Van Morrison was taught saxophone and music reading lessons from a fellow musician on Hyndford Street, George Cassidy.
Morrison had been listening to Jimmy Giuffre playing saxophone on "The Train and The River", he talked his father into buying him a tenor saxophone. He heard one of his neighbors was a jazz musician, and was inspired by his play. George Cassidy lived in number 49 Hyndford Street.
Van would then take tenor saxophone and music notation lessons from Mr Cassidy. They would then become friends, and would meet for a drink in locations in Belfast and Holywood, Co Down.
Cassidy toured with Dusty and Tom Springfield in the south of Ireland, and was lead saxophonist in the Regal Accordion and Saxophone Band. Morrison lost his good friend in May 2023, when he passed away, he is buried in Roselawn Cemetery.