nbsp;  [ The Gaucho Tango Orch. ]
This band was also known as the "Geraldo Gaucho Tango Band", and was resident for awhile at the Savoy Hotel (Aug. 1930), They are also known to have appeared in some British films, including the 1932 film 'The First Mrs Fraser' Please see our "Geraldo", for more information

nbsp;     [ Billy Gerhardi and his Band ]
Currently No Information. Known to have appeared in some British films including 1932 film 'Illegal'

nbsp;     [ Harry Gold and his Pieces of Eight Orch. ]
Currently No Information available. During WWII, his band was heard over the BBC, often with singer Gery Scott. This 1940s-1950s orchestra had such sidemen as:
Leader/Tenor/Bass Sax/Arranger: Harry Gold
Trumpet: Bruts Gonella
Trombone: Norman Cave
Clarinet: Alan Doniger.
Bass : Bennie Woods (Dep)
Drums: Danny Craig
Piano: Jimmy McKnight
Vocals: Jon Clarke, Maxine Russell

nbsp;     [ Ron Goodwin And His Concert Orchestra ]
b. Feb. 17, 1925, Plymouth, Devon, England, UK, d. Jan. 8, 2003, Age: 77
Please see our Tunesmith Database for information on Ron Goodwin Goodwin formed the orchestra in 1950, when he joined Parlophone (EMI) Records as musical director for record producer George Martin, during which time he accompanied such artists as Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Sophia Loren. Ron began broadcasting and recording as "Ron Goodwin And His Concert Orchestra", and soon become one of Parlophone's top-selling artists.

His orchestra also produced many hits that made it into the "top 100" class, but perhaps his biggest hit was 'Limelight' (theme from the Charles Chaplin film) which made it to the UK 3 spot. His 1955 release of 'Blue Star' (78rpm) made it to the UK 20th spot. Interestingly, the long list of singles released by the Ron Goodwin Orchestra include a high proportion of the conductor's own compositions. His band also backed a great many vocalists, including Petula Clark. His orchestra's recordings were internationally popular, and he was awarded gold and platinum discs by EMI.

nbsp;     [ The Golden Serenaders ]
Currently No Information. Known to have appeared in some British films during 1930

nbsp;     [ Johnny Gray Orch., mid-1950s
Currently no informationon this mid-1950s orchestra that had such sidemen as:
Trumpet: Terry Lewis.
Trombone: Bob Johnson.
Saxes: Stan Massey (Tenor), Johnny Gray (Tenor), Jimmy Staples (Baritone)
Piano: George McCullum.
Bass: Bill Batt.
Drums: John Woods,
Vocals: Kerri Sims.

nbsp;     [ Gypsy Revellers, The ]
Currently No Information. Known to have appeared in some British films during 1938

nbsp;     [ Carroll Gibbons & the Savoy Orpheans ], (30's)
Piano. b. Clinton, Massachusetts, USA Jan. 4, 1903. d. London, May 10, 1954
Theme Song: "On The Air"
At an early age, he studied music at London's Royal Academy of Music. Carroll was MD of the Gramophone Company in 1928 and part of 1929. In 1929, he was seen in the British Film 'Splinters' (as Carroll Gibbons and His Masters Voice Orch.) He travelled back to Hollywood, where he worked as a staff composer for MGM films, from 1930 through 1931. Returning to Britain, he and Howie Jacobs were co-directors of the Savoy Orpheans, with Carroll becoming sole leader when Jacobs was booked into London's Berkeley Hotel. He did much recording at this time, as well as writing music for the films.

Very early in 1939, Carroll took a vacation in the USA, returning to England in Nov. 1939, where he formed a 16 piece band. He again became resident at the Savoy Hotel, in Jan. 1940, where he was to remain for the for the rest of his career. In 1950, the Savoy made him their MD, and he held that position until he death in 1954.

nbsp;     [ Geraldo & his Sweet Music ], (40's)
b. London Aug. 10, 1903 ; d. May 4, 1974 ('76)
né: Gerald Bright.
Theme: "Lady Of Spain"
A piano prodigy who trained at the Royal Academy of Music. His was one of the dominant orchestras of the period, occupying the same place in British music that Glenn Miller did in American music.

He formed some bands in the very early 1920's but came to the public's attention with his St. Anne's-on-the-Sea Hotel Majestic Orchestra. He stayed at the Majestic for 5 years and then in August 1930, the Savoy Hotel booked the 'Geraldo Gaucho Tango Band'. As the 'Tango King of England', he had a Royal Command Performance in 1933.

By 1937, the "Gauchos" had disappeared into the mists of antiquity, and Geraldo was back leading a regular Swing and dance orchestra. In late 1938, Geraldo started the Sunday Night Swing Club Concerts at the St. Martin theater. (The concerts didn't last too long, but the Heralds of Swing were there on April 2, 1939.) Listen now to Geraldo and His Orchestra, with Cyril Grantham singing "What A Difference A Day Makes" (529 kb).

He toured extensively throughout the war years, with a very fine orchestra. He added "Jiver" Hutchinson, the West-Indian trumpeter who came up with the Ken Johnson band, and later had his own orchestra. In June of 1942, Beryl Davis, daughter of bandleader Harry Davis, left the Oscar Rabin band and joined Geraldo as vocalist. Famed trumpeter Ron Simmonds has recalled some of the personnel at this time.
"The Geraldo orchestra 1940 - 1947. Personnel:
    Conductor: Gerald Bright (Geraldo)
    piano: Sid Bright (twin brother of Gerald)
    bass: Jack Collier
    Drums: Maurice Berman
    Guitar: Ivor Mairants
    Trumpet: Alfie Noakes, Basil Jones, Flash Shields, Leslie "Jiver" Hutchinson
    Trombones: Ted Heath, Eric Tann, Joe Ferrie, Jimmy Coombes (Topper)
    Saxes: Harry Hayes (Chipper), Nat Temple, Dougie Robinson, George Evans (arranger), Arthur Birkby (arranger), Phil Goody
    Vocals: Dorothy Carless, Doreen Villiers, Johnny Green, Beryl Davies, J. Hunter, Len Camber"

Ron Simmonds further recalls "....Monte Carlo season in 1957. It was a very good band. Geraldo always had top-class musicians and superb arrangements. The line-up for the Monte Carlo band was:
    Trumpets: Ron Simmonds, Stan Reynolds, Ronnie Hughes, Leslie 'Jiver' Hutchinson
    Trombones: Harry Roche, Frank Dixon, Tommy Cook, Joe Cordell
    Saxes: Dougie Robinson, Geoff Cole, Bob Efford, Bob Adams, Jock Faulds
    Vocals: Ralph Dollimore, piano; Dave Goldberg, guitar; Frank Donnison, bass; Dougie Cooper, drums; Roy Edwards"

In retrospect, Geraldo had a great band, and maybe 'swung' more than the Heath band. One of the arrangers was the 2nd alto player, Wally Stott, who used to conduct the 'Goon Shows'. (Wally now lives in Scottsdale, AZ, USA, and is the chief ghost writer to John Williams (Schindler's List, etc.). The other arranger for Geraldo was George Evans, who later on had a band with ten saxophones, five trumpets and four rhythm. Terrific sound!

In the post war years, Geraldo became involved with band management, supplying bands for the Cunard Liners. He managed the pit orchestra for a theater circuit and also was the musical director for Scottish Television.

nbsp;     [ Nat Gonella & The Georgians ], (1930's -'80s)
b. March 7, 1908, London, England, U.K. d. August 6, 1998, Gosport, Hants, England.
Nat was born in the east-end of London and was educated at a Board of Guardians school where he first began playing the cornet. After leaving St. Mary's school, he played in 'Archie Pitt's Busby Boys Band'. He stayed for four years and then worked with 'Bob Dryden's Louisville Band', playing several instruments incl. trumpet, clarinet and violin. After leaving Margate (on the south coast) the band played seasons in Manchester (U.K.) and in Belfast (No.Ireland). He returned to the south coast and played with Archie Alexander for a year before joining Billy Cotton at Streatham Locano, (a dance hall) in 1929.

After touring with Cotton throughout England and France, Nat joined Roy Fox (the ex-patriate American who came to England and stayed) for only a year; 1931) . From 1932-'35 Nat was with Lew Stone, but played a summer season in Holland with Ray Noble in 1933, and then variety work in theatres with 'The Quaglino Quartette' of Brian Lawrence in 1934.

While working with Lew Stone, Nat began leading a 'band-within-a-band', 'The Georgians'. In 1935 he left Stone to lead 'The Georgians' full time with tours in England, Holland and Scandinavian countries, until 1939. Here's a photo of Nat's Early Band, probably the Georgians. During this time he also appeared in the 1936 British film 'Pity The Poor Rich', and the 1937 film 'Sing As You Swing'. Also at this time he made his first trip to the U.S. where he used a 'pick-up' band (musicians supplied by the Local Union office). 'The Georgians' began to enjoy huge success playing to packed houses; they also did films and made several radio broadcasts. The outbreak of WW2 found 'The Geogians' in Sweden. They made their way back to England via Holland and France, - arriving Home in the summer of 1940.

In 1941, Nat joined the Army and during wartime toured with a Service band in North Africa and in Italy. At the close of hostilities, while awaiting his military discharge, he toured the variety halls finally putting together his "New Georgians" as a full band, - picking musicians from the plethora of good talent retuning to Civilian life. The band enjoyed huge success touring variety halls; ballroom dates, and nightclub residencies into the 1950's. An attempt with the new "bebop' spelled trouble and Nat disbanded and found work as a solo act touring the halls with successful English comedians - Max Miller and Leon Cortes.

In early 1960 he formed the 'Georgian Jazz Band' and continued his Louis Armstrong influenced style. (Gonella'a playing was shaped by his great admiration of famed trumpeter Louis Armstrong, whom he emulated.) There is an interesting sidelight on his use of the "Georgian" name in all of his groups. It stemmed from a rendition of "Georgia On My Mind" that he had heard Armstrong play. Nat's horn style was "non-pressure" which left him wihout Satchmo's lip or Dizzy's "cheeks", and his singing was a muted Armstrong (for younger fans listen to Kenny Ball). In 1962, he moved north to Lancashire and played the clubs with great success and he also guested with several groups and toured England and the continent. In the mid 1970's he moved back south to Gosport where he wrote and was written about.

In 1982 Tim Colwell produced and presented a 3- hour "live" Radio Documentary, recorded before an audience in Nat's local "Pub", which included specially taped greetings from some of the British trumpeters he had influenced ,including Kenny Ball, John Chilton, Humphrey Lyttleton, and Digby Fairweather, plus contributions from his pre-WWII band members including 80 years old bassist "Tiny" Winters (who was still leading his "Society" band), and tenorist Pat Smuts. From Nat's short-lived "bebop" band, there were funny stories from superb arranger/tenorist Kenny Graham. About 20 New York musicians from his era also gave vocal tributes, and the affair was topped off by warm words from Benny Carter and Leonard Feather, and a sincere piece by singer/writer George Melly. Nat had to stop playing in the 1960s but sang on this occasion with a band containing several members of his very last outfit, some of whom he had not seen since then. They included trombonist Bobby Mickleborough, bassist Alan Duddington, pianist Ray Ember (d.1996), and clarinettist Teddy Layton (d. November 2002), with "Cuff" Billett taking Nat's trumpet role. Nat himself told many a well-honed story, and tough a character as he was from so many years in the Music Business, he was visibly moved at the final standing ovation.

In 1994, at 86 years of age, he "packed the house"! Sadly in 1998 Nat Gonella died.
Mr. Derrick Wilkinson very kindly supplied these notes on Nat Gonella.

nbsp;     [ Reggie Goff's Orch. ]
This mid-1950s orchestra included:
Leader/alto/clarinet/vocals: Reggie Goff
Accordion/Vibes: Maurice Reisman
Drums: Pete Harris
Bass: Ronnie Fallen (or perhaps- Jack Fallon)
Piano: Stan Tracey
Tenor: George Harrington

nbsp;     [ Freddy Gardner and his Swing Orch. ]
b: Dec. 23, 1910, London, England. d: July 26, 1950 (Stroke)
Gardner played in the best clubs where he worked with Sidney Lipton's Orchestra, and later with Bert Firman and Billy Bissett. He Became a prolific session player doubling on all the reeds. Main instrument was alto sax. Toward the end of 1937, he began to record on his own, and made many recordings between 1937 and 1940. After WWII service, he continued with extensive freelance work, notably as a star soloist with 'Peter York and his Orchestra'. He was billed as 'Freddy Gardner and his Swing Orchestra' 1937-'39', and led small groups '36, '37, on the Interstate label, distributed by Interstate Music in East Sussex, England. His recordings were regularly featured on radio broadcasts and eagerly sought by collectors. The orchestra played wonderful arrangements, many done by Gardner himself.
The Big Bands Database thanks Mr. David C. Kimball, Radio Host on KRML Jazz Radio in Carmel, CA, USA, for this entry on Freddy Gardner.

nbsp;     [ Ross Gibson and his Miami Band ]
        "They played regularly on the piers and in the dancehalls of Blackpool. My
        grandfather (Charlie "Chas" Ainsworth) used to play tenor guitar, banjo,
        banjo-lele and piano in this ensemble. I know that the band were supposed
        to travel to the USA, but I believe they had some sort of trouble with
        visas or other travel documentation, so Charlie didn't go. I don't know
        whether the rest of the band went. "
The Big Bands Database thanks Mr. Andy Ainsworth for the above information on Ross Gibson.

nbsp;     [ Art Gregory Orchestra ]
Currently no information on this Mid-1930s British band.

  VIDEO: Nagasaki",   The Art Gregory Orchestra, appearing at London's Casani Club. film clip: jozefsterkens

nbsp;     [ Howard Godfrey Orchestra ]
b. 1903, London, England, UK, d. 1992, UK.
né: Howard Rigg Godfrey
Godfrey was born into a musical family, his grandfather, Lt. Dan Godfrey, was a member of The Grenadier Guards, while his uncle was Sir Dan Godfrey, founder and conductor of the Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra. After graduation, Godfrey worked briefly as a surveyor, before making music his lifetime career. Starting In 1922, he began working with John Birmingham’s band at the Hotel Cecil, after having played both saxophone and drums with various West End groups. In 1925, he first led his own quintet for a gig at the Queen's Hotel, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex ( succeeding Jack Hylton). . In October 1926, he became Musical Director at the Waldorf Hotel remaining until 1940 when he joined the RAF.

In 1935, while still at the Waldorf, Godfrey recorded five sides for Panachord featuring vocalist Gerry Fitzgerald. Godfrey's band was fairly well recorded, and was heard on the Victory, Piccadilly, Octacros, Simcha, Empire and Mayfair labels, sometimes under his own name, and at other times under pseudonyms, such as the 'Aldwych Players' (the Waldorf Hotel was in Aldwych). Interestingly, Al Bowlly recorded (15 sides) with Godfrey.