| Ted Heath |
|
| Background information |
| Birth name |
Edward George Heath. |
| Also known as |
"Ted" |
| Born |
March 30, 1902(1902-03-30)
Wandsworth, South London, England |
| Died |
November 18, 1969 (aged 67)
London, England |
| Genres |
Easy Listening, Instrumental, Jazz, Big band. |
| Occupations |
Orchestra leader, Composer. |
| Instruments |
Trombone. |
| Years active |
1916-1969. |
| Labels |
Decca, and London. |
George Edward "Ted" Heath (30 March 1902 – 18 November 1969) was the most famous English bandleader of the 40s, 50s and early 60s.
Heath was born at 76 Atheldene Avenue, Wandsworth, South London; he started playing the trombone at the age of fourteen, and his early career involved stints with Bert Firman, Jack Hylton, Ambrose, Sid Lipton, and Geraldo.
His own first orchestra was brought together in 1944 for BBC broadcasts; in 1946 they performed in London Town, a British film musical. On Thursday 20th February 1947 he performed at Kings Hall Belle Vue Ted Heath and his Music. The film was an unmitigated disaster, but Heath's career took off, including many hit records ("Swingin' Shepherd Blues" being his biggest success, reaching number three in the charts in 1958), regular work for the BBC, and especially a series – started in 1945 – of Sunday-night concerts at the London Palladium. He and his band were featured in the film Dance Hall in 1950. During the 1950s his orchestra frequently performed at the Hammersmith Palais de Dance and The Orchid Ballroom in Purley, Surrey. From 1956 Heath and his orchestra were regular and popular visitors to the United States. In July, 1953, he released a recording of Bill Haley and the Comets' "Crazy Man, Crazy" on Decca featuring Lita Roza on vocals.
The orchestra was on the cusp between dance music and jazz; not only did Heath hire many British jazz musicians at various times, but his staff arranger for a time was the American jazz composer Tadd Dameron, and his programmes of straight dance music were supplemented by projects such as his recording of Fats Waller's London Suite. Heath (in common with many other bandleaders at the time) allowed no unrehearsed improvising, however, and the orchestra was known for its note-perfect perfectionism.
His huge worldwide success lasted for about fifteen years, touring the United States on several occasions with outstanding success - a ten minute standing ovation at The Carnegie Hall, New York in front of a stellar audience in 1956 a memorable moment, ended only by the popularity of rock and roll and the advent of the Beatles. The orchestra was disbanded in 1964 when Heath's health started faltering, though there have been many reunions of various of the musicians involved until the final concert in 2000.
Heath's sons Nick Heath and Tim Heath continued the musical and entertainment tradition in the family becoming highly successful artiste managers in 1970's and subsequently forming their own record label Rialto and various music publishing companies and other entertainment entities. Heath's grandson, James Heath, maintains the theme - his company, Burning Vision Entertainment, produces music videos.
Filmography
Selected Discography
- Decca 2/53 Alpine Boogie /Pennywhistle Song
- Decca F10077 5/53 On the Bridge/ La Mer
- F10089 4/53 Fickle Fingers DV/La Rosita DV
- F10090 4/53 On the first warm day DL/Wild Horses DL
- F10093 4/53 Hot Toddy/ Strike up the band
- F10123 6/53 Night Train/ The Hawk Talks
- F10136 7/53 Times a-wastin’/ Big Mamou DL,DC
- F10142 7/53 Fourth dimension (pt. 1)/ Fourth Dimension (pt 2) LR,DV
- F10143 7/53 Etrospect /Rhapsody for drums
- F10144 7/53 Crazy man, crazy LR /Oo, what you do for me LR
- F10145 7/53 The Champ/ Blues for Moderns
- F10176 10/53 Dragnet/ Sloppy Joe
- F10178 10/53 Mother Nature & Father Time DV /Sittin’ in the sun DL
- F10182 10/53 Alouette /You are my heart’s delight
- F10200* 11/53 Lullaby of Birdland /Seven Eleven
- F10211 12/53 Velvet Glove / Warsaw Concerto
- F10222* 1/54 The Creep /Slim Jim
Sources
- Ian Carr, Digby Fairweather, & Brian Priestley Jazz: The Rough Guide 2nd edition. ISBN 1-85828-528-3
