The Editor, Sir:

I have been saddened by the passing of Sonny Bradshaw. As a young lad at Kingston College in the company of other well-known idlers, without parental approval, I appeared at several venues, without payment, to listen to the fabulous Sonny Bradshaw 7.

Over a long time, Sonny and I formed a friendship enriched by our mutual appreciation of modern jazz.

Extraordinary valour

When, later in life, I ceased public appearances and migrated, we kept in touch, and a few years he showed extraordinary valour and invited me to schedule vacation time to coincide with and perform at his Big Band concerts. I enjoyed myself immensely on those occasions though openly admitting that this elation may not have been shared by the audience.

Sonny was a fine trumpeter; the man with the golden horn, pianist, arranger, band leader, colleague and friend, and may Myrna and family always remember that Sonny's greatest pleasure, was giving pleasure to others.

Musicians never die, they just play away.

I am, etc.,

BUDDY ILGNER

Thornhill, Ontario