Session drummer Rex Bennett, born 16th December 1920, was a guitarist who took up sticks as the result of a plane crash!
It sounds a bit strange, but it's quite true and perfectly straightforward.
During the war when he was a wireless operator on one of the old Lancaster bombers, they were shot down over Germany and he ended up in a POW camp. The camp band had no drummer so Rex stepped in because, as you might say, he had nothing else to do!
The Red Cross supplied him with a full kit and he was a drummer!
After the war Rex heard that the Johnny Dennis Novelty Swingtet was looking for a drummer. He bought a kit, talked his way in, and landed his first pro job.
From there Rex moved on to the jazz world by taking a job with the Ralph Sharon Quartet.
Ralph was very modern in those days and he worked with Jimmy Skidmore and Vic Feldman, so it was quite an outfit. Rex stayed with him for about a year.
From the Sharon outfit, Rex joined one of the milestones of beat music - Don Lang's Frantic Five. The group worked on '6.5 Special' and it was this which led to the session work.
There were a lot of recordings - singles, LP's, TV work and jingles as well as records under the Don Lang name.
By now Rex had gained wide experience of most types of playing and for his next term of office he went to the Bruce Turner Jump Band.
That was mainstream jazz which he liked most of all, so he enjoyed his stay - even though he left after six months. He decided that by this time he had the experience and it was time to really learn his instrument.
As well as studying drums he took time out to get to know bass, just so he could work better with the rhythm section. Knowing the bassist's problems made it easier to do this.
His next engagement was with Denny Boyce at the Lyceum. After a suitable period as one of the Boyce boys, Rex turned to freelance work which he kept up until he joined the Johnny Howard band.
He played four nights a week plus broadcasts which established him as a session man.
Rex played on all of Crispian St Peters' hits. He was on David and Jonathan's 'Lovers of the World Unite', as well as being featured on records by Tom Jones, Kathy Kirby, Lorne Gibson and Peter and Gordon.
After this fixers began to know him and asked for him by name.
As far as the kit is concerned, Rex plays a regular Ajax set up. He only has one musical idiosyncrasy, and that's directed at snare drum heads. He doesn't use new heads, he always looks for a head that has been well used because it gives a thicker sound and is better for recording.
Rex now plays with Brian White's Magna Jazz and is still in great demand.
Click here for photos of Rex
