Bill Eyden

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Bill Eyden, born William James Eyden, Hounslow, Middlesex 4 May 1930; died Isleworth, Middlesex 15 October 2004, was a renowned British jazz drummer.

His first professional gig was in 1952 with the Ivor and Basil Kirchin band and he was soon working with Ray Kirkwood, Johnny Rogers and appeared on TV in 1953 with the pianist Steve Race. In 1955 Eyden met up with Tubby Hayes and with whom he would play regularly for the next two decades. When Ronnie Scott and Hayes set up The Jazz Couriers, Eyden was their first-choice drummer. When the Couriers folded in 1959 he went on to play with The Vic Ash-Harry Klein Quintet supporting Miles Davis on his first British tour in 1960.

In the mid-sixties, he joined the Dick Morrissey Quartet, replacing Phil Seamen, as well as doing session work for rock and R&B groups. Eyden was chosen to record the drum part for the future Procol Harum hit A Whiter Shade of Pale and was a member of the resident band at Ronnie Scott's club, the trio led by Stan Tracey, which, until the late 60s, nightly accompanied American stars.

Eyden played and/or recorded with Ronnie Scott, Dizzy Reece, Jimmy Deuchar, Vic Ash, Harry Klein, Tubby Hayes, Dickie Hawdon, Harry South, Dick Morrissey, Ian Hamer, Keith Christie, Terry Brown, Bobby Wellins, Jimmy Skidmore, Joe Muddel, Johnny Rogers, Roy Fox, Harry Roy, Long John Baldry, Alexis Korner, Georgie Fame and many others.

He was also a member of the Ray Ellington Quartet when it worked on The Goon Show, appearing on the video of the reunion programme The Last Goon Show of All.

During the 80s, Eyden was a member of Bill Le Sage's Bebop Preservation Society, and until the onset of a lengthy illness he played in quintets led by Jack Honeyborne and Ken Baldock.