Birches Head-born musician Kenneth Baden Jones dies aged 98 (audio)

TRIBUTES have been paid to an acclaimed musician and composer who has died at the age of 98.

Kenneth Baden Jones, from The Green, Brown Edge, had his music broadcast on radio stations around the world.

And one of his pieces was even played at the 2012 London Olympics.

The Birches Head-born musician, who was known as Ken Jones, died on February 6.

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Now his family have shared their memories of the 'kind and loving' father-of-one.

Son Michael, aged 73, from Meadow Lane, Fulford, said: "My father was a remarkable man, who achieved a lot more than many other musicians in his lifetime.

"He was obsessed with music, especially light classical, which he composed and had a natural talent for it.

"He started playing the piano at the age of eight and always knew that's what he wanted to do. He was still composing music at the grand old age of 89.

"Although music was his passion, he was a great father and always made time for me. He was also completely devoted to my mum Doris, who passed away in 2011 at the age of 91."

In his later years, the musician directed the Ken Jones Orchestra at Trentham Gardens and founded and ran his own music shop called Kays, in Hope Street, Hanley, for 38 years until 1986.

He was even presented with an award in 1999 by Stoke-on-Trent's Lord Mayor in recognition of his long service to music.

Ken worked with many renowned artists, such as Ken Dodd, Rolf Harris, Alan Freeman and Cyril Stapleton.

His composition called Vendetta was played by Trinidad-born British pianist Winifred Atwell and was a track on one of her albums.

Ken's first violin concerto was premiered at The Forum Theatre, Hanley, in 2004, when he was aged 89.

Up until the age of 90, he enjoyed caravanning, hill-walking and watercolour painting.

Daughter-in-law Dorothy, aged 70, said: "Ken was very independent and was a real character, especially in his old age.

"He did his own cooking, gardening and looked after himself. He even bought his first computer at the age of 79 and taught himself to compose music on it.

"He had a great memory and often recalled stories his career as a musician.

"He told me one time how he used to bring a bottle of alcohol to Trentham Gardens when he was a conductor of the band and people used to steal his drink and replace it with water. The thing is, he never noticed until someone told him. He made a big contribution to music in the city and he will be very much missed."

Hear a sample of Ken's composition Vendetta, as played by Winifred Atwell.