Editing Max Geldray (section)

==Moving to the US (1961–2004)==

Geldray worked in the casinos of Reno, appearing with [[Sarah Vaughan]] and [[Billy Daniels]]; he did not like the city, so returned to Los Angeles.<ref name="D Tel Obit" /> In 1962, he met a divorcee with three children, Susan Donofrio; the couple married that year,<ref name="Leigh DNB" /> and in 1964 they had a son, Philip.{{sfn|Geldray|1989|p=163}} Geldray worked for a period as a sales assistant in a clothes shop before becoming the regional sales supervisor for ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]''.<ref name="Guardian Obit" />

In 1972, Geldray returned to the UK to appear in ''[[The Last Goon Show of All]]'', a special programme recorded on 30 April and broadcast on 5 October 1972 to mark the 50th anniversary of the BBC.{{sfn|Wilmut|Grafton|1981|p=74}} When the BBC refused to pay to fly Geldray from the US, two of the show's cast—Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers—contributed to his expenses.{{sfn|Carpenter|2004|p=291}}
After the performance, at the [[Koko (venue)|Camden Theatre]], [[Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon|Princess Margaret]] came backstage and asked if she could be introduced to Geldray as she was an admirer of his playing.<ref name="Leigh DNB" />

In 1973, Geldray and his family moved to Palm Springs to look after his ailing stepfather; he also played harmonica in the local Trinidad Bar.<ref name="Guardian Obit" />{{sfn|Geldray|1989|p=172}} A local doctor approached him after one set and asked if Geldray would put on a show at his [[stroke]] centre,<ref name="D Tel Obit" /> which led to Geldray undertaking voluntary work teaching stroke victims to play the harmonica.{{sfn|Geldray|1989|pp=172–173}} Following the death of Geldray's youngest step-son, Timmy, Susan Geldray began drinking to excess,{{sfn|Geldray|1989|p=174}} and she underwent treatment at the [[Betty Ford Center]].<ref name="Guardian Obit" /> Geldray volunteered to help at the clinic and qualified as a counsellor and technician.<ref name="Times Obit" /> To raise funds for the clinic he started "Jazz without Booze", a series of concerts, which included prominent local musicians, including [[Stan Getz]].<ref name="D Tel Obit" /> In 1989, Geldray published his autobiography, ''Goon With the Wind'', using the same title as he had for his 1957 album.<ref>{{cite web|title=Goon with the wind / Max Geldray with John R. Vance.|url=http://explore.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?tabs=detailsTab&ct=display&fn=search&doc=BLL01010109008&indx=1&recIds=BLL01010109008&recIdxs=0&elementId=&renderMode=poppedOut&displayMode=full&dscnt=0&frbrVersion=&vl(174399379UI0)=any&scp.scps=scope%3A(BLCONTENT)&tab=local_tab&dstmp=1344517248826&srt=rank&mode=Basic&gathStatTab=true&tb=t&vl(freeText0)=goon%2Bwith%2Bthe%2Bwind&vid=BLVU1&frbg=&dum=true|publisher=[[British Library]]|access-date=9 August 2012|location=London}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Geldray died in Palm Springs of natural causes on 2 October 2004 at the age of 88.<ref name="Stage obit" />