Dorothy Bell, the widow of Australian jazz great Graeme Bell honoured her late husband at the11th annual Australian Jazz Bell Awards held in Melbourne tonight (May 2, 2013).
Graeme Bell. photo by Ros O'Gorman
The audience was moved as Dorothy spoke about her late husband who passed away in 2012 at the age of 97.
Dorothy and Graeme met in Brisbane in 1955 and married in 1961.
Jazz musician Albert ‘Albare’ Dadon named the Australian Jazz Bell Awards after Graeme Bell. Bell was the guest of honour at the awards every year but in 2011 in his frail mid 90s greeted the guests via a video presentation.
In his opening speech, Albert Dadon said, “Tonight we celebrate and recognise the success and the talent of the finalists. Every one of them walks on the footsteps of the late Patron of this event, Australian Jazz pioneer Mr Graeme Bell”.
Albert Dadon also introduced the night’s guest The Honourable Michael Danby MP, Federal Parliamentary Secretary of the Arts, who provide the night’s keynote speech.
Australian Jazz great James Morrison was inducted into the Australian Jazz Hall of Fame at the awards.
