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George Melly's Famous Red Trilby Hat

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George Melly's Famous Red Trilby Hat A cerise felt trilby hat owned and worn by the exuberant Jazz front man, presenter and writer George Melly. George Melly could be seen wearing the hat in the BBC documentary of his life released after his death in 2007. The hat is heavily worn and shows signs of this on the inside where George has signed his name in black felt tip pen. With a letter of authenticity from the charity that George donated the hat to, shortly before his death. George Melly – 1926-2007 Born in Liverpool, he was public school educated and on leaving education joined the Royal Navy. During this period he spent time fascinated by the surrealistic circle in London, eventually working at a gallery in London. It was in London, that George discovered his love for the revivalist Jazz movement and he had a particular penchant for the old black blues artists that he later successfully, although inaccurately mimicked. During this period he developed a career as a broadcaster and writer. He was the Observer newspaper's first pop critic and joined in voraciously to the lifestyle of the sexually liberated in the late 60s and beyond. He toured with John Chiltern and the Feetwarmers on and off for the next 30 years as well as playing New York and Australia. In 2002 he joined Digby Fairweather and continued singing until lung cancer and dementia eventually and sadly consumed him. Estimate GBP250-300 USD500-600

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