The bands that got Britain dancing
ONE HUNDRED years ago a dance craze swept the nation. Whether in the glittering ballrooms of plush hotels, or the several dance halls that sprung up, four million people a week went dancing, generating a massive revenue… and a large proportion of the bandleaders were Jewish, from the East End or North Manchester.
They were the sons of tailors, cabinet makers, cobblers and occasionally musicians, born for the most part around the turn of the century, and many now sported “British names” — Louis Steinberg became Lew Stone, Harry Lipman became Harry Roy, Nathan Buchbinder became Nat Bookbinder, and Joshua became Joe (Loss).
The music they played was peculiarly British — more based on music hall than jazz, and their assimilation went further. At the posh places, the punters wanted the bandleaders to be “one of them”, and elsewhere to be “stars” — so the boys from the East End became “proper” English gentlemen, Brylcreem and all, and Joe Loss hid his tzitzit underneath his tuxedo (true story!).
The accepted cream of the crop was Bert Ambrose. He played golf with the Prince of Wales and allowed him to use his flat (no doubt for Mrs Simpson). He employed the best musicians and arrangers in the business — and lived the high life at the casino at Biarritz, which was nicknamed Chez Ambrose.
After a brief holiday in South America, Gerald Bright returned as “Geraldo” who, with his “Gaucho Orchestra”, played the tango. When the tango craze was over, he ditched his cowboy outfit, and “Gerry” took up the tuxedo again.
Of all of them, the bright shining star was the aforementioned Harry Roy. Whereas the others were smooth, he was “hot”. He was described as an energetic livewire on stage. He married into Society (the daughter of the last White Rajah of Sarawak), lived at 60 Park Lane in Mayfair, and in today’s money earned £3.5 million a year while gambling much of it away on the horses.
Then Hitler invaded Poland and everything changed. Around 80 per cent of the musicians joined up, sometimes snaffled by the Armed Services, as with the Squadronnaires, mostly formed from Ambrose’s band.
The Golden Age ended with the War. Young people turned to swing, then rock and roll, then pop, and then went to discos.
Post-war, the bandleaders went their diverse ways. Some carried on, adapting to the changed times. Many retired. Geraldo organised dance bands for what came to be known as Geraldo’s Navy – Cunard. Many, like Harry Roy, struggled on; a few, like Stanley Black, reached
Their music was peculiarly British, more music hall than jazz
new heights.
Joe Loss was the great survivor. Popular before the war, he had the talent to adapt to the new world post-war, and to television, and kept himself in the public eye, especially with a new programme called Come Dancing!
Ambrose faded away in the public mind. He spent his last years in management, but for him, and the rest, the best years were over.
So, during a fascinating period of British history, Jewish musicians played a full and active part, affecting the culture of the land that they and their kin had come to, and gave many millions immense pleasure. The time has come to recognise their contribution.