Jack Bentley (musician)

Jack Alexander Bentley (29 April 1913 – 22 April 1994) was an English trombonist, journalist, and scriptwriter. He played trombone as part of the brass section of Jack Hylton's Orchestra and Ted Heath's big band from 1937 until the mid-1950s before becoming the show business editor of the Sunday Mirror newspaper. He was married to actress Wendy Craig from 1955 until his death.

John Alexander Bentley was born in Manchester in 1913 to John and Flora Bentley. His father was a retired army bandsman who had recently moved to Manchester to become a cellist in the Halle Orchestra. He was baptised at Stowell Memorial Church in Salford on 8 June 1913.

Bentley's father had taught him to play cello but, when he joined the Army as a musician at the age of fourteen and studied at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, Twickenham he specialised on trombone. He played in the band of the Second Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment with the rank of sergeant until he bought himself out of service in 1936 to join Jack Hylton's band. His first recorded with Jack Hylton and his Orchestra in 1937. They were joined by Coleman Hawkins in 1939 With the declaration of World War II, he rejoined the Army in autumn 1939 becoming a member of the Band of the Irish Guards.

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