The legendary band leader and jazz trumpeter, broadcaster and humorist looks back at his extraordinarily rich and varied life and the many colorful characters he has known and played
with—from Duke Ellington to Louis Armstrong. He also recalls his early life as the son of a famous housemaster at Eton, where he was educated. In 1949 he joined the Daily Mail as
cartoonist, wrote the story-line for Trog's "Flook" cartoon, and also signed a recording contract with EMI. He had the first British jazz record to get into the Top 20 in 1956 with
"Bad Penny Blues." The book will appeal to his large cult following, both from his regular live appearances with his band, as the irrepressible chairman of BBC Radio 4's popular nonsense
quiz "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue" and as the presenter of "The Best of Jazz" since 1967.