 "The Daily Telegraph" said Verrell had a "rare combination of craftsmanship and bravura showmanship" and called him "Britain's best-known big band drummer for half a century".Ronnie Verrell was born on 21 February 1926 in Rochester, Kent in England.Initially he showed little interest in music until he saw The Benny Goodman Quartet perform in a film, "Hollywood Hotel" in 1938.