Tommy
Kinsman was born in
Liverpool in 1901. In his
youth he learned to play
the banjo, subsequently
taking up the clarinet
and the saxophone, upon
which he became an
accomplished performer.
He began his bandleading
career in 1928, directing
what was initially called
the London Frivolities
Band in
Weston-super-Mare. For a
while he played at the
Florida Club, graduating
to the famous Ciro's club
before taking up
residency at the Ritz
Hotel in 1932. By the
mid-thirties he was
playing at the exclusive
Fischer's Restaurant in
Bond Street, performing
for a discerning
clientele. During the
first ten years of the
band's existence over 250
'sides' were cut for the
record labels Sterno,
Piccadilly, Metropole,
Phonochord, Edison Bell,
Winner and Octacros, for
which Tommy Kinsman later
became Musical Director.
In addition, he recorded
under pseudonyms such as
The Bond Street Swingers
and Eddie Harding and his
Night Club Boys on the
Piccadilly and Metropole
labels.
During
these early years the
band personnel numbered
between eight and twelve
players. Regular
broadcasting commenced on
Radio Luxembourg in 1936
and Tommy Kinsman was
well satisfied with his
'high society' following,
avoiding the press,
seeking no publicity and,
therefore, not receiving
any! Some of his early
recordings were reissued
in 1990 on a long-playing
record on the Harlequin
label and amongst the
personnel was
violinist/saxophonist
Freddie Ballerini, whose
own sextet often
broadcast during the
sixties.
Despite
the large number of
commercial records made
before the Second World
War, Tommy Kinsman is
best remembered for his
post war broadcasts with
his dance orchestra,
playing 'strict tempo'
ballroom music. He played
regularly on 'Music
While You Work'
for over 20 years,
chalking up 138
programmes in the series,
and very entertaining
they were too! The band
consisted of a full
saxophone section plus
brass and rhythm (the
guitar and violin which
he included before the
war were dispensed with
in later years). A
memorable feature was the
orchestra's two-piano
team who played 'a Ia
Victor Silvester' in a
style sometimes known in
the music business as
'bubble and squeak'
the second pianist
being required to play an
improvised 'filigree' of
notes around the main
melody played by the
first pianist, rather in
the manner of a clarinet
player in a traditional
jazz band.
Tommy
Kinsman continued to make
records after the war
and, during the fifties
and sixties, made more
than 40 long-playing
records for Oriole, Wing
and Fontana. Very
occasionally, a string
section was used for
certain tracks, as was an
accordion where
appropriate, but the
basic sound was the same
as the broadcasts: brash,
bouncy and tuneful. In
common with other bands,
Tommy Kinsman's style had
changed since the
thirties and now had
great appeal to London's
high society, and his
band become known as the
'Deb's Delight Band'. He
was the doyen of dance
band leaders, having fans
amongst European Royalty.
One of his biggest fans
was the late Queen
Mother!
Unlike
many bands, Tommy Kinsman
and his Dance Orchestra
never had 'palais'
residences, preferring to
do gigs in London and
elsewhere. They could be
at Windsor Castle one day
and a working-men's club
the next. That they
existed for about 50
years could well be
attributed to the fact
that Kinsman was an
unassuming man who,
despite his high standing
in society, was quite
happy to play for anyone
who wanted his services;
apparently he even played
in peoples houses.
(I wish Id known!)
Tommy
Kinsman's post-war
orchestra had 14
musicians and, during the
sixties, played only in
the longer afternoon
editions of MWYW, which
ended in 1966. The lower
budget allocation for the
remaining morning shows
didn't allow for the use
of many large bands,
however, after some
persuasion, Tommy Kinsman
managed to secure one
more broadcast before the
series ended. Although
the band carried on for
many years after
broadcasting ceased, I
recall reading in the
seventies that they were
struggling to get work.
Modern trends had meant
that most of their
'society' work had dried
up and they were mainly
doing working-men's
clubs. At that time their
drummer (whose bass drum
bore the autographs of
monarchs of many lands)
had been in the band for
22 years!
Finally,
Tommy Kinsman went into
the business of providing
bands for cruise liners.
Of course, he made sure
of always fronting one
himself, thus enabling
him to combine work with
pleasure! He also took
the opportunity of
playing for private
parties on the Continent.
In 1982, at the age of
81, Tommy decided to
retire to Marbella.
Sadly, he suffered a
heart attack on 1st
February 1984 and after a
further attack on 15th
March was rushed to a
clinic in Malaga, where
he died. He was cremated
in Madrid and his ashes
were scattered in the
gardens of Golders Green
Crematorium, as had been
those of his first wife.
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Tommy Kinsman
and his Orchestra
as broadcast on BBC Radio
circa. 1965
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Tommy Kinsman
and his Dance Orchestra
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at 3.31pm
on 22nd October 1962.
Music
While You Work
Played by Tommy Kinsman
and his Dance Orchestra
on 22nd October 1962
Calling
All Workers (Sig)
So do I
Diamonds are a
girls best friend
Lonely
Over my shoulder
Riding on a Rainbow
What I little moonlight
can do
Steptoe and Son
Five Foot Two
Put your arms around me
honey
Dont bring Lulu
Til Tomorrow
Blonde in the Bikini
Is you is my baby
Music,Music,Music
This Ol House
Undecided
Watch the Birdie
Nicola
Rag Trade Rag
Almost like being in love
Deed I do
Im gonna lock my
heart
Truckin
Hidden Persuasion
Some People
Here and now
Telstar
Anything Goes
Ferryboat Inn
Im a dreamer
Keep your sunny side up
Great Day
Calling All Workers (Sig) |
Eric
Coates
Theo Mackeban
Jule Styne
Acker Bilk
Harry Woods
Harry Woods
Harry Woods
Ron Grainer
Joe Young
Albert von Tilzer
Ray Henderson
Jerry Bock
Grant
Billy Austin
Stephan Weiss
Stuart Hamblen
Charles Shavers
Gene de Paul
Steve Race
Gordon Franks
Frederick Loewe
Fred Rose
Terry Shand
Ruba Bloom
W. Churchill
Van Dyke
Gaze
Joe Meek
Cole Porter
Jimmy Campbell
B.G. De Silva
B.G.De Silva
Vincent Youmans
Eric Coates |
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Tommy Kinsman
and his Dance Orchestra
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at 3.31pm
on 17th July 1963.
Music
While You Work
Played by Tommy Kinsman
and his Dance Orchestra
on 17th July 1963
Calling
All Workers (Sig)
Brotherhood of Man
Ice Cream Man
If I had you
Relax-ay-voo
Into each life some rain
must fall
Mais Oui
How do you do it
Playtime for Poodles
I live you and dont
you forget it
Under the bridges of
Paris
How about you
Pagan Love Song
Singing in the Rain
You cant have
everything
Rhythm of the rain
Half a sixpence
Mississippi mud
Pepito
Five Minutes More
Put on a happy face
Mister Sandman
Guys and Dolls
Im Confessin
You Were meant for me
Some of these days
China town
Puttin on the Ritz
Me and my Shadow
Nobodys
Darlin
Bistro
Calling All Workers (Sig) |
Eric
Coates
Frank Loesser
Joe Meek
Jimmy Campbell
Arthur Schwartz
Alan Roberts
Carlo Donida
Mitch Murray
Eddie Strevens
Henry Mancini
Vincent Scotto
Ralph Freed
Ralph Freed
Nacio Herb Brown
Mack Gordon
John Gummoe
David Henneker
Harry Barris
Carmen Taylor
Sammy Cahn
Charles Strouse
Pat Ballard
Frank Loesser
Doc Dougherty
Nacio Herb Brown
Shelton Brooks
Arthur Schwartz
Irving Berlin
Al Jolson
Davis
Harris
Eric Coates |
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Tommy Kinsman
and his Dance Orchestra
as broadcast in early
1963.
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Tommy Kinsman
and his Dance Orchestra
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Programme at 3.31pm
on 30th March 1966.
Music
While You Work
Played by Tommy Kinsman
and his Dance Orchestra
on 30th March 1966
Calling
All Workers (Sig)
Come Dancing
Heartaches
Leaning on a Lampost
Medley:
. Just you wait
. The rain in Spain
. On the street where you
live
There and back
Caterina
Gandy Dancers Ball
Destiny
Casanova
I'm going to sit right
down
Goody Goody
Start of Something big
Give me the simple life
You make me feel so young
The very thought of you
Bistro
Unforgetable
Spanish Flea
Second Hand Rose
Medley:
. Has anybody
here seen Kelly
. Maggie, yes Ma
. He'd have to get under
. Rings on my fingers
. Hitchey Kee
. In the shade of the old
apple tree
. Put on your ta-ta
little girlie
Calling All Workers (Sig) |
Eric
Coates
David
Glenner
Noel Gay
Lerner/Loewe
Syd Dale
Schuman
Weston
Sydney Baynes
Jack Coles
Young
Mercer
Allen
Ruby
Gordon
Ray Noble
Harris
Gordon
Wechter
Hanley
Murphy
Tucker
Abrahams
Scott
Gilbert
Alstyne
Leigh
Eric Coates |
Listen
to 'Music While You Work'
played by Tommy Kinsman
and his Dance Orchestra
as broadcast on the BBC
Light Progamme at 3.45pm
on 5th October 1960.
Music
While You Work
Played by Tommy Kinsman
and his Dance Orchestra
on 5th October 1960
Calling
All Workers (Sig)
Looking High, High, High
Tonis Tune
Fings Aint Wot They
Used To Be
Sunday
You're Driving Me Crazy
Pink Elephants
Bye Bye Blackbird
Somebody Stole My Gal
Say It With Music
Eternally
How About That
The Best Things in Life
are Free
Harry Lime Theme
Dancing Time
Easy to Love
Cheek to Cheek
Do you Mind?
La Ronde
You Forgot Your Gloves
My Baby Don't Mean Maybe
Sing Baby Sing
Ida Sweet as Apple Cider
Glue Foot
Cinderella Jones
Standing on the Corner
An Apple for the Teacher
It's the Natural thing to
Do
One Two Button Your Shoe
The Music Goes Round and
Around
Romantica
Poor People of Paris
Ooh La La
Calling All Workers (Sig) |
Coates
Watson
Phillips
Bart
Rodgers
Donaldson
Woods
Dixon
Woods
Berlin
Chaplin
Van Dyke
De Sylva
Karas
Kern
Porter
Berlin
Bart
Straus
Lehak
Donaldson
Pollack
Leonard
Mercer
Styne
Loesser
Monaco
Johnson
Johnson
Farley
Rascel
Monnot
Calvi
Coates |
|