Goff Richards - RIP

Via a Trevada Music twitter - I hear the very sad news that that Goff Richards died peacefully at 6.35 yesterday evening. Can somebody please confirm as this is another legend we've lost.

Gytha Ogg

 

He passed away on tmp almost a week ago now, but just as all the usual tributes started to flow in the thread was locked as he was just "gravely ill".
I would imagine most on here will be wary of crying wolf again until the family / coroner have spoken.
Most sad if indeed true this time

Phil

 

If the Tweet came via Leonard Adams of Trevada Music (though i know hes at Glastonbury) theres a good chance its true. I do know that Len is in very regular contact with Goffs wife

 

I know were waiting for an official announcement but i recieved an email from brassvibe this lunchtime saying that he has passed last night at 6.35 pm in the arms of his wife, from Mike McCann of brass vibe.

 

Goff Richards ...RIP

I rcvd a text from leaonard last night to say goff had sadly passed away

 

Thanks all for trying to get to the truth of the announcement. A big part of me hopes that it's wrong

 

My concern is a similar story appeared last week about his death

 

Goff,s funeral is 1pm Tuesday 5 July .st Thomas,s church stockton heath cheshire

 

Thanks for clearing that up Andybass

 

An article has been published here on 4barsrest. RIP Goff

 

Goff kindly composed a march for us back in the 80's, The Lanner Falcon in memory of a life member of the time that had passed away, he also conducted the band at its premier performance. I don't think it's ever been published although it was recorded for radio at the time; can't remember who did record it for that. It was the title track on the band's 'tape' recording back then as well!

Cornish bands will always be proud to play his music, an inspiration to us all.

 

RIP Goff - a sad loss to the music world.

There was a nice tribute on BBC Radio Cornwall - including a performance of Calling Cornwall, which used to be their theme tune. You can here it on iPlayer at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00hjvgk/James_Churchfield_27_06_2011/ - scroll forward to about 0:50 minutes after the start.

 

Also a news article about him on the BBC - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-13927540

 

Goff Richards.

I never knew Goff Richards, albeit living just a few miles away from his present home in Stockton Heath, but his loss is not only a loss for brass and male voice choirs. His many genres of compositions and arrangements in addition to his teaching skills will I`m sure, be remembered as being an important highlight in the world of British light music.
I looked him up on Spotify this morning, and `Midnight Euphonium`, the only entry(!) is a typical example of his excellent `light music` style of writing. I wish him bon voyage, and offer all condolences to his family and friends. :clap::clap:

 

Like many others on this forum, I am sad to say goodbye (prematurely) to a fine musician and thoroughly kind human being. I have known Goff and worked with him in various ways since the early eighties and can only say what a consumate man of music he was.

I am sure many tributes will follow, but we have probably lost particularly, the finest arranger of brass band music of his generation.

Resurgam!

 

Very sad to hear of this news - the first I knew was the article on 4barsrest, already quoted above.

It's well worth a read - I knew he was a versatile musician, but had no idea he had so much success in with big bands as well. It certainly accounts for the high quality and ease of his writing when arranging music of that genre for brass bands.

Besides the lighter side of his music, of which we have a great deal, his contest music was also very finely-crafted ('The Aeronauts' springs to mind) - he was also a very consistent and thoughtful adjudicator. I'll always think of him as a hugely talented arranger, though; his is a sad loss, but he's left a wealth of good music behind for us to enjoy.