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http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=21-Sep-2012&lang=ru&s=6153
http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=21-Sep-2012&lang=ru&s=6153
21-Sep-2012
by Rob Howard
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 Jerry Mayes, a long time accordionist and teacher, died on September 14th at Southend General Hospital, Essex. He was 89 years old, and had been suffering with cancer for some years. Fellow accordionist Tony Compton said of Jerry, "We have lost a lovely, lovely man".The cause and development of the accordion in Great Britain owes a great deal to Jerry Mayes. Trained at the British College of Accordionists in London in the 1930s and 40s by Ivor Beynon and Graham Romani, Jerry Mayes became one of his country’s leading performers, then an organiser, teacher and examiner. Based at Southend-on-Sea, he attained both ABCA (TD) and LBCA diplomas from the BCA, plus an A.Mus from the London College of Music, and became an examiner of the BCA and the Leicester School of Music (for guitar). Jerry taught the piano accordion, keyboards, electronic organ and classical guitar, and prepared students up to diploma level. He once said, “I know people take fright at the idea of preparing for an examination, but in most cases it’s the best way to get to know how to play your instrument properly.” Jerry also ran ensemble classes where students played together and acquired the skills of group performance. Always forward thinking in his approach, Jerry once commented, “The accordion has come a long way, and I am so pleased that at last it is being accepted into our national music colleges. There is still a lot to be achieved. Professor Owen Murray has lit the beacon for present and future generations of accordionists to follow. I am convinced that free bass instruments are here to stay. Whatever system of accordion playing you have grown up with, the main thing is to ensure that you have a good instrument to play and that you always aim to play well. Work hard and you will succeed, whatever make and system of instrument you have chosen.” Jerry Mayes was at the heart of the accordion’s development throughout latter half of the 20th Century, and his contribution was considerable. |