[ Ken Mackintosh Orch. ]
b. Aug. 4, 1919, Liversedge, West Yorkshire (north England), U.K., d. November 22, 2005, South London, England, UK. (heart attack) Age: 86.
Ken came from a very musically-inclined family, although no one was professionally engaged in music. After some years of playing the alto saxophone semi-professionally, he was called into the services during WWII. At the end of the war he moved to London taking jobs in various bands, including those of Oscar Rabin and Frank Weir.

In 1949, he formed his own band and took a residency at the Astoria Ballroom, Nottingham, moving to London a couple of years later to do a spell at the Wimbledon Palais. The sidemen in this band included:
Trumpets: Bert Courtley, Alec McGregor, Bill Sowerby
Trombones: Clive Sharrock, Gordon Langhorn
Saxes: Pete Warner, Rex Morris, Terry Fay, Gerry Gerke
Piano: Pete Moore
Bass: Jack Seymour
Drums: Bobby Kevin
Vocals: Patti Forbes, Kenny Bardell
Here he began to do radio broadcasts for the BBC and quickly made a name with the band. He began to record for HMV records. His records sold well and one of them - "The Creep" - went into the UK charts and was recorded by several other bands including Stan Kenton.

In 1953, Ken Mackintosh left his residency and went on the road throughout the UK. His fame was now so assured that he undertook an extended theatre tour topping the bill on Moss Empires. Throughout the rest of the 1950s he toured with great success, maintaining a firm position amongst the top three or four bands in the country. He was on radio almost weekly and made numerous TV appearances.

In 1963 with the decline in popularity of big bands and the increasing difficulty of maintaining a large touring ensemble, he took up a residency at the newly built Empire Ballroom, Leicester Square in London, the flag ship of the Mecca organisation. Around 1970 he went back to touring for some years. Today, although deservedly in retirement, he still frequently fulfils engagements at the request of his many fans from years back, although he is almost 80 years of age.
The Database thanks Mr Robert Hartley for contributing this information on the wonderful Ken Mackintosh Orchestra.

      [ Billy Mayerl's Orch ], (30's)
b. May 31, 1902, Tottenham Ct.Road, London, England
d. Mar. 25, 1959, Beaconsfield, Bucks, England
Overview
Billy Mayerl is best remembered as a composer of syncopated piano pieces, for scoring many shows - some of which he conducted, his many popular tunes equal any of the era, and his band-leading.

William Mayerl was something of a child prodigy. His great aptitude for the piano is perhaps best shown by his performance of the Grieg Piano Concerto, at Queens Hall, when he was just 12 years old. He subsequently went to Trinity College for advanced studies.

At first his studies were in the classical music area, but he began to admire the popular songs then coming into vogue, and was soon working in dance bands. In 1925, publisher Keith Prowse published 6 Pianolettes by the then rising star of the Savoy Havana Band, - pianist Billy Mayerl. Billy left the Savoy Havana Band in 1926 and opened his own School of Syncopation. He also started a Dance band agency that would supply Dance bands for any occasion. At this time, and up to 1927, Billy Mayerl and His Vocalion Orchestra recorded a number of sides for the Vocalion label. Following this, he seems to have concentrated on Vaudeville (appearing with Gwen Farrar), his School, the musical theater and composing.

After he first appeared in Variety, in 1940, Billy went on to a career as a dance band leader, composer, pianist and entertainer. His wife Jill was also a very accomplished pianist who made very many successful recordings on her own. Over the course of his career, Billy recorded with such companies as HMV; Decca, and British Columbia during the 1925 to 1940 era. At one time, he even ran a "Learn How To Play LIke Billy" correspondence course.

1925 to 40 was the greatest era for the popular rhythm style still in vogue. But as the 1930's ended, and with the advent of Swing and WW2, Billy Mayerl's fortunes descended, for his ideas were not in the Jazz Idiom. His playing did have elements of jazz, that is, the stride left-hand bass and such were there. However, the highly arranged and thought-out nature of his music, as well as all the other music of the 1920's to 1930's, did not correspond to the improvisational and less melodic tendencies of the newer piano styles. Billy Mayerl's downfall was his inability to keep up with the musical times. But, we can realize how great a loss we share, when we listen the the delightful melodies he left us.

      [ Billy Merrin & his Commanders ], (30's)
Currently no information available. Band was featured in the 1935 British film 'In Town Tonight'.
Here's an album cover with a picture of Billy Merrin.

  "Every Thing I Have Is Yours", (582 kb). Billy Merrins Commanders in 1933. Vocal by
  "In a Little Second Hand Store", (519 kb). Billy Merrin & His Commanders, with vocal refrain by Billy Merrin. Edison Bell Winner Black label. Rec'd: Sept. 15, 1933.
  "There's a Small Hotel", (567 kb). Billy Merrin & Commanders in 1937 with vocal duet by Rita Williams and Billy Merrin. ( Crown 78 RPM label)

      [ George Melachrino & his Orch ]   and     [ The Melachrino Strings ]
b. May 1, 1908, London, Eng. d. June 18, 1965 London, Eng.
né: George Miltiades Melachrino
Theme: "First Rhapsody"
Overview
George Melachrino was the son of Greek parents. At age four, he was already the proud possessor of a miniature violin with which his stepfather, - a theatre orchestra conductor, taught him to play. At age five, he wrote his first composition. His career encompassed being an orchestra leader; composer, arranger; multi-instrumentalist, and singer. Through his films, radio, and finally TV appearances, his name became a household word.

Already an accomplished musician at age 14, he enrolled at the Trinity College of Music to further his studies in chamber music and the use of strings. At age 16, he composed a string sextette that was performed in London. He mastered the violin and viola, and was creditable on the cello. Melachrino then started studying the wind instruments such as the oboe, clarinet and saxophone, working his way through the entire orchestra, with only the harp and piano outside his range of accomplishments. Interestingly, he also developed a very pleasant singing voice, and in 1927 (at age 18) he began broadcasting solos from the BBC's Savoy Hill studios. He was also developing a reputation as a very original arranger and composer.

Around this time, leaving his classical music ambitions behind him, he began working in dance bands, for such leaders as Ambrose, Bert Firman, Harry Hudson, and Carroll Gibbons with the Savoy Hotel Orch. In 1939, he obtained a booking at London's famed Cafe de Paris, and formed a dance band which remained there until 1940.

During WW2, he joined the British Army, first working in the cookhouse, then as a military policeman, and next as a Physical Training Instructor. Along the way, he made a name for himself as an entertainer specialising in juggling and knockabout comedy. Forced out of active service by an injured back, he was moved to the War Office where he recorded musical programs for re-broadcasting to troops overseas. He eventually rose to the rating of Regimental Sergeant-Major. During his service years, he toured in 'The Stars of Battledress'; was musical director of the 'Army Radio Unit', and a leader of the 'British Band of the American Expeditionary Forces'. He also led the 50 man 'Orchestra in Khaki', composed of professional musicians then serving in the British Army. (He was often introduced as 'the Sentimental Sergeant-Major'.) He was an occasional guest vocalist with the 'Robert Farnon Orchestra' (Canada), as well as with 'Major Glenn Miller's Orchestra (American). It was during his tour with the British Armed Forces that he began experimenting with large string sounds.

After discharge from the army, he formed an orchestra (with the cream of his A.E.F. personnel) that operated under two names; - 'The Melachrino Strings' and the 'George Melachrino Orchestra'. The orchestra (both names) consisted of 30 strings; 10 reeds; 7 Brass; 2 percussion; a harp and a piano, and specialized in a kind of 'mushy' sentimental mood music, that was popular at the time (1950's).

He also formed his own 'Melachrino Music Organization' to score and arrange for concerts, broadcasts, recordings, and film music.
His film scores include:
1946 'Woman to Woman'
1948 'Code of Scotland Yard'
1948 'No Orchids For Miss Blandish'
1948 'Story of Shirley Yorke'
1949 'Dark Secret'
1956 'The Gamma People'
1956 'Odongo'
In 1947, Melachrino scored the revue 'Starlight Roof', with book and lyrics by Eric Maschwitz and Matt Brooks. This show introduced a young Julie Andrews to London audiences.

George Melachrino is also remembered for his string of 'mood' albums:
Music For Reading
Music For Two People Alone
Music For Relaxation
Music For Dining
Music To Help You Sleep.

In 1965, he died as a result of an accident at his home in Kensington, London. 'The Melachrino Strings' continued recording well into the 1980's, under the leadership of Robert Mandell.

      [ Herr Wilhelm Morgann's Original Blue Hungarian Band ]
Here's an extremely rare Photograph of this band that was most active at the turn of the 20th century. The photo advises that the group was available in sizes from 5 to 50 members, all in National uniform.
The band was also known as the 'White Hungarians', and at times, 'Mr. Haarnack's Viennese Orchestra'. In the photo, George Willoughby Haarnack is the man sitting on the ground, who would later become leader of the band, and still later play in the orchestra of the Albambra Leiceister Square (London). His brother, Henry (aka: Harry), also played in the Blue Hungarians and later, in 1930, became the Musical Director of the Empire Leiceister Orchestra.
(Photo courtesy of Ms. Moira Bonnington, grandniece of George Willoughby Haarnack, one of England's earliest Harp makers. One of Haarnack's harps is clearly shown in the photo. It is also possible that Haarnack made the "Hungarian" Czimbaloms shown.)

      [ "Mick" Mulligan's Orch. ], (1950's)
Currently no information on this mid-1950s orchestra that included such sidemen as:
In private correspondence, Mr. Peter Yates has advised that "There was another drummer in the 1950's who was regarded as one of the finest drummers of his day, his solo version of Caravan was unsurpassable. His name was Pete Appleby. He played with Mick when George Melly was the singer."

Bandsmen included:
      Leader/Cornet/Arranger: Mick Mulligan
      Trombone: Dave Keir
      Clarinet: James Livesey
      Baritone Sax: Paul Simpson
      Piano: Ian Pearce
      Guitar: Jimmy Curry (also arrangements)
      Bass: Pat Malloy
      Drums: Stan Bellwood, Pete Appleby
      Vocals: Jo Lennard, George Melly, Michael Lawrence

      [ Jack McCormick and The Ambassadors
b: Sept. 16, 1906, Bootle, Liverpool, England; d: 1953 age: 47 (Coronary Arrest)
né: John Alfred McCormick, "Jack" was was the first child born to John Joseph McCormick, and Jane Elizabeth (Hodgeson) McCormick and was one of four children. He had a few jobs as a young man, but finally chose his love of music as his career. He was very versatile and could play quite a few instruments very well; the violin, the tenor and soprano saxophone as well as the clarinet.

McCormick formed his band in the 1930s. In 1936, the band recorded 8 titles, in the Liverpool area, for the Panachord label.
Here are two photos of the band. One of the Ambassadors, with Jack McCormick sitting on the piano (front left with suprano sax), and here McCormick is front and center.

During the WWII years, he served in the Royal Airforce and was stationed in Iceland. It is not clear whether he actually led a band entertaining the troops, or was a sideman in one of the Special Forces' bands.

When the war ended, Jack and the band played all over the U.K., but finally, Jack decided that he would prefer to remain at home with his wife and 3 children, rather than constant touring with the band.

In pursuit of this objective, he found a position playing with his band in Lewis's Department Store, in Manchester. ( In those days, they had big tea lounges in stores. ). It was a 9 to 5 job, and he commuted to work as the family was then living in Blackpool.

At the same time, in the evenings, he would play club dates and it was also the time he did his Broadcasts for the BBC Music While You Work radio series. In addition to the BBC broadcasts, the band also played at the Rialto Ballroom, and 'Gleneagles', as well as many other venues.

Jack McCormick was a professional musician, one of many that came close to great fame in the UK.
The BigBands Database Plus thanks Mr. Peter McCormick for the above information on his father's orchestra.

      [ Herb Miller Orch. ]
Please see the Herb Miller Orch., entry on our American Big Bands Database. Herb died in 1987, and today his son John fronts the orchestra now known as John Miller and the Herb miller Orchestra. The band plays throughout Great Britain and most of Europe. Still more information may be available from the Glenn Miller Society and Friends of the Herb Miller Orchestra, 55 Wycombe Road, Princess Risborough, Aylesbury, Bucks HP17 0EY. The band has CDs thru Miller Magic! LTD

      [Adrian "Lazy Ade' Monsbourgh ]
b. Feb. 17, 1917, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, d. July 19, 2006, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
né: Adrian Herbert Monsbourgh.
trumpeter, valve-trombonist, saxophonist, woodwind player, pianist and bandleader
Though basically a sideman, Monsbourgh did lead from time to time. He formed his first band while at Melbourne University. He first studied piano before taking up reeds, valve trombone, trumpet and recorder. He was one of the top Australian musicians active in traditional Jazz, and was an important force in his native country. A versatile multi-instrumentalist who mostly played clarinet and alto, Monsborough was also a decent trumpeter and trombonist.

His association with Graeme Bell began in 1930 and he was on all Bell's tours of Europe between 1947 and 1952. He worked and recorded with Bell's brother, the trumpeter Roger, from 1943 to 1971. As a member of Bell's freewheeling band, Monsborough toured Europe (Czechoslovakia, France, England, and Holland) and made many recordings, even enjoying occasional opportunities to lead his own dates. In addition to playing with groups led by Dave Dallwitz, Roger Bell, Len Barnard and Frank Traynor, Ade Monsborough headed his own bands (which were called his 'Late Hour Boys'), recording prolifically for the Swaggie label through 1971. (Graeme Bell helped to form the label.)

In 1947, "Lazy Ade" Monsbourgh and "Graeme Bell and his All-Stars" first arrived in Britain. The uninhibited Australians cleared away the chairs and brought in dancing to the music. Instead of reverentially recreating performances of 1920s Jazz themes, Monsbourgh and Bell wrote their own tunes and even used "pop" songs. Both "Lazy Ade" Monsbourgh and "Pixie" Roberts played saxophones, and in addition to his music, 'Lazy Ade' also impressed many folks with the white plastic alto saxophone that he played.

Bandleader/trumpeter Humphrey Lyttelton caught the essence of a Monsbrough performance, and in 1951, when the Australians returned to Britain, they settled uninvited into Lyttelton's home. (Lyttelton often claimed to have Australians the way other people had mice). Monsbourgh and Lyttelton had a particular musical affinity and, 'Lazy Ade' soon joined Lyttelton's front line (trombonist Keith Christie had recently left). Monsborough retired from fulltime playing in the 1970's. The records they made together 55 years ago exhibit such spirit and energy that they are still selling well across the world today.

      [ Linn Milford And His Hawaiian Singers ]
Also recorded as: Linn Milford and his Hawaiian Players
It appears that this was a recording pseudonym for Len Fillis. Fillis also recorded as 'Ferrachini's Hawaiian Band' (1931)