Don Lusher OBE (November 6, 1923 – July 5, 2006) was a renowned English jazz and big band trombonist, celebrated for his work with the Ted Heath Big Band. Born in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, Lusher began playing trombone at six in his family’s Salvation Army band, the third generation to do so.
After serving in the Royal Artillery during World War II, he turned professional, performing with bands like Joe Daniels, Lou Preager, and the Squadronaires before joining Ted Heath’s Orchestra in 1953. As lead trombonist for nine years, he toured the U.S. multiple times and backed stars like Frank Sinatra.
In 1976, after Heath’s death, Lusher led the Ted Heath Tribute Orchestra until 2000. He also formed the Don Lusher Big Band, performed with the Best of British Jazz, and recorded with artists like Kenny Ball. A versatile musician, he premiered works like Gordon Langford’s Rhapsody for Trombone and taught at the Royal College of Music and Royal Marines School of Music.
Lusher was twice President of the British Trombone Society, received an OBE in 2002, and was named a Freeman of the City of London in 1993. He died in Cheam, leaving a lasting legacy in jazz.
47 recordings by Don Lusher you can hear on Instrumentals Forever:
Adios • Apple Honey • April In Paris • At Last • Benny Rides Again • Caravan • Carnival • Concerto To End All Concertos • Continental • Cute • DL Blues • Don’s Theme • Don’t Be That Way • Don’t Get Around Anymore • Early Autumn • I Get A Kick Out Of You • I’ll Never Smile Again • I’m Getting Sentimental Over You • Intermission Riff • Isafahan • I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm • Kid From Red Bank • Liebestraum • Love For Sale • Mission To Moscow • Moonlight Serenade • Mr Anthony’s Boogie • Night In Tunisia • One O’Clock Jump • Opus One • Peanut Vendor • Pennsylvania 6-5000 • Pinetops Boogie Woogie • Shiny Stockings • Sing Sing Sing • Song of India • String Of Pearls • Sunny Side Of The Street • Take The ”A” Train • Tea For Two Cha Cha • That Lovely Weekend • That’s Right • Trumpet Blues And Cantabile • Two O’Clock Jump • Wave • West Lake • Woodchoppers Ball •
