Syd Lawrence: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
In 1967, Lawrence teamed up with several of his colleagues at the Northern Dance Orchestra to play the music that he was most enthusiastic about, that of Glenn Miller.<ref name="Larkin"/> Early concerts at the Mersey Hotel in [[Manchester]] were a success, and larger venues were found to play in as the reputation of his band grew. |
In 1967, Lawrence teamed up with several of his colleagues at the Northern Dance Orchestra to play the music that he was most enthusiastic about, that of Glenn Miller.<ref name="Larkin"/> Early concerts at the Mersey Hotel in [[Manchester]] were a success, and larger venues were found to play in as the reputation of his band grew. |
||
[[Yorkshire Television]] |
Respected comedian [[Les Dawson]] discovered the band in a bar and liked them so much, that he wanted them to play backing music on his show [[Sez Les]]. He begged [[Yorkshire Television]] to give them an opportunity and they did. And so the Syd Lawrence Orchestra was given there first real break and a regular spot on the comedy show. As the music became more popular, Lawrence and his band started touring around the UK, which they did with great success for many years. In 1969 he signed with Philips Records and the band's first release was on the Contour label, selling at 10/6d. The Orchestra went on to record about fifteen long playing albums, usually at the Strawberry Recording Studios in Manchester along with radio and television appearances on variety shows. He appeared with his band on ''[[3-2-1]]'' and also occasionally was a vocalist. |
||
Lawrence retired from touring in 1994 and died of an [[aneurysm]] in 1998. Following his death, the Syd Lawrence Band continued on and still tours. The orchestra was led by Bryan Pendleton, and is currently led by Chris Dean.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070216131449/http://www.syd-lawrence-orchestra.com/profiles/ChrisDeanMusicalDirector/tabid/64/Default.aspx] {{dead link|date=September 2021}}</ref> In 2011 it was voted the Best Big Band in the Land for the 11th consecutive year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herefordtimes.com/leisure/music/9432506.Chris_Dean_s_Syd_Lawrence_Orchestra____best_big_band_in_the_land____comes_to_The_Courtyard/|title=Chris Dean's Syd Lawrence Orchestra - 'best big band in the land' - comes to The Courtyard|newspaper=[[Hereford Times]]|date=22 December 2001|accessdate=3 February 2018}}</ref> |
Lawrence retired from touring in 1994 and died of an [[aneurysm]] in 1998. Following his death, the Syd Lawrence Band continued on and still tours. The orchestra was led by Bryan Pendleton, and is currently led by Chris Dean.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070216131449/http://www.syd-lawrence-orchestra.com/profiles/ChrisDeanMusicalDirector/tabid/64/Default.aspx] {{dead link|date=September 2021}}</ref> In 2011 it was voted the Best Big Band in the Land for the 11th consecutive year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herefordtimes.com/leisure/music/9432506.Chris_Dean_s_Syd_Lawrence_Orchestra____best_big_band_in_the_land____comes_to_The_Courtyard/|title=Chris Dean's Syd Lawrence Orchestra - 'best big band in the land' - comes to The Courtyard|newspaper=[[Hereford Times]]|date=22 December 2001|accessdate=3 February 2018}}</ref> |
||
Revision as of 18:29, 9 May 2023
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2011) |
Syd Lawrence (26 June 1923 – 5 May 1998)[1] was a British bandleader, who became famous in the UK for his orchestra's Big Band sound, which drew on the 1940s style of music of Glenn Miller and Count Basie amongst others.
Career
Born in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England, in 1923,[1] Lawrence was a talented trumpet player during World War II. He wrote and arranged music. He was based in Cairo during the war years, playing and arranging for the RAF service bands. After he left the armed forces, he played with some of the leading British dance bands of the 1940s, finally being invited to join the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra in 1953.[2] He stayed with this band for sixteen years playing alongside fellow trumpet player Stan Hibbert.
In 1967, Lawrence teamed up with several of his colleagues at the Northern Dance Orchestra to play the music that he was most enthusiastic about, that of Glenn Miller.[2] Early concerts at the Mersey Hotel in Manchester were a success, and larger venues were found to play in as the reputation of his band grew.
Respected comedian Les Dawson discovered the band in a bar and liked them so much, that he wanted them to play backing music on his show Sez Les. He begged Yorkshire Television to give them an opportunity and they did. And so the Syd Lawrence Orchestra was given there first real break and a regular spot on the comedy show. As the music became more popular, Lawrence and his band started touring around the UK, which they did with great success for many years. In 1969 he signed with Philips Records and the band's first release was on the Contour label, selling at 10/6d. The Orchestra went on to record about fifteen long playing albums, usually at the Strawberry Recording Studios in Manchester along with radio and television appearances on variety shows. He appeared with his band on 3-2-1 and also occasionally was a vocalist.
Lawrence retired from touring in 1994 and died of an aneurysm in 1998. Following his death, the Syd Lawrence Band continued on and still tours. The orchestra was led by Bryan Pendleton, and is currently led by Chris Dean.[3] In 2011 it was voted the Best Big Band in the Land for the 11th consecutive year.[4]
References
- ^ a b Gifford D. Obituary: Syd Lawrence. The Independent (7 May 1998) (accessed 20 April 2010)
- ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 737. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ [1] [dead link]
- ^ "Chris Dean's Syd Lawrence Orchestra - 'best big band in the land' - comes to The Courtyard". Hereford Times. 22 December 2001. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
