British Radio Studio Orchestras, Bands and Ensembles from the '30s to the '60s

I'm Brian Reynolds and I would like to welcome you to 'Masters of Melody' - an antidote to the rock and pop scene which has virtually removed melodic music from the airwaves. The light orchestras and dance bands of yesteryear are missed by many people. As an amateur musician I have composed a number of light pieces which used to be broadcast by orchestras and military bands and possess a substantial collection of vintage music broadcasts. I have also undertaken extensive research at the BBC Written Archives and elsewhere.  

In these pages you will be able to recapture memories of many vintage programmes, some of which have disappeared into the mists of time. You will also be able to read about the lives and careers of some of the 'men behind the music'. Although additions will be made from time to time, the emphasis will be on poorly documented artists who were prolific broadcasters as opposed to major recording artists such as Mantovani about whom much written material exists.

Over the years I have co-presented a number of light music programmes with Howard Leader. These can be heard here:
The Howard Leader Show

Raymond Agoult and his Players Fred Alexander and his Players Anton and his Orchestra Ken Beaumont and his Sextet Sidney Bowman and his Orchestra Geoffrey Brand and his Orchestra Claude Cavalotti and his Orchestra The Albert Cazabon Orchestra Jack Coles and his Orchestre Moderne Harold Collins and his Orchestra Fredric Cooper and his Tipica Orchestra The Richard Crean Orchestra The Gerald Crossman Players Henry Croudson and his Strings in Rhythm Sidney Davey and his Players Harry Davidson and his Orchestra William Davies Syd Dean and his Band The Albert Delroy Sextet Jack Dorsey and his Orchestra Ralph Elman and his Bohemian Players The Jack Emblow Sextet Falkman and his Apache Band Michael Freedman and his Orchestra Harry Fryer and his Orchestra Marcel Gardner and his Serenade Orchestra Harold C. Gee and his Maritza Players Isy Geiger and his Viennese Music Harold Geller and his Orchestra Fred Hartley and his Music Jan Hurst and his Orchestra Hugh James and his Orchestra Iain Kerr and his Keyboards Felix King and his Orchestra

Tommy Kinsman and his Dance Orchestra Henry Krein and the Montmartre Players Jimmy Leach and his Organolian Quartet Harry Leader and his Band Jack Leon and his Orchestra Reginald Leopold and his Orchestra Bernard Monshin and his Rio Tango Band Ronnie Munro and his Orchestra Joseph Muscant and his Orchestra Jack Nathan and his Band Cecil Norman and the Rhythm Players Eugene Pini and his Tango Orchestra Ronnie Pleydell and his Orchestra Bob Potter and his Orchestra Lou Preager and his Orchestra Reg Pursglove and The Albany Strings The Regent Orchestra conducted by John Thorpe Wynford Reynolds and his Orchestra Jack Salisbury and his Salon Orchestra Bill Savill and his Orchestra Primo Scala and his Accordion Band George Scott-Wood and his Accordion Band Ian Stewart and his Quartet Eddie Strevens and his Quartet Phil Tate and his Orchestra Nat Temple and his Orchestra Billy Ternent and his Orchestra Troise and his Banjoliers Jacques Vallez and his Septet Van Dam and his Orchestra Louis Voss and his Kursaal Orchestra Jack White and his Band Norman Whiteley and his Sextet Peter Yorke and his Concert Orchestra

Further editions of 'Music While You Work' by Orchestras and groups not listed above  can be found on the 'Music While You Work' page

The BBC Midland Light Orchestra
The BBC Northern Dance Orchestra
The BBC Northern Ireland Light Orchestra
The BBC Scottish Variety Orchestra
BBC West of England Orchestras
The BBC Show Band
The London Studio Players

The Band of the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall
Band of The Grenadier Guards
Band of The Coldstream Guards
Band of The Scots Guards
Band of The Irish Guards
Band of The Welsh Guards
Band of The Corps of Royal Engineers (Aldershot)
Band of The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Band of The Royal Corps of Transport
Band of The Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Artillery Mounted Band
Band of The Women's Royal Army Corps
Central Band of The Royal Air Force
The Metropolitan Police Band

Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band
The Cory Band
The Fairey Band
The G.U.S. Band

Although most pages contain a short audio clip, pages showing this symbol contain full programmes

If anybody has any recordings of programmes featuring any of the above musical combinations, I am always looking for examples to add to my collection. Please contact me using the e-mail address below.

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Click here for details of my book 'Music While You Work - An Era in Broadcasting' along with reviews and ordering information.

 

Click here for details of a CD of my compositions along with ordering information.

As an exmple of my work, here is one of my compositions introduced and conducted by Frank Chacksfield with the BBC Radio Orchestra - My first published composition, 'Souvenir de Montmartre'

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Text by Brian Reynolds : e-mail brian@mastersofmelody.co.uk Design by Copyright 2008-