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Early years 1930-1957
(1 of 7)
Touring and performing,
radio and TV debuts
Thunderclap Jones
1956
Self taught in music
Douglas
Morgan Jones was originally from Capel
Isaf, Llanelli, Wales and born on 19th.
July 1929.
At the age of 11 he taught himself
piano. He had found a battered old
self-tutor in the piano stool at his
school and made quick progress to master
the instrument. One day he listened to
his uncle playing Beethoven's piano
sonata in D major and from that day he
devoted all his attention to classical
music. He worked hard and all his spare
time was spent in the local library
reading orchestrations, harmony,
counterpoint and the rudiments of music.
He made rapid progress and at the age of
12 he wrote a piano Concerto in C minor.
At 16 he won The International
Eisteddfod of Wales for piano playing’
Became a
teacher
He then
studied teaching at Trinity College
Carmarthen for 2 years (now part of the
University of Wales) and went on to
become a school teacher at his old
school, The Godolphin and The Grove
school specialising in mathematics,
physics and music. He also taught at The
Grove School in Slough.
National Service and return to work
He then did a spell of
national service and joined the RASC
(The Royal Army Service Corps) but was
later transfered to the Royal Scots, at
the time the oldest regiment in the
British army. In the army his piano
playing attracted attention. He was
asked to play a Chopin recital before
the Princess Royal, Princess Mary,
Duchess of Harewood (The Queen's aunt).
He joined the Regimental Band and toured
Denmark with them where he appearded
before the Danish Royal family'
After his
demob he returned to
teaching at his old school in Slough as
a music teacher. There, he introduced a
new method of musical appreciation which
enabled 8 year olds to understand
classical music and enjoy it. But the
strain of teaching large classes
was too much for him and he resigned.
Undecided
which career to follow and short of
money he took a job on the railways as a
labourer. He had to give it up after
one month as badly bruised hands were
damaging his piano playing. He said at
the time that he was paid more more as a
labourer than as a teacher.
He then entered show business
by answering and ad. in a music newspaper joining Les Thorpe's
Orchestra in the Beach Pavilion Aberdeen as pianist where he
stayed for 2 1/2 years until moving to London in 1956.
Entertaining railway workers in 1953.
(Picture courtesy of the V & A.)
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