[ Bernard Addison Orch ]
No information currently available

      [ Ambrose & his Orchestra ], (20's)
b. London, 1897 d. Leeds, June 18, 1971
Theme: "When Day Is Done"
Overview:
Before Bert became a star in England, he had traveled to the USA getting his first job in a New York City theatre Pit orchestra, and then other bands. In 1922, he returned to the UK and formed a dance band for performance at Luigi's Embassy Club. He stayed at Luigi's for six years, and then moved to London's New Mayfair Hotel. During 1927 to 1933, the band became not only one of England's most popular, but one of the Premiere bands of the 1920's and '30s era, throughout the world. In 1933, Ambrose and English Decca inked a deal placing Bert's band on the Brunswick label in the USA. (On Jan. 4, 1935, Bert's band recorded the tune "Hors d'oeuvres". It was a popular release which Bert adopted as the band's theme. A little later, in one of those great 'spoofs', a version called "Horse Ovaries" began appearing on record shop shelves. Over the years, a great many musician's first appeared with his band, many of whom would later go on to lead bands of their own. Among these are: Kenny Baker, Sam Browne, Eddie Calvert, and pianist George Shearing. Vocalists Vera Lynn and Anne Shelton, also sang with the band.

  VIDEO: "Limehouse Blues"  Here's a film clip of 'Ambrose and His Orchestra', in the mid-1930s (film clip: deejay830)

  VIDEO: "This Evening I'm In Love"  This is Sam Brown singing, and leading the Ambrose Orchestra. Mid-1930s, at London's Mayfair Hotel. (film clip: deejay830)

As a young man, Bert Ambrose emigrated to the USA and got his first job working in a New York City theater orchestra. In 1917, he was made the MD (musical director) of the Club de Vingt at New York's Palais Royal and remained there until 1920 when the owner of London's Embassy Club, Luigi, convinced him to return to England. In 1922, he was back in New York as MD of the Clover Gardens restaurant. And, once again Luigi brought him back to London, where 'Ambrose and his Embassy Club Orchestra' were booked into that Bond Street club. It might be noted that Luigi did not allow broadcasting from his club.

Joe Crossman, a musician who was to figure prominently in many different bands, joined Ambrose in 1926 and the band also started recording for Columbia Records. Early in 1927, Ambrose became the MD for the Mayfair Hotel. The job paid 10,000 pounds Sterling per year. Bert took only Joe Crossman with him. Max Raiderman, pianist of the Embassy Club Orchestra became that band's leader.

In the same year of 1927, Ambrose travelled to NYC and hired 5 American musicians, the best known of which was Henry "Hot Lips" Levine, who later achieved fame as the bandleader of the Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street radio program, the same program that introduced a young Dinah Shore to the world (over station WEAF (NBC's 'Red' Network), in NYC). The band was an immediate success when it opened at the Mayfair Hotel on March 27, 1927. In June, the band was featured on stage at the London Palladium.

Brunswick Records then signed the band. Some of Ambrose's early recording had arrangements by Fred Elizalde, and quite possibly, some recordings may have been led by Fred, also.

Some changes took place in 1928. Work permits of the American's had expired, and Joe Brannelly, the American Banjoist/Guitarist was sent back to the U.S. where he recruited more musicians including Perley Breed, sax; Sylvester Ahola, trumpet; and Leo Kahn on piano. Max Bacon was now the drummer and Ted Heath replaced Sam Acres on the trombone.

Early 1928 saw Ambrose recording with the Gramophone Company (now EMI). Gramophone was featuring the Jack Hylton Orchestra and such top american bands as Paul Whiteman; Nat Shilkret; Jean Goldkette; George Olsen; and Fred Waring. Dissatisfied, Ambrose switched recording companies again, this time to the new Decca company.

In August of 1929, the BBC began remote broadcasts of Ambrose from the Mayfair Hotel. These broadcasts and his recordings finally made him a national success.

In autumn 1933, Ambrose returned to the Embassy Club remaining there until 1936. In Sept 14, 1936, he returned to the Mayfair Hotel. In March 1937, in Ambrose and Jack Harris, in partnership, took over management of the Ciro's Club. The partnership was ill-fated and Spring of 1938 saw Ambrose leading his band at the Cafe de Paris. For much of 1938 and 1939 the Ambrose band was inactive.

Let's listen to the Ambrose and His Orchestra playing some hit tunes of the day, including "Peanut Vendor",   with vocal chorus. ( Interested readers may wish to compare this Amrbose release with the original rendition by the Don Azpiazu Orchestra ).   And, singer/actor Maurice Chevalier had a huge hit with "You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me",   This next tune has an interesting story. In early 1929, the "Bulls" on the New York Stock Market were riding high. Stock prices were moving in just one direction....straight up. Then came the big crash, bringing on a world-wide economic depression. There was no bottom to stock prices. People were jumping out of 40 story windows after having lost every cent they had. But just a few days before this great disaster, composers Jack Yellen and Milton Ager had written a happy little ditty. And so, on that fateful week, in empty nightclubs everywhere, bandleaders tapped their batons on their music stands, and the orchestras began to play "Happy Days Are Here Again".   How bad were those times? Well not only was "Bye Bye Blues"   played with a tear in the eye, but even in the Far East, there were. "Singapore Sorrows".   But, enough of this gloom. Let's close with a happy uptempo little tune, originally made famous by singer Bing Crosby, "Living In The Sunlight  (Loving In The Moonlight"

On Dec. 22, 1939, the band was again resident in the Mayfair Hotel. This band, with such sidemen as Ivor Mairants; George Chisholm; Les Black; Alfie Noakes; Tiny Winters; and Tommy McQuater, was probably his last really outstanding band. In March 1940, he lost many of the key members to the RAF, where they became members of the Squadronaires.

Ambrose led a band throughout the World War II years and into the mid 1950's. The big band era was ending, and in 1956, he turned his attention to artist management (managing vocalist Kathy Kirby).

Circa the mid-1950s, his band included such sidemen as:
Saxes: Tubby Hayes, Geoff Cole, Jimmy Walker, Des Lumsden, and Brian Wilson
Trumpets: Charlie Rowlands, Pete Pitterson, Jimmy Watson
Trombones: Johnny Keating, Charlie Messenger
Piano: Ken Moule
Bass: Arthur Watts/home/nfo
Drums: Alan Ganley
Vocals: Carmel Quinn, Derek Francis, Annette Scott, and Wally Carr.

He continued to work at artist management until June 18, 1971, when he collapsed in a Leeds TV studio and died a few hours later.

      [ Harry Acres Orch. ]
Currently No Information Available.

      [ Alec Alexander & His Melody Boys ]
Currently no information available.
Known to have appeared in British films, including: 1931 film 'Stepping Stones'.
In private correspondence, Ms Wendy Stanger, has mentioned that songs by lyricist, Norman James Mills (b. Oct. 9, 1911, Muswell Hill, England, d. ??), who was her grandfather (on her mother's side), were performed by "Alec Alexander & His Radio Boys". Ms. Wendy Stanger also stated that "in 1931 he (Mills) was a Private in the Royal Tank Corp,...(we) do not know when he died as he left my Mum's mum years ago". Here's a photo of Alec Alexander, as it appeared on the sheet music for Broken Ideals, which is in Mr. Stanger's possession. Here's a another photo (1932) "Where The Golden Sun Shines", showing still another song with lyric by Mills, and published by the same music house. From all this, one may deduce that Mills was working for the music publisher "J. Derek Music, Ltd", (108 Charing Cross Road, London, W. C. 2, England), and was perhaps most active during the 1920s, into the early 1930s.

Considering the above, it is - perhaps - a safe assumption to say that 'Alec Alexander and his Melody Boys' and 'Alec Alexander and his Radio Boys' were the same group, changing their name depending only on whether they were appearing on the screen or on the radio.

      [ Dave Apollon and his Romantic Serenaders ]
Known to have appeared in British films, including: 1935 film 'In Town Tonight'

      [ Archie & his Juvenile Band ]
b. July 8, 1900 London, England, UK, d. January 16, 1961, London, England, UK. (pneumonia)
The band is known to have also appeared in British films, including the 1936 film 'Dodging the Dole', and here's a great photo of Archie and his Juvenile Band, which was taken on the set of that 1936 film, -Jackie Armstrong, (trombone) is far left, Eddie Taylor (piano) and Wally Stott, centre (alto sax).

In private correspondence, Mr. Paul Robinson, "Archie's" son, has mentioned that his father:

       "Left the army end of WW1 and eventually joined the 'Original Dixieland Band'
       (British version) on tenor banjo. "Late 1920s, met my mother, a soprano and
       formed a musical double-act which toured the UK."

       "Started up a juvenile band in the early 1930s, teaching talented youngsters
       to play band instruments which he had all mastered himself and was such a
       success that, in no time the band was playing all Moss empires and Stoll
       theatres around the country when Variety and Cine-variety were still king.
       The band was short-listed for a Royal Command performance when war broke
       out and new recruitment to the band became more difficult."

       "He nevertheles produced some accomplished young musicians as they
       moved out of the juvenile stage tojoin the more famous bands of the day,
       such as Jack Hylton, Geraldo, Ted Heath, Ambrose et al. Among his former
       old boys and girls were Wally Stott (later known as: Angela Morley),
       Jackie Armstrong, Victor Feldman and Eddie Taylor who all made names
       for themselves. Archie managed to keep going ( with the help of ENSA )
       until the end of the war.He made a comeback with a new band in 1949/50
       and retired the following year."

       "Incidentally, my father didn't just stick to banjo but mastered all the
       saxophones the alto and soprano of which were his favourites. On Paul
       Whiteman's tour of Britain, before the war, he met my father, sold him
       3 or four brass instruments before returning to the USA and left a copy
       of his famous recording, "Rhapsody In Blue", with George Gershwin as
       soloist. I can still remember playing the 12inch record on our old wind-up
       gramophone - His Master's Voice!"

The Big Bands Database Plus thanks "Archie's" son, Mr. Paul Robinson for the photograph and information on his famous banjoist/leader father.

      [ Olley Aston and his Band ]
Known to have appeared in British films, including the 1938 picture 'Take off That Hat'

      [ Paul Adam Orch. ], (1940's)
Theme Song: "A Smoooooth One"
Currently No Information Available.
Recorded for Decca and for HMV. Led band at Milroy, Asator, Colony.

      [ Ronnie Aldrich & The Royal Airforce Dance Orch. ], (1940's)
Currently No Information Available.
Led the Royal Airforce Dance Orchestra during WW2 (1940).

      [ Alfredo and his Gypsy Orch. ] . mid-1920s
b. ca. 1892, d: 1966, Age: 74
né: Alfred Gill. Violinist.
This British violinist worked both in Great Britain, and in Canada. Early in his career (during the 'teens), he performed in various British dancehalls and other venues as "Alfredo - The Vagabond Violinist". The British publication British Dance Bands on Record show him working in Jack Hylton's band, during 1922-'25. Near the end of 1925, he received an invitation to play at Toronto's (Canada) 'New Prince's Restaurant', and formed a band with a rhythm section of Laurie Day (piano) and Charles Harris (drums). Other members of the band included Arthur Wilson (trumpet), and Bert Bown on Sax and Vocals. Many of the bandsmen were replaced in the latter part of 1926, and the newer orchestra continued until Alfredo disbanded in 1930.

  VIDEO: "Alfredo and His Gypsy Vagabonds"   filmed in 1930. (film clip: jozefsterkens )

Here are two photos of the 1926 band. The first is from a 1926 Sheet Music cover, while here's a late 1926 publicity photo, of the band. Standing L-R are Bert Brown; Frank Walsh; Alfie Noakes; Steve Gauno; Alfredo; Charles Harris; Tom Eggerdon; Claude Cavalotti, and Richard MacDonald. It would appear that for much of the later 1920s, 'Alfredo' was working in Toronto, Canada, and - apparently - mostly for the 'New Prince's Restaurant'. Alfredo is also Known to have appeared in British films, including: 1932 film 'Maid of the Mountains'. Therefore, it seems fairly safe to assume that he did travel back and forth between Canada and Britain.

Apparently, he was acting as a band-agent in Toronto, Canada during this same time period. In a 1928 advertisement, he is called a "director of dance orchestras" and lists his engagements as: New Princes restaurant, Moss Empire theatres, Grafton Galleries club, and the Stoll theatres. Some discographies describe him in 1927 as placing a band into the Park Lane Hotel that was fronted by Wilbur Blinco (British musician né: Jay Wilbur. b. 1898, Leamington, Eng. d. 1969) Other bands that appeared at the New Prince's included orchestras fronted by Dave Caplan and Hal Swain.

The Rust/Forbes discography lists many of the men who played in Alfredo's bands. Among them are Alfredo -vn; Claude Cavalotti -as (often called Alfredo's 'right hand man'); Bert Bown -ts (replaced during 1927-'8 by Les Allen); Alfie Noakes -t (father of television's John Noakes, of British television's "Blue Peter",-children's show fame); Richard McDonald -tb; Frank Walsh -p; Steve Gauna -bj-g (replaced during 1927-'8 by Mark Sheridan during 1927/28); Tom Eggerton -bb (replaced by Ron Garrison during 1927/28); and Charles Harris-d.

In 1927, besides Les Allen joining Alfredo's band, Hal Swain is also heard singing on some recordings. Between 1926 and 1930, Alfredo recorded for Winner, Edison Bell, Electron and Radio.

It is interesting to note the interplay between the musician's and orchestras at this time. While Swain recorded with Alfredo, it is unlikely that he was a part of the band, because Swain was also leading his own band - also at the New Prince's Restaurant. From all the preceeding, it may be somewhat reasonable to infer that, in truth, all of the orchestras appearing at Toronto's New Prince's restaurant were indeed 'Alfredo" orchestras'. Alfredo, acting as a band-agent, booked a band into the club with whatever "front man" was available, Hal Swain, or Dave Caplan, etc. Worth mentioning also is the fact that in 1925 Ron Garrison , Hal Swain, and Les Allen had all been members of Swain's 'New Princes Toronto Band'.

In 1931, Alfredo completely changed his style. He organized a band that included mostly Gypsy musicians (although Claude Cavalotti was still with him), and called it Alfredo and his Orchestra. It is believed that this orchestra was mostly active in Great Britain. The HMV label recorded the band on a few sides.

      [ Nat Allen Orch. ], (1940's)
b: 1909, d: 1964, age 55.
Overview
Nat, one of the first leaders to become a TV star, worked for over 20 years, mostly in London, where he led bands at many prestigious venues including Ciro's and the Cafe de Paris. Early on, Nat worked as a guitarist and banjo player with local London bands, including Pete Mandell, as well as with Sydney Kite's orchestra at the Piccadilly Hotel. (His first recordings were with Pete Mandells band in 1929.) Curiously, although a popular Radio and TV, Nats commercial recordings ( made in the early 1950s )are quite rare.

In 1940, during WW2, he formed his own band and was able to secure work in various London clubs and restaurants. His band, playing for the very popular vocalist Anne Shelton, was soon heard over a series of radio broadcasts intended mainly for Allied Forces in Malta.

Starting in 1946, Nat was active on Television, as well as appearing at various London venues. In 1949, his he was starred on his own television series, and was also booked for a summer season at a popular holiday resort in Blackpool.

However, the Big Bands era was drawing to an end, and, during the 1950s, Nat, finding less society work, moved into the big dance halls. After some successful residencies in Glasgow and Belfast, he returned to London and began to concentrate on ballroom management (though he did continue to lead a band from time to time). All through the 1950s, he was often heard on Radio, but in 1960, gave up bandleading to concentrate on management.

      [ Stan Atkins Orch. ] (1940's)
Died: 1973 at age 71.
A reader has mentioned that:
"Stan Atkins was the resident band at the Embassy Ballroom, Welling, Kent, during W.W 2. He continued playing there until Ronnie Keene took over in the late 1950s - early '60s. The Embassy Balltroom was demolished in about 1964/5."

      [ Billy Arnold's Novelty Orch. ]
b: 1886, d: 1954
Currently no information on this American-born pianist who would spend his entire career in England. Here's an interesting Photograph of the Billy Arnold Novelty Orch., a band that played in both England and the Continent. The personnel shown are leader Billy Arnold -Piano, Charles F. Kleiner -Trumpet/voc., Billy Trittle -Trombone, Henry Arnold -Clarinet/Soprano Sax, Harry Johnson -Alto Sax, and Chris Lee -Drums. (Photographed in London, UK) This photograph is the front of a vintage Picture Postcard, and was probably used to promote a concert organized by Jean Wiener and given in Paris on December 6, 1921, Jean Cocteau later said that "....(the) Billy Arnold Band presented the very first Jazz Band concert in France" . The band played on the same stage where both Igor Stravinsky and Darius Milhaud appeared.. In 1919, the O.D.J.B., had played in England, and it was the music of the ODJB and this American pianist that was greatly instrumental in bringing Jazz into European vogue.
Listen to a couple of tunes "Louisville Lou", and "Swinging Down The Lane", both recorded 1923 in Paris, France for Pathe, and here digitally re-engineered by Mr. Verne Buland.