| Biography | Henry Mackenzie (15 February 1923 - 2 September 2007) was a Scottish clarinettist and saxophonist who enjoyed a high-profile career in British jazz and big-band music after first making a reputation in his native Edinburgh.
Mackenzie worked in the now-defunct Havana Club on Princes Street, Edinburgh and played in a band in Leith. After wartime service, he returned to Leith, where he joined the Tommy Sampson band, which had established itself at the Eldorado Ballroom. The band earned a UK-wide reputation and soon big-band leader Ted Heath came calling. Mackenzie stayed with Heath for 18 years, playing tenor saxophone and solo clarinet, and starred in the band's recordings and TV appearances, Palladium concerts, and tours in the US and Australia.
After Heath died in 1969, Mackenzie concentrated on session work and was used by Henry Mancini, Billy May and Nelson Riddle. Mackenzie enjoyed a long run in the accompanying band for the Black and White Minstrel Show, led his own quintet for Music While You Work on radio and performed for TV's Come Dancing. Mackenzie also played with George Chisholm's Gentlemen of Jazz and was involved in commercial recordings, including the Beatles' Sergeant Pepper.
He is survived by Barbara, his wife of 30 years. |