Remembering Lawrence "Larry" Kingsley
I met music lover Larry Kingsley a couple of times over the years, notably at the wedding of his daughter, my friend Jessica. Now one year after his passing, his treasured record collection is going on sale at Dream Street Records. We spoke to his daughters about how their dad's relationship with music underscored family life.
From an early age there was always music being played in the house and in the car. Whether it was vinyls on his Bang & Olufsen record player or cassettes in the car we could never escape my dad's music. But that wasn't always a problem as we loved singing along to it; whether it was Stevie Wonder, the Pointer Sisters or Duke Ellington.
When my dad got dementia music became the only enjoyment he had left. As 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.
Larry's tribute box contains a range of genres from classic rock and 1960s soul and jazz to ballet and opera. How did he like listen to these varied genres?
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.
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.
How did his love for music shape family life? Is there a favourite musical memory you have of your dad that you hold dear?
Once my dad took me to see one of his favourite artists -Paco de Lucia. It was 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 embarassing, 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!
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.
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."
If he were contributing to our list of the Greatest Albums of All Time, which album would he nominate?
I imagine it would Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life.
