Precious Letters
Again the response was swift, charming, and personal. A far cry from what any of today's agents, besieged by and accustomed to hysterical fans, would have sent me. He gave me as much information as he was able to provide, first explaining that he considered Freddy’s mother better equipped, advised that he had written to her, and that he had provided her address in case I wanted to contact her personally.
Today her letters are even more precious to me than they were then. Such information as I have provided above can probably be downloaded from the Internet now, but the personal things about his life I gained only from her. It was she who told me that he had a Selmer sax and clarinet, always played the Mk V 'balanced action' sax he had obtained in about 1935, throughout his career, and how he was able to play a sax an octave above the register for which it had been designed. He could play the instrument in such a way that that even the manufacturer could not determine - just by listening - whether it was a tenor or an alto. It was probably this amazing ability, what I have described as “soaring to thrilling heights," that caused him to die of a stroke before he was 50.
She told me that his wife was not very well at the time (understandably so), that finances were a bit “tight” and that it was his little son who had called the ambulance when his father collapsed. In every letter I wrote back to her, I expressed a longing to visit England and to meet her her family in person.
With the most treasured letter of all came a signed photo of her son, carefully protected by stiff cardboard, and an explanation that she had others, but that the one she was enclosing was very special. It was the last he had ever signed, and he had done so on the afternoon before his death.
A Personal Meeting
Then, out of the blue, my husband came home one day to tell me that he was shortly being sent to England on airline business. How the letters then began to go back and forth! What should I send her? Nylons were still unobtainable, and many commodities were still rationed, she wrote back. Kathleen would be happy to receive the same as she did. And what was on the boys’ wish list? Tiny Zulu assegais and spears. “The kind that tourists brought back as souvenirs.”
A Memorable Experience
Tom’s visit to the Gardners was memorable for more than one reason. We did not yet have television in South Africa, and it came as a surprise to learn that some people in Britain actually had a special TV room. How amazing it was that his first experience of television was in theirs, during a visit to the Gardners, Freddy’s mother and children; and together they were blessed to share the Freddy Gardner Special which aired that day!
Article comments
1 - Melinda Terblanche
My husband was so excited to find this article that he immediately emailed our parents to send them the link. They are absolutely besotted with Freddy Gardner, and now we know where we can buy records or disks for future birthdays.
2 - Jason Fraser
I had not heard of this gentleman until I read your story, and I'm delighted to tell you that I have found a link on You Tube. Must have listened to it a dozen times since last night, and now having re-read your story, I know exactly what you meant by melody soaring to "thrilling heights, seeming to turn somersaults in the air, before it swooped down again to take one’s breath away!"
3 - Simon Terblanche
Re: The comment posted by my wife, Melinda.
I'm so hooked on Gardner, myself, that I'm posting a note on Facebook. How extraordinary to find photos and links to a writer with such close ties to his mother. Someone who has taken the trouble, after so many years, to honour a lady who became more to her than just a pen-friend.
4 - Craig
I was 13 year old learning saxophone in 1983, when a teacher asked if I had ever heard of Freddy Gardner? he gave me a 33 rpm record of Body and soul to listen to. I played it a few times and I was hooked. I dubbed the record over to tape and listened over and over. WOW the man was a genius on Sax! I had never heard such playing before!
I have always struggled finding information on Freddy Gardner. Thank you for information.
5 - Marie Warder
What a lovely story! Thank you for sharing it. - How did you find this article so long after it was published?
6 - Andrea
My father is 75 and used to play the saxophone, he is a big fan of Freddy. We are going for a holiday to the U.K and France and he would like to visit his grave. He seems to think he is buried in France, but I have been unable to find his name at any cemetary in France on the internet. We will be travelling over from Australia so would appreciate any information so his trip is not in vain.
Thanks
7 - Marie Warder
Hi, Andrea, I very much doubt that he is buried in France, but, just to be sure, I have written to one of his relatives, and if I get any more info I'll post it here for you to see.
8 - Marie Warder
Update for Andrea.
Freddy is buried at Willesden Cemetery in NW London England.
9 - Andrea
Thank you so much Marie for responding so quickly. My father was thrilled when I rang and told him. It's a wonderful article and I will be sending it to my father to enjoy. We're looking forward to our trip to the U.K.and your valuable information saved us a fruitless search in France! THANK YOU
10 - Bernard Arnold
So good to hear about Freddy, have been a fan since the 1940s.He was without doubt the Worlds most gifted sax player ever. i can
remember in my army days listening every Sunday to the BBc Light Prog, with Freddy and the Peter Yorke orch; Oh Happy Days
11 - Rosemary Murphy
I first heard Freddy Gardners records when I was a teenager, I would listen to Body and soul for hours with tears in my eyes, his music so moved me.
12 - Marie Warder
After all these years he is still able to move me to tears, and I am very blessed to be have been connected to his son through the article. -- Have you checked him out on YouTube>
13 - Joe Carbery.
I'm a saxophone player in New Zealand who first listened to Freddy Gardner (over 50 years ago) on the advice of a university classmate and was hooked at once. His use and control of the altissimo register is still impressive. His ability to switch from Rudy Wiedoft type playing to swinging jazz improvisation showed his great versatility. There's a good entry on him in "The Rough Guide to Jazz" by Digby Fairweather which is good to see, as many jazz critics have been slow to even acknowledge his expertise.
14 - Marie Warder
How very nice of you to write to me. -I did not realize that my efforts could be read as far away as New Zealand. I shall certainly check out "The Rough Guide to Jazz"
15 - Bill Begosh
In the 50's I wore my 78'S out listening to Freddy. When I was about 14, I purchased the music to Valse Vanite and played it at a recital in Girard College in Phila. where I lived. After graduating I stopped playing but started playing again at the age of 50. I still play in a "big band" and my sound has always been influenced by Freddy to the point that I have been told this by many who have heard me. After hearing Freddy at such a young age, it's easy to understand why I strive to play with "good taste" as he did
16 - Marie Warder
Thank you for your comment. Where do you play?