Not My Victrola: This One Turned Into A Triple!

EdmundusRex just uploaded With A Song In My Heart, performed by Jack Hylton's Orchestra, and he includes a great writeup:  "Jack Hylton (July 2,1895 - Jan.29,1965) was a British band leader and impresario. He was born in Bolton and he came from a working class background. As a boy, would accompany his father on the piano when he sang in clubs. He also performed at an early age as the "Singing Mill-Boy" and as a relief pianist for various bands.

His early career was as a relief pianist in the 400 club and with the Stroud Haxton Band. After the first world war he went on to play with the Queen's Dance Orchestra where he wrote arrangements of popular songs and had them recorded under the label 'Directed by Jack Hylton'. He went on from here to form his own band.

The band started recording under Jack Hylton's name in 1923. Jack became a respected band leader and was in great demand, so much so that he had to provide bands simultaneously in various locations under his own name. In the 1920s (Babyin' You 1926) the band developed into an orchestra and had a busy schedule. It toured America and Europe and continued until the 1940s when the orchestra disbanded due to members being called up for war service.

Jack was also director of the DECCA record label. All Of Me (Decca Recording).

At this point Jack Hylton's career was already moving towards that of an impresario discovering new stars and managing radio, film and theatre productions from Ballets to Circuses. His productions dominated the London theatres.

Some of the stars he managed, appeared in his productions or discovered were Shirley Bassey, Maurice Chevalier, Ernie Wise, Eric Morecambe, Arthur Askey, the Crazy Gang, George Formby, Diana Dors, Thora Hird, Liberace, Noel Gordon, Sid James, Rosalinda Neri to name but a few.

Jack Hylton and his Orchestra - With A Song In My Heart (1930)"

Well, that information is certainly interesting.  If you have seen the James Bond movie, Goldfinger, you have heard Shirley Bassey, and I never would have guessed that she got her start with someone who was a bandleader starting in the 1920's.  Maurice Chevalier has always impressed me.  He always comes across in his songs as being a very happy person, but he was a French soldier who fought at Verdun, was wounded, and was a prisoner of war for a couple years.  It's a good thing he never heard of PTSD, or he might not have made all those great recordings and movies.  Here are a couple of his, from RReady555.