Show business is full of diverse characters, from the prima donnas to the performers who simply love the job they do and continue to provide top class entertainment throughout their lives. Les Braid was one of the latter.

Les, who was a founder member of the Bluegenes trad jazz band which formed in 1958 and later became The Swinging Blue Jeans, passed away on the morning of 31st July 2005 from cancer. For over 45 years Les had been one of the musical rocks of a group which today, epitomises the original merseybeat sound of the sixties. There are still many superb sixties acts performing. None I would suggest, are as true to their original sound as the Blue Jeans still are.

On stage Les was clearly in his element, but was content to stay in the background playing some phenomemal rock and roll bass guitar. The title of this piece was all I ever heard him say on stage, when leader Ray Ennis introduced the group members near the end of the set. Les's desire to avoid the limelight however should not detract from his importance in the creation of a British beat music scene.

Les was a legend. I don't know how he would feel about me saying that, but it is fully justified in his case because he was one of the musicians who was there at the birth of British beat music, when The Swinging Blue Jeans shared the stage at The Cavern club for many shows with The Beatles, at Hamburg, and a little later, high in the pop charts.

Everyone I have spoken to about Les says the same thing. "What a lovely guy". Always polite. Always respectful, despite fans constantly asking him the daftest questions - well I did a few times. His piano playing at the many soirees of the "Elbow Bending Club", effectively the band on tour, showed him to be far more than a bass player.

The Swinging Blue Jeans will carry on rockin' with another original, lead vocalist Ray Ennis, continuing to lead the band as he has since the start. Les's replacement has so far been ex Kinks and Argent bassist Jim Rodford, and Jim has been welcomed quite rightly with open arms by the fans.

But no-one will ever forget Les Braid. He was one of the originals. He was a legend.