Derek Coller Author

Derek Coller (born 1926) was 15 when he saw the Glenn Miller orchestra in the film Sun Valley Serenade, instantly becoming a swing fan and then an avid jazz follower. He edited the SEAC Jazz News in1946/47 and The Discophile from 1948 until 1958. In their early years he and Bert Whyatt cooperated on regular discographical columns, first in Jazz Music, and then in VJM (Vintage Jazz Mart). His published bio-discographies include: Jess Stacy: The Quiet Man of Jazz, Jazzology Press (1997); Clarinet Marmalade: The Life and Music of Tony Parenti, Jazzology Press (2003); Strictly A Musician: Dick Cary, Dick Cary Music Company (2012); and Superstride: Johnny Guarnieri, Jazzology Press (due 2018). Bert Whyatt (1920-2013) bought his first jazz record at the age of 16. The author of Muggsy Spanier: The Lonesome Road. A Biography and Discography, Jazzology Press (1995); with Sonny McGown, The Jump Records story: A discography, IAJRC (2006); and, with George Hulme, Bobby Hackett: His Life in Music, Hardinge Simpole (2015). He contributed over 800 articles to jazz magazines between 1952 and 2013. Some of his life in, and outside, jazz is told in Jazz: So Much In My Life, The Grimsay Press (2014).