Welcome
Welcome to the Sussex Keyboard & Organ Club website. Please feel free to add your questions or thoughts to the comment page.
About usSussex Keyboard & Organ Club is the largest electronic organ club in the Brighton/Worthing area, and has been in existence for the last 43 years.
Do you like a good cross section of music, from big band to popular light classics, jazz to pop, 1930s to 80s? Would you like to hear this music played by some of the best professional organ and keyboard musicians in the country? Would you enjoy the company of others with similar music tastes in a friendly and easy-going atmosphere? How about joining us for one of our monthly concerts, two hours of great music with an interval with tea and coffee? |
Next ConcertOur next concert is on the 19th September, 7.15pm at Lancing Parish Hall with Nicholas Martin.
Nick's musical career started when he first studied the piano at nine years of age. He began to take a keen interest in the organ shortly afterwards. During a family visit to Blackpool, in 1969 (at the age of five), he overheard the Wurlitzer organ being played in the famous Tower Ballroom by none other than "Mr Blackpool" - Reginald Dixon. Upon hearing the sound of this unique organ, Nick was totally smitten - in fact, he never quite got over it! Subsequently, after he started learning to play the organ, at age eleven, it became his driving ambition to perform at this famous venue. Amazingly, Nick's Tower Ballroom ambition was realised in 1981, and he accepted a post as resident organist - an ambition achieved at just 17 years of age! He played there solidly, seven days a week, during the 1981 and 1982 seasons. Quite literally, a dream had come true! Whilst at Blackpool in 1982 Nick was approached by Nigel Turner a businessman from Northampton. Mr Turner proposed opening a new organ entertainments complex - "Turner's Musical Merry-go-Round". The feature piece would be a large Wurlitzer theatre organ (formerly installed in the Paramount, later Odeon, Cinema Newcastle). This organ was widely recognised to be one of the finest to arrive here in the U.K. - from the Wurlitzer Organ factory in North Tonawanda, New York State, U.S.A. Nick commenced duty at "Turner's", as resident Wurlitzer organist, in April 1983, and remained there until its closure in June 2004 - a period of some 21years (and two months!). It is widely recognised that during that time, Turner's catered to over three million paying visitors! To find out more about Nicholas click here. |
