Cecil
Norman was born in
Oldham, Lancashire, on
29th September 1897. His
father and mother were in
the variety profession,
as a double act billed as
Otto and Olga, although
there is evidence in the
form of old newspaper
cuttings that his father
had been a blacksmith and
his mother a mill hand.
Cecil, whose real name
was Cecil Law, was
regarded as a child
prodigy. At the age of
eight he won a piano
competition at the
Preston Musical Festival
and was considered very
gifted, and possibly (for
his age) the finest
pianist of his day. By
the age of 11 he was
playing concertos, at 15
he appeared at
Londons Aeolian
Hall!
As
a result of incessant
practice, however, he
developed neuritis in the
right hand, forcing him
to give up the piano for
a couple of years.
According to a note in
his file at the BBC
Written Archives Centre,
he took up the saxophone
for a while and joined
Jack Hyltons Band,
(but the accuracy of this
statement is highly
questionable). Returning
to the piano, Cecil
decided to specialise in
dance music, this being
less likely to aggravate
his condition.
He
later formed a band with
his saxophonist brother,
Leslie, and played at the
Criterion, Café de Paris
and the Carlton. After
this he went to America
to work with Ray Noble
and Rudy Vallee. Having
played with many
well-known bands, he
toured extensively with
Howard Jacobs in 1937,
visiting Australia, New
Zealand and Honolulu.
Returning
to Great Britain, he
played for Jack Jackson
at the Dorchester and
George Melachrino at the
Café de Paris,
accompanying many famous
stars. One night in
October 1941, in the
middle of an air raid, he
received a call from Billy
Ternent,
asking him to join the
BBC Dance Orchestra, a
position which he gladly
accepted. Later in the
war he moved on to join
Victor Silvester's
Ballroom Orchestra, which
incorporated two pianos -
the other piano was
played by Pat Dodd. The
duo made a number of
records on the Decca
Music While You Work
label.
When
Pat Dodd left the
orchestra, he was
replaced by Ernest
Wilson. By now, the two
pianos had become such a
popular part of the
Silvester orchestra that
it was suggested they
should broadcast in their
own right. Thus, in 1945,
Cecil Norman and the
Rhythm Players were born
a five-piece
combination of two
pianos, guitar, bass and
drums (the latter
doubling on xylophone and
later vibraphone). In
1945, they made the first
of 466 appearances in 'Music
While You Work'
and were soon to become
one of the most popular
bands in the series.
Indeed, Cecil directed
more editions than any
other bandleader. They
played a mixture of
popular medleys and light
music novelties, one of
which was always a Cecil
Norman 'original'. Some
readers may recall pieces
like 'Green Turtle' and
'Up with the Lark'
(appropriate for Cecil,
who had to rise at 5.00
am if he was playing
'Music While You Work!').
Other titles included
'Macapa', 'Small Town
Parade', 'Tulip Chimes'
(inspired by a trip to
Holland), 'Fancy Free',
'The Jazz Drum Major',
'All Keyed Up', 'Blue
Moonlight', 'Jamaica
Walk', 'Tampico', 'Blues
in a Hurry' and 'Chateau
of Dreams'. Actually,
whilst many of these
would sound familiar to
the older listener, the
titles probably mean
little as 'Music While
You Work', like some
other programmes, was
unannounced.
In
1959 there was a series
called 'The Composer at
the Piano' in which
different pianists played
30 minutes of their own
compositions. Cecil
Norman was one of those
asked to contribute and
he played many of the
above pieces, this time
announced. Cecil Norman
was featured in many
different series during
the fifties and sixties,
either with the Rhythm
Players or as a solo
pianist. These programmes
included 'Piano
Playtime', 'Kings
of the Keyboard',
'Music
Box',
'Bright
and Early',
'Morning
Music'
and 'Play it Again'
a sequence of
uninterrupted melodies in
which Cecil Norman and
Eddie Macauley (who had
replaced Ernest Wilson as
second pianist) were
joined by other
well-known soloists such
as Jack
Emblow,
Tommy Reilly, Leslie
Baker and Jackie Brown.
This programme later
became part of 'Morning
Music' and was re-titled
as 'Good Morning Music.'
During the sixties, Pat
Dodd returned as second
pianist and actually led
the group on one occasion
when Cecil was unable to
attend (presumably
indisposed). There had
been a similar situation
in the mid-fifties when
Cecil stood in for Ian
Stewart,
leading his quintet!
Cecil
was reportedly devastated
when 'Music While You
Work' was taken off
it ended on his
70th birthday, although
the Head of the BBC
Popular Music Department,
Kenneth Baynes, did send
him a tape of his final
programme, by way of a
souvenir. Some
consolation! Some eight
months later, in May
1968, Cecil Norman wrote
to the BBC asking why it
was that,after more than
25 years, he had been
dropped from
broadcasting. He pointed
out that, not only had he
received hundreds of
'fan' letters over the
years, but he was now
getting lots of enquiries
asking why he was no
longer on the radio.
Fortunately for Cecil,
Kenneth Baynes took up
his case with the
Controller of Radio 2,
persuading him to utilise
the players in 'Breakfast
Special'. This resulted
in frequent appearances
by the group until the
show ended in late 1971.
The Rhythm Players' final
appearance was in October
1971. However, in July of
that year, Cecil had
appeared as a soloist in
a series called 'Concert
Grand' (formerly 'Kings
of the Keyboard') in
which he played his own
composition, 'All Keyed
Up'.
Although
Cecil made few records in
his own name, at least
after the 78 era, he did
briefly come out of
retirement in 1974 to
make an LP of
strict-tempo dance music
on the Decca Eclipse
label entitled 'In the
Style of Charlie Kunz'
a daft and frankly
insulting title for a
record by a pianist who
was known for his own
style, never attempting
to sound like anyone
else!
Cecil
Norman moved to Worthing
in 1971, a decision he
later regretted, feeling
rather detached from his
friends. He never really
recovered from the death
of his wife Betty, his
'biggest fan', in 1981
and spent the rest of his
life in his cold, dark
flat, living off Meals On
Wheels. With negligible
income, he had to sell
his piano in order to
live and had to appeal to
such distant relatives as
he had, to pay his
electricity bill. A
lonely old man, dreading
every winter, he was
barely able to look after
himself but refused
offers to go into a home
for the elderly.
He
died on 8th February
1988, aged 91.
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Cecil Norman
and the Rhythm Players
as broadcast on BBC Radio
circa 1966.
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Cecil Norman
and the Rhythm Players
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at
10.31am on 28th September
1965.
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Cecil Norman
and the Rhythm Players
on 28th September 1965
Calling
All Workers (sig)
Are you lonesome tonight
Ill see you in my
dreams
Diamonds
Youre driving me
crazy
Jazz Drum Major
If I had you
Whistling for the moon
Everythings in
rhythm with my heart
Playtime for Poodles
Paradise
Limehouse blues
Chinatown
A Walk in the Black
Forest
Silver Sands
Hello Dolly
Beautiful Dreamer
I cant give you
anything but love
Calling All Workers (sig) |
Eric
Coates
Roy Turk
Isham Jones
Lordan
Walter
Donaldson
Cecil Norman
Ted Shapiro
S.Birga
Al Hoffman
Eddie
Strevens
Nacio Herb
Brown
Philip Braham
Jean Schwartz
Horst
Jankowski
Lee
Jerry Herman
Trad. arr.
Norman
Jimmy McHugh
Eric Coates |
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Cecil Norman
and the Rhythm Players
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at
10.31am on 22nd October
1963.
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Cecil Norman
and the Rhythm Players
on 22nd October 1963
Calling
All Workers (sig)
Here we are again
You are my lucky star
Little White Lies
Why do I love You
You were meant for me
Jamaica Walk
More
Im Confessin
that I love you
Whistlin for the
moon
Sidewalk Serenade
Dance On
Im telling you now
Nobodys
Darlin
La Cannebiere
Ice Cream Man
Opening night in Loveland
The Lady is a tramp
Crazy Rhythm
The Sheik of Araby
Calling All Workers (sig) |
Eric
Coates
Charles
Knight
Nacio Herb
Brown
Walter
Donaldson
Jerome Kern
Nacio Herb
Brown
Cecil Norman
N.Oliviero
Doc.Dougherty
S.Birga
Fotine
Ray Adams
Mitch Murray
Jimmie Davis
Raymond
Agoult
Joe Meek
Ford
Richard
Rodgers
Sammy Khan
Ted Snyder
Eric Coates |
Listen
to 'The Composer at the
Piano - Cecil Norman'
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at 5.30pm
on 13th. August 1959.
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Cecil Norman
and the Rhythm Players
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at
10.31am on 3rd. December
1965.
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Cecil Norman
and the Rhythm Players
on 3rd December 1965
Calling
All Workers (sig)
Thats my weakness
now
Little White Lies
I may be wrong
Pasadena
Whistling Cowboy
Paradise
A Spoonful of sugar
Exactly like you
Autumn in Venice
If I had You
Whistlin for the
Moon
Everythings in
rhythm with my heart
Rhumbaba
Tickled Pink
Hello Dolly
Beautiful Dreamer
Crazy Rhythm
The Sheik
Calling All Workers (sig) |
Eric
Coates
Bud Green
Walter
Donaldson
Henry
Sullivan
Harry Warren
Cecil Norman
Nacio Herb
Brown
Sherman
Brothers
Jimmy McHugh
Kenneth
Baynes
Ted Shapiro
S. Birga
Al Hoffman
George
Scott-Wood
Fred Hartley
Jerry Herman
Trad: arr.
Norman
Sammy Kahn
Ted Snyder
Eric Coates |
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Cecil Norman
and the Rhythm Players
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at
10.31am on 7th. October
1958.
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Cecil Norman
and the Rhythm Players
on 7th October 1958
Calling
All Workers (sig)
Friends and Neighbours
I'm Sorry I made you cry
Come Dancing
Blue Moonlight
Twilight Time
Return to me
Near you
Ad Infinitum
All the nice girls love a
sailor
Fall in and follow me
I do like to be beside
the seaside
Put me amongst the girls
Hello, who's your lady
friend
Take me back to dear old
blighty
Fiesta
Father's doing fine
Little Serenade
Sugar Moon
Calling All Workers (sig) |
Eric
Coates
Scott
Clesi
David
Cecil Norman
Ram
Guy Lombardo
Cray
Kenneth
Baynes
Scott
Scott
Kind
Murphy
Godfrey
Scott
Jack Coles
Harold Smart
Ferrio
Wolfe
Eric Coates |
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Cecil Norman
and the Rhythm Players
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at
10.31am on 9th. October
1964.
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Cecil Norman
and the Rhythm Players
on 9th October 1964
Calling
All Workers (sig)
Brown eyes why are you
blue
Tonight you belong to me
Who's Sorry Now
Ma, he's making eyes at
me
Out and About
I think of you
I love the Little Things
It had better be tonight
Jangle Bells
You
Cry
It's a Sin to tell a Lie
Betty Dear
Tickled Pink
Elizabeth
Pickin' a Chicken
Blue Room
Calling All Workers (sig) |
Eric
Coates
George Meyer
David
Snyder
Conrad
Cecil Norman
Sterling
Tony Hatch
Henry Mancini
Kenneth
Baynes
Tolchard
Evans
Kohlman
Mayhew
Raymond
Agoult
Fred Hartley
Katscher
Bernfield
Richard
Rodgers
Eric Coates |
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Cecil Norman
and the Rhythm Players
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at
10.31am on 8th. April
1966.
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Cecil Norman
and the Rhythm Players
as broadcast on 20th.
March 1964.
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Cecil Norman
and the Rhythm Players
on 20th March 1964
Calling
All Workers (sig)
Medley:
. Here we are again
. You are my lucky star
. Little White Lies
. Why do I love you
. You were meant for
me
Blue Moonlight
Have you ever been lonely
Broken Doll
Beautiful Dreamer
Slightly Latin
I think of you
I love the little things
It had better be tonight
Birichino
Bond Street Rag
Diane
S'Wonderful
Calling All Workers (sig) |
Eric
Coates
Knight
Nacio Herb
Brown
Walter
Donaldson
Jerome Kern
Nacio Herb
Brown
Cecil Norman
Nacio Herb
Brown
Tate
Trad.
Johnny
Douglas
Stirling
Tony Hatch
Henry Mancini
Albert
Marland
Inez Holland
Rapee
George
Gershwin
Eric Coates |
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Cecil Norman
and the Rhythm Players
as broadcast on 3rd
October 1963.
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Cecil Norman
and the Rhythm Players
on 3rd October 1963
Calling
All Workers (sig)
Yankee Doodle Boy
Give my regards to
Broadway
East Side, West Side
Forty second street
Whistling Commandos
More
I'm confessing
Whistling for the moon
La Cannebiere
The ice cream man
Shy Girl
Opening night in loveland
Bells in blue
Dance on
I'm telling you now
Going to town
I wan't to be happy
Calling All Workers (sig) |
Eric
Coates
Cohan
Cohan
Blake
Harry Warren
Cecil Norman
Oliviero
Dougherty
Birga
Raymond
Agoult
Joe Meek
Chandler
Ford
Johnny
Douglas
Adams
Mitch Miller
Heath
Vincent
Youmans
Eric Coates |
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Cecil Norman
and the Rhythm Players
as broadcast on 28th.
December 1959 from 4pm to
4:30pm.
MUSIC
WHILE YOU WORK
played by Cecil Norman
and the Rhythm Players
on 28th December 1959
Calling
All Workers (sig)
Oh, Mr.Porter
If you're Irish, come
into the parlour
I'm 'Enery the Eighth, I
am
The Lads in Navy Blue
Bit of a ruin that
Cromwell Knocked About
When Johnny Comes
Marching Home
Funiculi, Funicula
The Strings of my Guitar
Toby's Walk
Falling in Love Again
Maybe this Year
Silver Threads amongst
the Golden
Eighteenth Century Rock
Honouring the Haggis
Limehouse Blues
Chinatown
Smalltown Parade
Carina
That's my Weakness Now
The More we are Together
Let's have Another One
Blue Room
Calling All Workers (sig) |
Eric
Coates
Thomas Le
Brunn
Miller
Weston
Dacre
Sullivan
Furnell
Denza
Trad.
Ponticelli
Hollander
Stellman
Rexford
Jimmy Leach
Raymond Agoult
Braham
Schwartz
Cecil Norman
Poes
Green
King
Prince
Richard Rodgers
Eric Coates |
Listen
to Piano Playtime played
by Cecil Norman
as broadcast around 1954.
|