Ronnie Verrell | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ronald Thomas Verrell |
| Born | 21 February 1926 Rochester, Kent, England |
| Died | 22 February 2002 (aged 76) Kingston-upon-Thames, England |
| Genres | Jazz, big band |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Drums |
| Years active | mid-1940s – 2001 |
Ronald Thomas Verrell (21 February 1926 – 22 February 2002) was an English jazz drummer. He played in two of the United Kingdom's "most famous"[1] big bands, the Ted Heath Orchestra and the Syd Lawrence Orchestra. Verrell also worked extensively in television, including as a drummer in Jack Parnell's ATV Orchestra and Sunday Night at the London Palladium. He also provided the drumming for The Muppet Show's Animal, and was a "Skinnerette" on The Frank Skinner Show.
The Scotsman called Verrell a "driving band drummer" and an "exciting soloist".[1] The Daily Telegraph said Verrell had a "rare combination of craftsmanship and bravura showmanship" and called him "Britain's best-known big band drummer for half a century".[2]