Book of Remembrance

From the first few chuntering beats of Walking In The Park I was hooked by this man's genius. It made me not want to take up percussion but just to revel in Jon's performances and compositons, on record and live. His legacy lies in all of us as stunning memories. Thank you for being in my life.

As a drummer and percussionist myself, ever since first seeing Colloseum live in the late 60’s, and from the legendary ‘Valentine Suite’ album onwards, through to seeing Jon playing drums in Paraphernalia in the 70’s and 80’s, I have always been a huge fan of Jon’s unique drumming. Add to that his pioneering bandleader roles, studio owner, producer, pioneer of digital music, and everything else he accomplished in his 74 years, and it is poignantly clear that he will be sorely missed forever.....

I will never forget the gigs in Chiddingfold and times near the fire in the Crown afterwards. Stuff of legends! https://www.facebook.com/GinMillBluesClub/

Aged 16 in the Autumn of 1969, my life was changed forever when I first heard the Valentyne Suite and particularly the build-up to the last section, The Grass Is Greener, and and its unforgettable sax opening. Since then I've savoured everything Colosseum and any links and, though I didn't get to see the band first time round, I did see them in 1994 - at Basildon. Before that though I attended many Paraphernalia gigs and, having had the enormous pleasure and privilege of meeting Jon and Barbara on several occasions after shows, I am very humbled to have been able to share, however briefly, his/their company and experience first-hand his/their 100% wholeheartedness as a person/people. Of all the musicians (from the 60s/70s) that I've been lucky enough to meet, Jon was - along with Dick Heckstall-Smith and Mel Collins - the most down-to-earth, genuinely and inherently friendly and most willing to spare time for enthusiastic fans that I've ever met. A brief aside: on the sporting front, one of my supreme heroes is the late Bobby Moore. Like him, Jon wasn’t only a magnificent exponent and top level achiever of his natural skills, he was also a real gentleman and genuine, unassuming human being which for me counts even more. And just as Bobby has taken his place - as captain naturally - in the celestial football team, so Jon is now the drummer and lead inspiration in heaven’s definitive jazz-rock band, reunited, of course, with DH-S. The afterlife is profoundly richer for the arrival of such supremely talented but eternally modest souls. My sincerest and warmest thoughts go to Barbara and Ana Gracey, who know that their lives have been touched in a very special way by the substantial part that Jon has played as a friend, workmate, husband and father. Both are very lucky people and deserve to be in the warm thoughts of the music-loving public as they continue their efforts to come to terms with his untimely and wholly unwarranted departure and move forwards with their own lives. To Jon: thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the pleasure you have freely given me and countless others over the last 50 years. R(ock) I P.

I doff my cap to one of the great rock and jazz drummers and to the founder of one of the greatest bands it has been my privilege to see and listen to, Colosseum. His drumming never failed to excite, as did the music that Jon and his band of virtuosi created. Sadly, I saw them live only a few times, but I very frequently followed Jon's advice and put on the music and turned it down to deafening! Thank you Jon for enriching my life!