Bob Wallis

Robert 'Bob' Wallis (3 June 1934 – 10 January 1991) was a British jazz musician, who had a handful of chart success in the early 1960s, during the UK traditional jazz boom.

Wallis was born in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, where his father became harbour master. At an early age Wallis joined the local Salvation Army band with his friend, Keith Avison, who was to play trombone with Wallis for a number of years. By the age of twenty, Wallis discovered jazz and set up his own band in Bridlington, which also played in Hull. His influence as a trumpeter was Henry Red Allen. Wallis played predominately with the Storyville Jazz Band, although earlier and later in his career he played with other bands.

He went to Denmark for a short spell, and recorded a couple of records there as the vocalist with the 'Washboard Beaters'. Once relocated to the UK, he went to London and played for a short time with Ken Colyer's Omega Brass, as well as joining Acker Bilk. These bands were recording mainly for the specialist 77 Records label.

Wallis joined up with Hugh Rainey's All Stars (Ginger Baker was their drummer at the time) and shortly afterwards the band changed its name to The Storyville Jazz Band, fronted by Wallis. In 1959 the band recorded an album for Top Rank Records, Everybody Loves Saturday Night. It peaked at No. 20 in the UK Albums Chart in June 1960. Two singles followed, and then the band moved to Pye Records, where they made three albums and a number of singles. Those singles included "I'm Shy Mary Ellen, I'm Shy" (1961) and "Come Along Please" (1962), which made No. 44 and No. 33 respectively in the UK Singles Chart. Wallis' Band also appeared in two films, It's Trad, Dad! and Two Left Feet. At this time the band was made up of Wallis on trumpet, Keith 'Avo' Avison (trombone), Doug Richford (clarinet), Pete Gresham (piano), Hugh Rainey (banjo and later guitar), Brian 'Drag' Kirby (bass) and Kenny Buckner (drums).

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