Dance Bands and other entertainers

Johnny Lyne & His Orchestra at the South Parade Pier. 1953 De Peste Orchestra 1959 (De Reske?) Syd Dean and his Orch with singer Johnny Kildare Vic Abbott and his music at the Embassy Ballroom Jimmy Nash Benny Freedman Left to right;- Roger Mahoney drums, Roy Beverley bass, Kevin Doohan piano, Benny Freedman, Jack Salt baritone, alto, clar. Archie Horn alto, clar. George Hunnisett, alto, clar, violin, drum. Ernie Davis tenor, clar. Stan Emptage trumpet. Jimmy Newton, trumpet, vocalist. Benny Freedman and his Band at the Savoy Ballroom, line-update 19th July 1955 Archie Horn Alto, clar. George Hunnisett, Alto, clar, violin, drum. Ernie Davis Tenor, clar. Jack Salt, Baritone, alto, clar. Stan Emptage Trumpet. Jimmy Newton, Trumpet, vocalist. Brian Barnes Piano. Geoff Powell, Bass, guitar, vocalist. Ted Harvey Drums. Benny Freedman, Alto, clar, violin. Benny Freedman and his Orchestra, line-up date 17th July 1956 Archie Horn, Alto, Clar. Jimmy Newton, Trumpet, Alto, Guitar. George Hunnisett, Alto, Clar, Violin. Brian Barnes, Piano. Ernie Davis, Tenor, Clar. Geoff Powell, Bass, Guitarist, Vocalist. Jack Salt, Baritone, Alto, Clar. Ted Harvey, Drums. Stan Emptage, Trumpet. Benny Freedman, Alto, Clar, Violin Mick Mitchell and his Band, line-up date 19th July 1955 Len Powell, Alto, clar, violin. Jack Keel, Alto, clar, violin. Dick Northey, Tenor, clan, violin. Ted Chandler, Trumpet. Arthur Stevens, Bass. Tiny Nichols, Drums, vocalist. Mick Mitchell Piano, clavioline. Top photo; Mick Mitchell piano, Arthur Ward drums, Jean Goulden vocals, saxophonists FG Keel, GE Harrison and JG Williams bottom photo; Jean looking on as Cyril Anderson plays trumpet Jean Goulden vocals Eric Galloway Orch 1962 Ivor Gordon Quintet 1963 Bob Lambie 1960's Don Bridger 1965 Pete Madsen 1966 Billy Bennett 'Billy Bennett and his Brilliant Band' shown on stage at H.M.S. Vernon, their usual venue, in the late 1940's. The band numbers five, from left to right. Jimmy O'Nion (accordionist), Mr Bennett (bass), drummer is unknown, Mike Reilly (sax and clarinet), Cecil Jefferies (piano). Mr Bennett renamed the band on the advice on Billy Butlin. The band played H.M.S. Vernon on VE night. Sid Bennett Stan Bennett Alan Green Mel Douglas Set 1968 Jack Hawkins Orchestra/Showband Wally Fry and his Collegians line, up date 19th July 1955 Sid Proctor, Alto, clar, violin. Harry Thompson, Alto, clar. Len Farrell, Tenor, clar, accordion. Jock Shulman, Trumpet. Douggie Wheeler Trombone. Nobby Clark, Piano. Roy Beverley Bass, guitar. Wally Fry, Drums. Wally Fry and his Collegians Wally Fry and his Collegians, line-up date 17th July 1956 Sid Proctor, Alto, Clar, Violin Jock Shulman, Trumpet, Harry Thompson, Alto, Clar Nobby Clark, Piano, Eric A Harbutt clarinet, saxophone, Freddy Wyllie, Tenor, Clar, Violin Roy Beverley, Bass, Guitar, Wally Fry, Drums Billy Bennetts Brilliant Band Brian and his Gaiety Club Band Brian and his Carnival Club Band Robbie's Dance Band Reg Banistra's Band at the South Parade Pier and Empress Ballroom. Reg Bannistra drums; Bob Quinton piano; Jimmy Simpson bass; Bill Tate trumpet; Len Fowell John Musel altos; Norman King Roy Murray tenors. Jimmy Harris and his band with Gerry Leach New Orleans Nancarrow's band Frank Stocker's Band left to right;, Bill Cripps drums and button accordion, Basil Fry saxophones, Cyril Brown saxophones and violin, Frank Stocker piano. The Merry Macs The Melody Makers Who are these? Melody Makers? Merry Macs? Mick Mitchell? The Alf Hallman Orchestra , line-up date 19th July 1955 John Wilkins Alto, clar, trumpet. Cyril Brown Tenor, clar, violin. Bob Lawrence Tenor, clar, violin. George Bishop Baritone, alto, clar, violin, Bill Tate, Trumpet. Ted Wilcox Piano, clavioline. Tommy Padmore, Drums. Alf Hallman, Alto, sopr, clar, ace. Alf Hallman and his Orchestra, line-up date 17th July 1956 John Wilkins, Alto, Clar, Trumpet. Ted Wilcox, Piano, Clav. Bob Lawrence, Tenor, Alto, Clar, Violin. Roy Nightingale, Bass. Cyril Brown, Tenor, Clar, Violin. Tommy Padmore, Drums. Johnny Tyne, Trumpet, Alto. Alf Hallman, Alto, Bari, Sup, Clar, Acc. Len Ashdown and his Rhythm Aces The Chiz Bishop Quartet line-up date 17th July 1956 Ricky Wicheloe, Alto, Clar. Tony Hart, Drums. Ray Lott, Bass. Chiz Bishop, Piano,arr. Graham Leslie and his Orchestra, line-up date 17th July 1956 Bob Lucas, Alto, Clar. Dick Cox, Trumpet. Ray Murray, Tenor, Violin. Arthur Stevens, Bass. Len Farrell, Clar. Tommy Thompson, Drums. Ted Chandler, Trumpet. Graham Leslie, Piano. The Trevor Nabarro Quartet , line-up date 19th July 1955 Tony Day, Piano. Ray Shepherd, Drums. Roy Nightingale, Bass. Trevor Nabarro, Alto. The Trevor Nabarro Quartet, line-up date 17th July 1956 Phil Shipp, Piano. Ray Shepherd, Drums. Johnny Lyons, Bass. Trevor Nabarro, Alto, Clar. Bill Cole and his Clubmen at the South Parade Pier and Hilsea Lido Ballroom, Bill Cole piano,vocals; Tony Leigh alto,clarinet; Cyril Breeze tenor; Ted Piggott guitar; Joe English bass; Freddy Brown drums. The Club Quintet, line-up date 17th July 1956 Ron Bennett, Tenor, Clar, Bass. Nelson Peters, Bass. Bill Cole, Piano. Terry Flynn, Vibraphone, Piano. Billy Burkett and his Band, line-up date 17th July 1956 Bert Farrow, Alto, Clar. Ken Wise, Piano. Laurie Bycroft, Alto, clar. Vic Bray, Bass. Bert Wratten, Tenor, Clar. Eric Langley, Drums. Billy Burkett, Trumpet. Barry McCarthy and his, Dixielanders , line-up date 19th July 1955 Douggie Whitfield Trumpet. Jimmy Horn, Trombone. Doreen Nutter, Piano, vocalist. Ron Blandford, Bass. Jack Campbell, Drums. Barry McCarthy, Alto, clar. Barry McCarthy and his Dixielanders, line-up date 17th July 1956 George Good, Drums. Douggie Whitfield, Trumpet. Douggie Wheeler, Trombone. Doreen Nutter, Piano, Vocalist. Jack Campbell, Drums. Stan King, Bass. Barry McCarthy, Alto, Clar. Reginald Bannistra and his Music , line-up date 19th July 1955 Les Meare, Alto, clan. Bob Lucas, Alto, clar. Roy Murray Tenor, Violin. Norman King, Tenor, clar. Freddy Hurchins Baritone, trumpet. Dicky Cox, Trumpet. Stan Howell, trumpet. Stan Matthews, Piano. Stan King, Bass. Reginald Bannistra, Drums. Reginald Bannistra and his Music, line-up date 17th July 1956 Johnny Lyne, Alto, Clar, , Trumpet, arr. Freddy Hutchins, Alto, Trumpet Ken Bishop, Tenor, Clar, arr. Cyril Breeze, Tenor, Baritone. Ken Howell, Trumpet. Bob Quinton, Piano. Joe English, Bass. Arthur Ward, Drums. Jill Ward, Vocalist. Reg. Bannistra, M.D. The Combined Theatres Orchestra with Frederick Curzon , line-up date 19th July 1955 Directed by ARTHUR F. REED A. E. Beech Violin, sax. T. J. Peaker , Violin, sax. B. E. Goodall Violin, trombone. C. Wakley (Miss) , Violin, trumpet. M. Gold (Miss) Violin. F. Bellman, Violin. H. Cooper, Cello, sax. R. Matthews (Mrs.) , Cello. R. F, Boon, Bass. R. Bishop, Flute. R. Hutty Clar, Viola. L. Ferguson , Clar, sax. A. Fotterell Trumpet. G. Cripps Trumpet. S. Hillier Trombone. P. H. Jamieson Trombone. A. F. Hartnell, Drums. H'. Curzon , Piano. Jack Leon and his Concert Orchestra, line-up date 17th July 1956 Tibor Stary, Violin (Lead) Guy Taylor, Bass Arthur Reed Violin George Romano, Clarinet, Alto Benny Freedman Violin Arthur Cooter, Clarinet, Alto Tom Peaker Violin Jock Ferguson Clarinet, Alto Les Ivermay Violin Joe Placket, Flute, Alto Bernard Goodall Violin Ron Bishop, Flute, Alto George Hunnisett Violin A. E. Hopkins, Oboe Austin Beech Violin Roy Garman, Trumpet Ben Riches Violin John Fullbrook, Trumpet George Forbes Violin Tenor Ken Snelling, Trombone Ernest Barr, Viola Ron Elkins, Piano R. Hutty Viola Cyril Houldsworth, Drums Joe Hamilton, 'Cello Maureen Jones, Soprano The Dance Orchestra of H.M. Royal Marines (Portsmouth), line-up date 19th July 1955 by permission of Major General Royal Marines, Portsmouth) Directed by Bandmaster ROY MORGAN, R.M. B/Cpl David Elliott Alto, clar, violin. Musn. Terence Casselden, Alto, clar. L/Cpl Leonard Spencer Tenor, clar,violin Musn. Frank Fowler, Tenor, clar, violin I ; L/Cpl Jesse Palmer Baritone, flute. B/Sgt Harold Price, , Trombone. B/Sgt Jack Evans Bas;, piano. :Musn. Tony Fitzgerald, Piano, flute Musn. Tom Law Drums B/M Roy Morgan Trumpet. Goldie and the Marinaires, line-up date 17th July 1956 Bill Trend, Piano, arr. Jack Campbell, Drums George Mills, Accordion Arthur Goldsmith, Tenor, Vocalist Roy Richards and his Mayfair Music at Kimbells Osborne Road, line-up date 19th July 1955 George Harrison Alto, clar, violin, trumpet Bill Seal, Alto, Bari, clar, violin, cello. Bob Lambie, Tenor, clay, violin. Eric Robinson , Trumpet, violin, sax. Jack Lennox, Piano, accordion, Danny Brushwood Bass, piano. Roy Richards, Drums, arranger. Roy Richards and his Mayfair Music, line-up date 17th July 1956 Charles Bliss, Alto, Clar. Violin, Vocalist Spike Romano, Trumpet, Violin Bill Davies, Alto, Clar, Violin, 'Cello, Voc. Jack Lennox, Piano, Acc., Univ. Ox. Bob Lambie, Tenor, Clar, Violin Danny Brushwood, Bass, Piano Roy Richards, Drums, arr. Ron Bennett and the Club Quintet, line-up date 19th July 1955 Terry Flynn, , Vibraphone, piano. Bill Cole, Piano. Nelson Peters Bass. George Austen, , Guitar. George Good, , Drums. Ron Bennett, Tenor, clar, bass clar. The Bob Quinton Group featuring Johnny Lyne , line-up date 19th July 1955 (Presented by Reginald Bannistra) Ken Bishop, Tenor, clar. Joe English Bass Arthur Ward Drums. Johnny Lyne, Multi-instrumentalist Bob Quinton, Piano. Madame Courtney's Accordion Band Comments from Harry Francis In the post–war years, as an official of the Musicians’ Union, I heard very many, including some really outstanding ones. Some I can recall, starting off with several based in the Portsmouth area in the early ‘fifties. There was, for example, the Johnny Lyne Orchestra, one of the most stylish I have heard. The leader, who I believe wrote all the arrangements, played alto saxophone, clarinet and trumpet in equally great style and skill, and directed a combination comprising four saxophones (baritone and three tenors), trombone, piano, bass, bongo and drums. There were a number of fine soloists among the personnel, and the ensemble, due to imaginative scoring and the astute use of doubling, was just about perfection. If my memory serves me correctly, at least one other saxophonist also doubled trumpet. Other fine bands at that time in Portsmouth, I recall, were those of Jimmy Nash, with five brass, five reeds and rhythm, Reg Bannistra, the long–serving Musicians’ Union secretary for the Portsmouth area, Benny Freedman, with which I remember sitting in to play the “St. Louis Blues March”, and Phil Tate. Both Benny and Phil moved on in turn to the Leas Cliff Hall at Folkestone, and Phil, was for many years booking bands for the Mecca ballroom circuit. The MUSIC MAKERS The Music Makers bring jazz to the Unity Hall in 1953, surrounded by chairs! they were John Ainsworth piano, Steve Ingles bass, Tommy Hext guitar and Nick Kynvin drums. The Ken Howell Band The Ken Howell Band with Arthur Ward on drums. Brian Wilson Quintet in about 1958 at a pub on the corner of Stamford St Fratton. Mike Treen was on the gig? trumpet Tony Bliss? John Urry drums. The Rick Newman band, was Rick on trumpet, Tony Twine on sax, Bob Sessions on bass and Ray ? on guitar, John Urry drums.