40’S
ERA BANDS AND ORCHESTRAS
[
Back
]
Glenn
Miller Orchestra
Formed in 1988 in
conjunction with
Glenn Miller Productions
of New York. They
have maintained
the exact line-up
on stage devised
by Glenn, consisting
of the leader, five
saxophones, four
trumpets, four trombones
and three rhythm,
plus a male and
female vocalist.
The singers perform
both individually
and as part of The
Moonlight Serenades
vocal group. The
Uptown Hall Gang
– an outstanding
Dixieland group
drawn from members
of the orchestra
is also featured.
The band’s
library comprises
of more that 200
scores, many of
them from the original
library, which includes
the great arrangements
from both the civilian
and Army/Air Force
orchestras.
The Orchestra has
however instituted
some changes in
the music –
changes they think
Glenn would have
brought about himself,
were he still alive,
but the essential
sound and style
still remains. Quality
music always withstands
the test of time,
ageing gracefully
and mellowing over
the years, and the
orchestra believes
that the authentic
Glenn Miller music
is now more popular
than ever, and they
feel they owe it
to Glenn to keep
it that way.
King
Pleasure & The
Biscuit Boys
Rough,
Tough and always
Rocking, the legendary
King Pleasure and
the Biscuit Boys’
zany stage show
sometimes belies
the fact that here
is the finest, most
authentic Rhythm
& Blues Band
ever to come from
outside the USA.
Their unique mix
of 1940’s
Kansas City Jazz
and Blues is presented
with the most exciting
stage performance.
Show-stealing performances
at Jazz, Blues and
even rock festivals
are regular events.
The band consistently
broke all Box Office
records at Ronnie
Scott’s Birmingham.
Memphis
Belle Orchestra
Formed originally
for the David Puttman
movie ‘Memphis
Belle’. But
the impact of the
orchestra and the
atmosphere they
recreated was so
great that bandleader
Greg Francis decided
to seek permission
from both Warner
Brothers and the
Memphis Belle Memorial
Association in Memphis,
to continue using
the name under licence,
and take the Orchestra
out on the road
as a working memorial
to the 8th American
Army Air Force.
Although the orchestra
play a side selection
of favourites, (there
isn’t a tune
in the programme
that people should
not recognise) they
provide a nice balances
between the music
of Glenn Miller
and other great
orchestras of the
era, such as, Tommy
and Jimmy Dorsey,
Harry James, Artie
Shaw and the great
Benny Goodman. The
orchestra retain
the uniform and
the band insignia
of the 8th A.A.F.,
and the stage is
dressed in large
American and British
Flags with the large
badge of the 8th
A.A.F. taking centre
place.
Another great feature
of the orchestra
is the “Memphis
Belle Lindyhoppers’,
who perform their
nostalgic dance
routine (in uniform
of course –
but with costume
changes to appear
as 50’s ‘spivs
and molls’)
on stage or out
there among the
dancers. They make
sure everyone wants
to get up and dance.
This wonderful orchestra
has captured the
hearts, not only
of the older generation
and the verterans,
but also the younger
generation.
Mike
James Sound
Take first class
musicians under
the leadership of
Personality Band
Leader Mike James
and you have the
ingredients for
a superb evening’s
entertainment. Mike
a worthy successor
to fill the shoes
of Billy Cotton.
Based in the North
West Mike’s
Band have entertained
a leading corporate
functions, played
at most major Holiday
Centres, fulfilled
Cruise contracts
for major cruise
liners and enjoyed
several highly successful
seasons at the Tower
Ballroom, Blackpool.
Mike presents an
evening of non-stop
40’s Swing
and Jazz dance hits
and will also include
anything from Tina
Turner, Cher and
The Spice Girls,
Michael Jackson
and Chubby Checker
to the Blues Brothers
if required.
Tony
Evans and his Orchestra
In a career spanning
over 25 years, Tony
Evans has climbed
to the peak of the
Big Band Scene delivering
the latest Swing,
Latin American,
Strict Tempo and
some of the lastest
chart hits.
Tony, along with
his Orchestra, has
just completed his
eighth year at the
Monte Carlo Sporting
Club and Casino
Cabaret, where not
only has he provided
music for dancing,
but also backed
the g in from New
York and International
Artistes, such as
Frank Sinatra, Shirley
Bassey, The Temptations,
Diana Ross, Donna
Summer and Barry
White plus many
more.
Tony’s no
stranger to Radio,
having worked on
programmes such
as, Terry Wogan’s
Radio 1 afternoon
show, for which
he wrote the theme
tune "Breakthrough"
the programme was
also hosted by Dave
Cash. He also worked
on and wrote the
theme for David
Jacobs late night
programme "Music
Through Midnight.
He has won two "Carl
Allen Awards"
for the Top British
Band for Dancing
and in the USA was
presented with the
prestigious Hall
of Fame Award for
his recordings.
With an Album catalogue
of 45 CD's, the
Tony Evans Orchestra
and Singers, continue
to perform for concerts,
gala's and private
functions, presenting
their show of music
from the Big Band
era through to the
modern chart sounds
of today.
