[ Frank Chacksfield Orch. ]
Please 'click' on this Frank Chacksfield Entry, in our American Database.

      [ Eddie Carroll Orch. ]
b. 1907, d. Dec. 1969
He learned to play piano from early childhood and played professionally as a cinema pianist in various venues in the Glasgow, Scotland area. By the age of 17 yrs he was playing with Al Starita , after his first band had folded. He styed with the band when it was taken over by Sidney Bright ( Geraldo's brother) In 1930 he was briefly with Ernest Ritte .

He then worked in London and toured Belgium playing second piano in Hal Kemp's band tilll Sept.. He ended 1930 with Joe Kaye's band. In 1931 he was with Ambrose but played various gigs with " The Nightwatchmen" and also with Rex Owens Nephews.

During 1932 he worked with Maurice Winnick and Reg Purslove outfits . Then late in the year he was second piano with Lew Stone where he stayed till 1934. In 1934 Eddie was with Henry Hall for four months and the became an accompaniist for two perfomers-Elsie Carlisle and Sam Browne. Finally in 1934 he organized his own band for a stay at the Empress Rooms in London, England.

During 1936 Eddie was the musical director on the RMS Queen Mary. From 1937 to 1940 he led his own bands. Throughout the "30's Eddie still found time to do freelance work with Nat Gonella,Spike Hughes, Ray Noble and others.

When the war came Eddie was commissioned as an officer in the British Army where he served from 1941 till 1945. After the war his band worked in Toquay ( a summer holiday destiation in South West England ) at the Imperial Hotel. In 1946 he then went to Quaglino's in London where he stayed till the spring of 1950.

In 1951 to 1952, he toured England and Italy with his own band before taking it to New Delhi, India. in spring of '52 till summer 1953 ending the year in another tour of Italy. He returned to London to play at the Hammersmith Palais Dance Hall. After a stint playing a piano duet in the Agatha Christie Play "Spiders Web" Eddie moved to Burnham-on-sea in Somerset in the warm west of England where he play summer seasons until ill health caused him to retire in 1967. He died two years later in 1969.
Mr. Derrick Wilkinson very kindly submitted the data on Eddie Carroll.

      [ Billy Cotton Band ], (30's)
b. London. May 6, 1899 d. March 25, 1969
Theme: "Somebody Stole My Gal"
Overview:
Here's a photo of Billy Cotton, who, in his earlier days before he became nationally known, was an avid sportsman, who had played for the Brentford FC. He also represented Britain, as a driver, in the ERA motor racing team. From those beginnings, Billy Cotton went on to perform on hundreds of radio, and then television, band shows.

Learned to play the drums when he enlisted in the army as a young man. In the later years of WW1, he joined the RFC, where he led a band. In private correspondence, Mr. Roger Gifford has recalled:

       "At the time of his transfer to the RFC, it had become or was about to
       become, the RAF. He had wanted to learn to fly which he did. Billy may
       hold a unique place in British military history as he served in all three
       services in the same war. This came about that, although he was given
       permission to transfer to flying school, he had to make his own way to
       England from Egypt, where he was stationed. This he did by [an acceptable
       thing at the time] to sign on with the Royal Navy for one voyage and served
       as a stoker on a battleship sailing to England from Alexandria. Billy had
       been a drummer boy and the Regiment was Royal Fusiliers [City of London]
       Regiment."

He stayed in the band business after the war ended, and had a band that played at the Wembley Exhibition in 1924. However, his real break came when London's Charing Cross Road club, the 'Astoria', booked him in 1928. During the 1920's he played football, in the 1930's, was a famous race car driver, and in 1934, his band appeared in the film 'The First Mrs. Fraser'.

One of his '30's band had such sidemen as Nat Gonella; Jack Doyle, and Teddy Foster. Ellis Jackson, a black American, was a featured Tap Dancer with the band. (In 1969, Ellis was 80 years old, and still active on the theater circuit.)

Listen now to some tunes played by the Billy Cotton orchestra. There's the tender ballad "What A Difference A Day Makes", which was a great WW II era song, and a couple of Jazz 'Standards', "After You've Gone", and "Nobody's Sweetheart Now". ( Interested readers may wish to compare this Billy Cotton release with the Roy Fox rendition )

Billy Cotton's career survived the passing of the big band era. The Billy Cotton Band Show was a very popular BBC TV presentation right up to the time of Billy's death in 1969.

      [ Tim Colwell's Jazzfriends ]
b. 13 May 1938, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, England, d. September 18, 2003, England.
Tim vehemently refused all offers of music lessons as a child! After abortive efforts to learn saxophone in late teens, he eventually got down to serious study at age 32, while in London, giving up work and practicing 10 hours a day for a solid 3 months. Self-taught and armed with 3 tunes, he went out to blow and was helped and encouraged by established Jazz musicians like John Chilton, Colin Smith, Bruce Turner and Don Rendell. Tim played the local "Pubs" with a band led by bassist John Benson, later to spend many years with Kenny Ball. Tim formed his first band within a year but moved to the South of England where he met altoist ALAN LEISHMAN, beginning a long musical relationship until Leishman moved to Australia in 1986, -and the era ended. Throughout the whole of these years Colwell worked as a Radio Presenter /Producer and made some progress as a published songwriter and singer.

"Jazzfriends" (1976-'86) began as a Quintet and ended as a 14-piece band, with smaller offshoots. From the start, Colwell's intention was to give a platform to the best semi-pro improvising musicians in Central Southern England, and to give youngsters the unusual chance to work with experienced jazz players. He also wanted it to be a fun band, with untaxing, loose arrangements, but which had the drive of a Basie/Hampton outfit though not necessarily stylistically the same. The band grew in size organically and each member was an excellent soloist, some adding arrangements. As indicated, the mix of young and old players was deliberate. At one time, the oldest was trumpeter RON HORLER (father of David, from the Koln Radio Orch., and John, Cleo Laine's pianist), who was 72 and an ex-pro with the Eric Delaney band. Ron is still gigging regularly at age 84 with no decline in his marvellous, rich brass sound, stamina...or enthusiasm! The regular 'Mingus-toned' bassist for the last 5 years of the band was PETER MAXFIELD, who already had much experience with star tenorist Andy Sheppard. There was also the youngest 13 year old astonishing altoist NIGEL HITCHCOCK, now a big Jazz name in Britain, and much in demand. Other young players who have also reached top Jazz/studio professional level include altoist JAMIE TALBOT, bassist PAUL MORGAN,(15), trombonist ADRIAN FRY(15), and trumpeters PAUL EDMONDS (17), who has recorded with Kenny Wheeler, and GERARD PRESENCER (16), who was spotted by drummer Clark Tracey and moved into the Big League, where he has remained. "Guitarist PAUL STACEY (18) won a World Guitar Competition and was offered a place at Berklee but turned it down to go to Stage School. He is now (2003) often to be seen on TV Commercials and, with the occasional stage "Hamlet" thrown in on "off" weeks, is still playing wonderful Jazz at the top London venues!"

Among the experienced players were trumpeter DON RICHARDS, trombonist JOHN HAWORTH, baritonist JOHNNY MARSHALL (ex-Kirchin Band and GEORGIE FAME..and who was actually present at the legendary Bird/Diz Massey Hall Concert. (Like the true musician he was, he 'snuck' in the back way without paying!) Pianist RAY d'INVERNO provided much material and continues to dominate the local scene...and is a genuine Math "Professor"! Ever-present was drummer JOHN BELL, School Headmaster! Tenorist TONY ROBERTS was an outstanding player in many spheres who had been with the Johnny Dankworth Orch. Graham Collier and John McLaughlin. But every member had something important to say.

The band made many broadcasts, including 3 for the national BBC network, -extremely unusual for a "territory" band but showing the esteem in which it was held. They also performed often in France, winning Jazz Contests and touring, and they were regulars at British Jazzfests such as the prestigious Bracknell (on 8 occasions). It was decided not to issue records in order to keep an ad-hoc attitude, and to avoid the whole affair becoming too serious. The oldest player to work with "Jazzfriends" was the Southampton pianist MONTY WORLOCK (d. 1999) . Despite having spent most of his career in a non-Jazz atmosphere (for years he was with the comedy band 'Sid Millward and his Nit-Wits'), his natural humour often hid a phenomenal Jazz technique and he could rattle off many an Art Tatum solo or play convincingly in the Bud Powell tradition.

Colwell's ill-health was the main reason for the band's demise and he spent the next 13 years with a small Dixieland band and now works as a duo with guitarist GARY LEPORT. But Jazzfriends is still lovingly remembered for the good times and the musical camraderie. Unlike most bands of any size, there was never any jealousy or factionism...just a lot of fun and, occasionally, some great Jazz.

In early 2003, Tim was in his 60s, and happily going stronger than ever. He often worked the local venues as a duet with his guitarist friend Gary Leport. Here's a photo of the two good friends Gary and Tim. On September 19, 2003, we were very saddened to hear (from one of Tim's good friends) of Tim's demise. His friend wrote:

        "Unfortunately I heard this morning that Tim died last night... murdered:
        Waiting for local news for confirmation. He was my neighbour for 4 years
        and a really nice guy. I still live in the same street and it was cordoned
        off this morning, and the woman in the local shop told me what happened. I
        understand he was beaten to a pulp and died later. I'm pretty upset right
        now. Tim was a terrific guy, a tireless campaigner against injustice, he
        lobbied for the pardon of James Hanratty "the A6 murderer" who was hung in
        the 1960s, but was later proved to have been innocent."

A sad end for a wonderful person, as well as a fine musician and entertainer.

      [ The Gentlemen of Jazz ]
b. March 29, 1915, Glasgow, Scotland, UK, d. December 1997, London, England, UK.
Chisholm led a long, illustrious career, working variously as a pianist, arranger, trombonist, bandleader, and comic actor. He was born into a musical family His father was a drummer, his mother a pianist, and his two brothers were also working musicians. The young Chisholm began his career as a pianist in the local "silent" cinemas. Then in the spring of 1934, he became the trombonist with the Louis Freeman dance band at the Glasgow Playhouse, where later that same year, he also worked (trombone) with violinist Jack Ansell's Band.

In 1935, he returned to the Freeman band working as pianist and arranger as well as trombonist. In 1936, he joined the Teddy Joyce Band, in London, and that same year returned to the Glasgow Playhouse. where he played with Duncan Whyte's Band. In 1937, he worked with several bands (including 'Ambrose') and also toured Holland with the visiting American saxophonist Benny Carter. In 1938, he recorded, in London, with the legendary "Fats" Waller.

In 1939, Chilsholm, together with fellow Scots Tommy McQuater and Archie Craig (both trumpet players) were part of a new British musicians co-operative band, "The Heralds of Swing". Regretfully, World War II ended the band's short existence. In March 1940, Chisholm joined the RAF and became a founder member of their famous wartime band 'The Squadronaires'. Even after being demobilised, he remained with the band until 1950.

The early-1950s, found him freelancing in the studios and with small groups. During 1952-1957, while a member of the BBC Show Band, he also gigged regularly with 'Kenny Baker's Dozen', and freelanced with a variety of other groups. In 1956, Chisholm and Louis Armstrong, took part in an all-star 'Hungarian Relief Fund' concert at the Royal Festival Hall.

Chisholm had always exhibited a gift for verbal comedy, and this now made him a popular favorite on such shows as BBC radio's 'The Goon Show'. In later years, he would occasionally work with famed humorist "Spike" Milligan (b. April 16, 1918, Ahmed Nagar, India, d. Feb. 27, 2002, (near) Rye, East Sussex, UK. (liver disease). né: Terence Alan Patrick Sean Milligan). Chisholm got his first taste of the then brand new medium of Television while working with Jack Parnell's ATV Orchestra. In 1961, he joined the cast of the popular 'Black and White Minstrel Show', where he did some comedy routines (to the chagrin of some jazz critics).

From the mid-1960s Chisholm was a frequent guest on television shows (both as a musician and a comic) and freelanced,in the studios and with many groups. It was during this period that he also led his own band, "The Gentlemen of Jazz", for many years. All during the 1960s and 1970s, he was also a frequent guest with the Alex Welsh Band.

In the late-1970s, he suffered some heart problems. In 1980, he was a guest at Dick Gibson's Jazz Party in Denver, Colorado. In 1982, after successful heart surgery, he was again actively playing. In 1984, he was awarded the OBE, but ill-health eventually led to his retirement in the mid-1990s.