Larry’s collection
I met Laurence ‘Larry’ Kingsley (1937 – 2024) a couple of times over the years, notably at the wedding of his daughter, my friend Jess.
Here Jess and her sisters Anna and Maria remember their dad's love of music as some of his treasured LPs go on sale at Dream Street Records.
Tell us a bit about Larry’s relationship with music...
Jess: From an early age there was always music. Whether he was playing vinyls on his Bang & Olufsen record player or cassettes in the car, we could never escape dad's music. But that wasn't always a problem as we loved singing along – whether it was Stevie Wonder, Pointer Sisters or Duke Ellington. He would listen to pop music loudly on a Sunday in his study, or at the weekend when he was driving to an Arsenal game; jazz when he was in a good mood; and classical music for more reflective times.
Here is a quote from my dad's memoirs:
"...not unusually I enjoy pop music, although I must confess that my tastes have not really moved on since ELO. Apart from The Beatles, I would place people like Billy Joel and Stevie Wonder at the top!
“Pop music did cause me to have an extra pleasure in life. Originally I only enjoyed the human voice if it was used chorally or instrumentally (as in Duke Ellington's Transblucency). One day I heard Percy Sledge singing When a Man Loves a Woman and I was immediately converted; thereafter, I did enjoy certain singers, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Aretha Franklin."
When my dad got dementia music became the only enjoyment he had left. When he lost the power to walk, talk and eventually open his eyes, he still responded to music. Even on his death bed, he would squeeze my hand when I put on his favourite Stevie Wonder or Billy Joel tunes. I now can't hear certain artists without crying, but I am grateful for the memories and the love of music he shared with me.
How did Larry’s love for music shape family life?
Jess: At more reflective times in his life possibly when life and work stress got to him he would lock himself a way in his study and you could hear Bach and Tchaikovsky belting out. I remember walking in on him and seeing him standing in the middle of the room, eyes closed and conducting an invisible orchestra. My dad was a lawyer and a man of facts, but it was not uncommon to see him cry at a piece of music. But I think for me every time I hear Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder it just sums up my dad's love for music.
Maria: I connected with my father over his love for Hispanic music, including flamenco and Brazilian samba by artists such as Antônio Carlos Jobim. Daddy introduced me to Paco de Lucia, and Entre dos Aguas is one of my favourite albums to this day.
Jess: Once my dad took me to see Paco de Lucia at the Royal Festival Hall and I'd never seen my dad so emotional and alive. After the concert he said let's go back stage. I remember thinking, "How embarrassing, we won't be allowed in... who does my dad think he is?" But they did let us in and we met Paco de Lucia and he signed a CD for my dad. My dad had met one of his heroes and I felt so proud to be with him at that moment. I also learnt a lot from that moment: carpe diem - seize the day!
Anna: My dad was happy when he listened to music, it put him in a good mood - which was often needed with the trials and tribulations of his life. As a singer, it gave my dad immense enjoyment when I would win singing competitions with renditions of Memory from Cats or Don't Cry for Me Argentina from Evita. He also loved musicals, especially West Side Story. I think music was the best way I connected with him.
Dance is related to music, and as such, he had great rhythm and was a fantastic dancer. Despite his dementia he would still be able to dance with my mum up to a late stage. They were the first and last on any dance floor, just like his daughters!
If Larry were contributing to our new list of the Greatest Albums of All Time, do you know what album he’d choose?
Jess: I imagine it would be Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life.