Nutt, Michael (5th December 1932-28th March 2008)

He was a violinist born in Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey, England who studied at the Guildhall School of Music in London.

He started his professional career with the Halle Orchestra in Manchester and followed that by performing as a staff musician with the BBC Revue Orchestra where he formed the Smokey Mountain Boys and named himself Slim Weston, composing a new tune every week for the live broadcast.

He then emigrated to the United States and became a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra in the 1960s and stayed with them for more than three decades. During this time he performed at countless concerts and recordings, made “instruments” to be used by the percussion section of the orchestra, was the Philharmonic’s ICSOM delegate and played with the offshoot Rochelle Abramson Ensemble at the South Bay Chamber Music Society concert series.

Outside of his classical recordings he is known to have appeared on albums such as Lay Some Happiness On Me by Dean Martin.

He and his wife moved to Langley on Whidbey Island, Washington after his retirement in 1995 where he became a much loved and active member of the community and co-founded the Whidbey Island Center of the Arts and the Saratoga Chamber Players.

He passed away from cancer when he was 75 years old leaving behind a legacy that includes orchestras using the “revolving strings” system, the musician’s union using the “Rule of 90” retirement rule and the survival of the Saratoga Woods.

Sources:

Nutt, Michael (5th December 1932-28th March 2008)

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