Martin Ash

Martin Ash (8 February 1942 – 27 September 2018) was a British performer, percussionist, artist and art lecturer better known to many by his stage name Sam Spoons, the percussionist of Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.^[1]

Early life and education

He was born on 8 February 1942 in Bridgwater but moved to Barnstaple when he was 12. He was the first student to gain an A-Level in art at Barnstaple Grammar School, before moving to Plymouth to study illustration (NDD Honours). From 1963 to 1966 he studied industrial design at the Royal College of Art.^[2]

Career

Musician

He joined The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band in early 1964, leaving in December 1967, and rejoining in 2006.^[2] Ash was also a member of Bob Kerr's Whoopee Band recording with the band on their eponymous LP.^[3]

Credited as Sam Spoons, Ash appeared on all the early Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band singles and debut album Gorilla (1967).^[2] He was co writer and arranger of "Jazz, Delicious Hot, Disgusting Cold", which formed part of the Guest House Paradiso (1999) film soundtrack.^[4]

In 2006, Ash and other surviving members of The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band reunited - along with Stephen Fry, Ade Edmondson and Phill Jupitus - for a reunion tour.^[5]

Artist and lecturer

He worked as a senior art lecturer at Chelsea School of Art from 1972 until retirement.^[1]

A posthumous solo art exhibition, which Ash had been working on, was presented by White Moose gallery at Tapeley Park in Instow, from 14 October to 16 October 2018, titled KerbArt : A Solo Exhibition by Martin Ash (AKA Sam Spoons).^[6][1]

Death

Ash died on 27 September 2018, aged 76, from cancer. His funeral was held at North Devon Crematorium in Barnstaple.^[1]