council, President of the Grimsby Hebrew Congregation, Freeman of North East Lincolnshire, consort to the Mayor of Cleethorpes (1994-1995) and North East Lincolnshire (2004-2005), and musical director of the Silhouettes, Grimsby Symphony Orchestra, Grimsby band.
Leo also conducted the Grimsby Brass Band and also Barton Brass Band.
He was the SACRE chairman for 15 years, gave WEA lectures on Judaism and jazz, he played and raised money for various charities. He played regularly with his trio, the late Norman Beane, Pete Baxter, Kevin Cross and others at the Humberston Country Club and accompanied more than 100 jazz artists, such as Digby Fairweather, Peter Appleyard, Humphrey Littleton, Peanuts Hucko, Diana Dors. In 1995 he retired from teaching but went back into Lindsey to help them with the music department and teaching.
John Bowers QC, a life-long friend and principal of Brasenose College, Oxford said: “Leo Solomon was the most wonderful man, an accomplished jazz musician, teacher and the president of the small Jewish community for more than 40 years. He helped generations of musicians through the Youth Orchestra achieve their aspirations. He was always positive and caring. Grimsby will miss him greatly.” He is survived by daughter Ruth, son-in-law James and two grandchildren.