Biography Johnny Claes

Johnny Claes (1916-1956) was an English jazz trumpeter.

Claes was born in London to a Belgian father and Scottish mother. He hadtrumpet lessons with Nat Gonella and by 1935 was working at the Nest Club in London. In 1937 he recorded with Gerry Moore for Decca. He then played in various bands in a number of countries across Europe, including Switzerland, The Netherlands, and Belgium. While in The Netherlands in 1937 he played in The Coleman Hawkins Band from August to September. He returned to the Boogie Woogie Club in London from March to August 1940, and then joined the Teddy Joyce Orchestra from August 1940 to February 1941.

In May 1941 he formed his first band, and subsequently led a band for various periods until the end of 1945.

The bands were notable for the number of high quality future modern jazz musicians that were employed. These included, amongst others, Tommy Pollard, Denis Rose, Norman Stenfalt, Ronnie Scott, Harry Hayes, Aubrey Frank, Pete Chilver, and Kenny Graham.

After a few one nighters in southern England in September 1945, Claes broke up his band for the last time and returned to the family business in Brussels. He ran The Esquire Club in Blackenburg and wrote for the Belgian Jazz Hot magazine. In 1948 he took up professional motor racing and between 1950 and 1955 he competed in twenty-three Grands Prix. He was a popular and under-rated driver but died in Belgium in 1956 whilst awaiting an operation for cancer. Other sources suggest that he died from TB.

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