George Cassidy obit

Tribute to George 

Cassidy, 1936 - 2023

 He was not on the list.

CASSIDY, GEORGE – passed away 28th May 2023, in the Ulster Hospital, late of Ardcarn Drive.

Loving husband of Joan and father of Joanne, Julie and Laura, granda and great-granda.

The funeral cortege will leave the family home (Ardcarn Drive) on Wednesday 07 June 2023 at 12 noon, for a service at 1.00 pm in James Brown & Sons, 719 Upper Newtownards Road, Dundonald, Belfast, BT4 3NU, followed by committal in Roselawn cemetery at 2.30pm.

Family flowers only please. Donations in memory of George, if desired, to Alzheimer’s Society, online at jamesbrownfuneraldirectors.com (Tributes & Donations).

God has you in His keeping, we have you in our hearts.

An Irish jazz musician and music teacher from Bloomfield, Belfast, Northern Ireland, specializing in the tenor saxophone. He was also noted for teaching fellow Belfast musician Van Morrison music reading and notation and giving him saxophone lessons. Cassidy also played the clarinet, hurdy-gurdy and Hawaiian Guitar. Following a stint in a local beat band, Cassidy toured in Ireland playing saxophone behind Dusty Springfield with The Springfields. Cassidy was lead saxophonist with the Regal Accordion & Saxophone Band.

George Cassidy was born on 7 September 1936, at 49 Hyndford Street, Bloomfield, Belfast. He lived with his younger brother, Billy Cassidy, and his mother, Sarah "Sadie" Cassidy, and his father, William Cassidy, who worked as a clerk for Harland & Wolff. Cassidy attended Elmgrove Elementary School from 1940 until 1952. Hyndford Street became known for the location where Van Morrison also grew up, the pair became best friends. As they lived on the same street, it became easily accessible for Morrison to practice and continue to learn. This in turn strengthened the bond between the two. George took inspiration from various artists, such as Matt Monro, whom he first met in Belfast. George Cassidy, playing the saxophone joined a Beat Band in Belfast. Cassidy went on to join the Regal Accordion & Saxophone Band in the late 1950s. They were known for their unique style, energy and charisma. The band would play a variety of genres, including pop songs of the time, like "Yellow Submarine" by The Beatles, and traditional jazz.

George Cassidy had played a significant role in the early career of the musician Van Morrison. Their friendship and collaboration had a profound impact on Morrison's development as an artist. Van Morrison later said: "At 15, I was taking lessons from a guy called George Cassidy, who lived in the same street. He was a great jazz player. He had the chops." "When I started studying tenor saxophone as a kid in Belfast, I did so with a guy named George Cassidy, who was also a big inspiration."

As a devoted tenor saxophonist, Cassidy opted for the Henri Selmer Paris, for its warm, rich and expressive tone, as well as its hand-made, durable craftsmanship and quality.