[ Dave Kaye Orch. ]
Currently No Information Available. Band was seen in the 1936 British made film 'Everything's In Rhythm'. The film starred the Harry Roy Orchestra, as well as such other musical stars as Stanley Black, Dave Kaye and Ivor Moreton, and singer Mabel Mercer

      [ Reginald King and his Orch. ]
Currently No Information Available. Band was seen in mid-1943 British made film.

      [ The Basil and Ivor Kirchin Orch ], aka: The Kirchin Brothers Orch.
Currently no information available.
One reader, Mr. Keith Horner, seems to recall that both Eddie Blair and Bert Courtney were playing (trumpets) with the Kirchin Bros. Orch., and that the band recorded for Parlophone.

Mr. Terry Worrell has recalled that "...the Basil and Ivor Kirchin Band was my favourite British band (closely followed by Jack Parnell) at that time. They were known for playing "hotted up" mambos, --"Mambo Macoco", "Stoneage Mambo", (they appeared on television wearing animal skins for the latter one). The band also played a number called "Flying Hickory" written by Louis Bellson for Basil Kirchin because he played his drums with hickory sticks. Kirchin's was a really lively, loud and driving band full of enthusiasm. The last I heard was that Basil went to Australia and was playing drums in small combos but that was circa 1970. I still like listening the their 78s (now on tape, of course) and wish I could tell you more about this Scottish band."

And, Mr. Jamie Clark, son of pianist Johnny Clark has informed us of the 1953 band's makeup.
Ivor Kirchin (leader)
Basil Kirchin (drums)
Ronnie Baker (alto)
Johnny Xerri (tenor)
Duncan Lamont (tenor)
Alex Leslie (baritone & arranger)
Johnny Clark (piano) (Jaime's Father)
Don Percival (bass)
Bobby Orr (trumpet)...better known as a great drummer!
Tony Wilson (trumpet)
Stan Palmer (trumpet)
Tony Grant (trumpet)
Johnny Grant (vocals)

In private correspondence, Mr. Peter Warner, Tenor Sax, has recalled the late 1951-'52 line-up the band:
Basil Kirchin band was on the road, and resident at Fountainbridge Palais in Edinburgh. Many American bands sang the praises of this band including the 'Duke', and Count Basie. We also accompanied vocalist ("the Divine") Sarah Vaughn.
Ivor Kirchin:    "Front man". Basils Dad - he was a well known figure in the UK.
Basil Kirchin:    Drums extra ordinary.
Don Percival:    Bass, No-one actually knew his name so we just called him The bassplayer
Harry South and Jack Honeybourne:    Piano
George Boocock (now Bradley):    1st Tpt
Stan Palmer:    (the last I heard ,he was with Harry James)2nd Tpt
Trevor Lanigan:    3rd Tpt
Tony Wilson:    4th trumpet
Pet Warner:    Tenor sax.
Alex Leslie:    Baritone.
George Borg:    alto sax.
Johnny Xerri (Sherry):    Tenor sax.

      [ Johnny Keating and his Orch. ]
B. 10 September 1927, Edinburgh, Scotland
Overview
Today, Keating is thought of as a great arranger. His work usually has a little bit of everything. Often there are strings, yet with a rock rhythm section; featured Percussion yet solid brass, and vocal choruses both with and without words. His swinging, understated style has a subtle touch and and is never bombastic.

In his teen years, Johnny studied Piano and Trombone, and taught himself arranging and composing. In 1952, he landed a position (trombonist) with bandleader Ted Heath, and just two years later had become Heath's primary arranger.

In the early 1960's, he and composer Johnny Worth (using the pen name of Les VanDyke) were working as a team to promote Eden Kane, a minor British pop star. During the 1961 - 1963 period, they wrote (and produced) a number of British 'Top 10' hit songs for Kane. Following this, Keating worked for London Records, arranging and conducting albums for London's Phase 4 Label.

Among his recordings are:
Astromusical Odyssey-Sounds Galactic, London Phase 4 SP 44154
English Jazz, Bally LP
Here's Where It Is, Warner Brothers WBS 1666
Hotel (soundtrack), Warner Brothers WBS 1682
Keating Straight Ahead, London Phase 4 SP 44072
Percussive Moods, London Phase 4 SP 44005
Robbery (soundtrack), London M 76008
Space Experience, EMI EMITWO-393
Space Experience 2, EMI SM11635
Swing Revisited, London Phase 4 SP 44034
Swinging Scots, Dot LP
Temptation, London Phase 4 SP 44019
The Bird Has Flown, Warner Brothers WBS 1638
The Keating Sound, London Phase 4 SP 44058

      [ Sydney Kyte and his Band ]
b. June 1, 1896 Stamford Hill, London,d. 29 July, 1981
Theme song: "Tune In, Keep Listening"
Overview
Sydney Kyte was a violinist leader who achieved a fair amount of fame in the 1930's while resident at London's Piccadilly Hotel. His band was always tasteful while a little conservative in its musical style.

At the age of 14, Sydney Kyte won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music where he studied piano, viola and violin. After active service in the First World War he played in the Life Guards bands, leading string orchestras for state occasions playing at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. He left the Guards in 1923 and soon joined the legendary 'Savoy Orpheans' at the Savoy Hotel, London, and remained with the Savoy Hotel group for several years. This included a spell with the Sylvians and also with Howard Jacobs band at the Berkeley Hotel. It was at this venue that Sydney formed his first resident dance band. In January 1930, he opened at 'Ciro's Club' playing to high society from where he made his first broadcasts. There followed a period when Sydney concentrated his efforts on gigs (including acting as the musical director for the Duke of Westminster - a position which was to last for 14 years) before taking his band into the Piccadilly Hotel where he opened on November 5th, 1931 - replacing Maurice Winnick's band.

Sydney Kyte and his Band played in the Piccadilly Hotel ballroom from 9pm to 2am daily, as well as for tea dances on alternate Saturdays and Sundays from 4pm to 6pm. He immediately began recording on Regal (the less expensive sister label to Columbia) and made his first recordings on October 26, 1931. Sydney's 'Piccadilly Hotel Band' made their debut on the air on February 8, 1932. Included in the 90 minute live relay from the hotel were a number of titles which the band had already committed to wax for Regal records - "MY BLUEBIRD'S BACK AGAIN", "LET'S ALL SING LIKE ONE O'CLOCK", "GULITY", "LIVE LAUGH AND LOVE", "FLAME OF DESIRE", and "LET'S DRIFT AWAY ON DREAMER'S BAY", which the band recorded three days after this initial broadcast. The band became regular broadcasters from then on.

Let's watch an early 1930s film clip of the     Sidney Kyte Orchestra. (film clip: DGatsby )

During his twelve months on Regal he recorded a catalogue of excellent sides. The up-tempo numbers were tackled with gusto and the band were impressive on numbers such as "STARLIGHT SERENADE" - a light music favourite which Sydney turned into a hot rhythm number - (Regal MR 454), "THERE'S NOTHING TOO GOOD FOR MY BABY" (Regal MR 467), and "NIGHT SHALL BE FILLED WITH MUSIC" (Regal MR 625. The rhythm section was perhaps overstated with a prominent brass bass evident in the earlier titles, but the brass section was powerful and the pianos of Billy Thorburn and Jack Joy well used. Joy, saxophonist Ivor Robinson and drummer Eric Hanley made up the featured vocal trio - 'The Three Ginx'. Another band member, Norman Phillips, took the solo vocals while taking many liberties with his vocal range. At the end of 1932, Sydney Kyte appeared on the flexible 'Durium Records' as one of several combinations advertised and disguised as the 'Durium Dance Band'. There were two titles on the single-sided discs and between titles Sydney himself announced the titles being played as on the first of these few records "IN A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN" and "THIS IS MY LOVE SONG" (Durium EN-32). In 1933 there were three sessions for 'Edison Bell Winner' and then Kyte fans had to wait until the beginning of 1935 for further recordings, this time on 'Panachord'. 'The Three Ginx' were no longer with the band, and Norman Phillips was joined vocally by Gerry Fitzgerald, Anona Winn and Jack Plant. The band had a hit with "THE PROCESSION OF THE SIRDAR" (Pana.25672) which was re-released four years later on the Rex label. During the celebration for King George V's Silver Jubilee in this year, a crowd gathered in Piccadilly outside the hotel shouting for Sydney to appear. He took his band outside and played for twenty minutes to an estimated street audience of 50,000!

Before leaving the Piccadilly Hotel on June 22nd 1936, the band had made two sessions for Decca and made only two more sessions - the final for Rex in 1939. Although he never recorded his signature tune, "TUNE IN, KEEP LISTENING", a 1934 airtake of it survives. Sydney also helped to bring singer Dinah Miller to public notice in 1936/37 when she sang such numbers as "THERE'S A NEW WORLD COMING" and "SHOE SHINE BOY" on his broadcasts while on tour and later resident at the Carlton Hotel, but he had no recording contract. Dinah went on to be a top vocal attraction with the Jack Harris Orchestra.

In the summer of 1936, Sydney Kyte went on a variety tour to cash in on his popularity as one of the broadcasting bands. Returning to London, where apart from a residency at the Carlton Hotel that he opened in May 1937, he devoted his time to playing at society balls and private parties. And, the Sydney Kyte band was seen in the 1937 British made film 'Saturday Night Revue'. During the World War 2, Kyte played for the troops around the country.

In private correspondence, famed trumpeter Ron Simmonds (who is in touch with the granddaughter of Kyte's trombonist) has kindly sent us the line-up of Kyte's 1941 band.
      Sydney Kyte, Leader
      Cyril Duchane, piano
      Ernest Hamilton, drums, percussion
      Nat Allen, bass
      Harry Gerrard, Jack Clapper, 'Tich' Posner, saxes
      Tommy Porter, George Swift, trumpets
      Fred Holmes, trombone
      Sylvia Handel, Charlie Davis, vocals

He had a short residency at Romano's Restaurant in the Strand opening there in May 1943. He continued bandleading until 1955 when he became a Public Relations officer with the Rank Organisation.
These notes on Sydney Kyte were kindly supplied by Mr. Peter Wallace.

      [ Lena Kidd Quartet ]
NOT a separate group, but rather a group within the Gracie Cole's Orch..
The quartet, in 1956, was comprised of 4 ladies working in Gracie Coles' band, included Eleanor "Leena" Kidd, who was a former member of Ivy Benson's Orch., and drummer Sheelagh Pearson. Sheelagh (who played with Gracie Cole during 1957-1960) had also played with the Dinah Dee All Girl Band. ) Here's a photo Leena Kidd Quartet showing Sheelagh Pearson as the drummer.
(Photos courtesy of drummer Ms. Sheelagh Pearson, and Mr. John Stephens)