Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Violinist and conductor who started his professional career in New York as a sixth fiddle and later took over as conductor when the regular conductor fell ill.
On the island
Eight records
The Blue DanubeFavourite
Played for King George VI at Buckingham Palace
The keepsakes
No book or luxury recorded for this episode.
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:08Was there any musical tradition in the family?
None really, no. Uh my first uh initiation into this musical profession was when my father brought in a a f a fellow that was fiddling in the street to give me my first violin lesson.
Presenter asks
0:27When did you decide that music was to be your career?
Well, really, my father decided that he made a deal with me that he'd give me a shilling for every hour I practised.
Presenter asks
0:40What was your very first job?
Well, I was sent there. Mother became very nervous when we had the first Zeppelin during the First War, so I was sent off to my aunt in New York. ... It was at Riserwebbers and uh there was a a fellow there had a a band called Emo Coleman, he was an Englishman and I plucked up enough courage I went to him and he gave me a job.
Presenter asks
1:12How long did [that job] last?
Two weeks.
Presenter asks
3:13How old were you when you took over the orchestra at the Palais Royal?
Not quite seventeen, yes.
Presenter asks
4:06Were you making records and broadcasting at the Embassy Club?
We made records there, and you see, because the facilities for for broadcasting weren't very good from there. It was too small a place. And then Sir Francis Toll was just opening the Mayfair Hotel. ... And he asked me would I open the place? ... I accepted that and opened that Mafa Hotel. And you were on the air every Saturday night? Uh yes, for about five and a half years, yes.
“I was quite confident I knew the show like other men and another strange thing happened. ... The man that owned the place told the contractor that he he doesn't doesn't like this man. He wants that young boy who stood up to previous five weeks. You again. Myself, and briefly, that's how we came Bertram Ambrose at this orchestra.”
“I was walking along Piccadilly one day and I met uh a lady. Her name was Cynthia Cricket. She was a very famous dancer and danced with us at the Pellero at that show. And she asked me, Would I? take a little band in uh during her stay. and and play just for two or three weeks, which I said yes, I would do, but only for two or three weeks. ... I stayed seven and a half years.”
“We were always given instructions at Buckingham Palace never to play any dances too long, in fact just too short encores. ... On this occasion we were playing a Viennese waltz, in fact the Blue Danube, which is His Late Majesty King George the Sixth. It was rather partial to waltz. ... When we'd finished, I heard a little clapping ... I saw King George looking up to me, saying to me, Mr. Can I have a little uncle? And he was clapping. I didn't know that. So we had some more in blue.”