A new acquisition for the AJM – the drumkit played by Spruck Thomson in The Muddy River Jazz Band . Originally known as the “Ad Mortem Rhythm Kings”, they were formed in 1944 by a group of class mates at Ivanhoe Grammar School. The original members were Richard “Dick” Dooley (trumpet), Vincent “Wal” Davis (clarinet and saxophone), and Geoffrey “Herb” Davey (banjo) and Geoffrey’s brother Neil on wash board. On leaving school, Wal Davis spent a brief time at Melbourne Technical College (now RMIT) where he met Bruce “Spruck” Thomson and John “Doc” Davies (piano) who joined the band in 1948. Bruce Thomson began playing by tapping on an old suitcase but it wasn’t long before he purchased a drum kit hat stayed with the band for over 60 years. The band’s original name was an “inside” joke, derived from the school’s Latin motto, "Fidelis Usque Ad Mortem “ meaning "Faithful even unto death”. The band’s name translates as “To Death Rhythm Kings”! Many thanks to Spruck Thomson’s family for the generous donation ! ?. #jazz #australianjazz #australianjazzmuseum #muddyriverjazzband #spruckthompson #ivanhoegrammer #history #vintagemelbourne #vintagedrums
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