Ted Heath (bandleader)
| Ted Heath | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | George Edward Heath |
| Also known as | Ted |
| Born |
30 March 1902 Wandsworth, London, England |
| Died | 18 November 1969 (aged 67) Virginia Water, Surrey, England |
| Genres | Big Band, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Bandleader, composer |
| Instruments | Trombone |
| Years active | 1916–1969 |
| Labels | Decca, London |
George Edward "Ted" Heath (30 March 1902 – 18 November 1969) was a British musician and big band leader.
He led Britain's greatest post-war big band recording more than 100 albums which sold over 20 million copies. Considered the most successful band in Britain during the 1950s, it remained in existence as a ghost band long after Heath died, surviving in such a form until 2000.
After playing tenor horn at the age of six, encouraged by his father, the leader of the Wandsworth Town Brass Band, Heath later switched to trombone.
Earning a living for his family in the post-war years he, and his brother Harold with three other musicians, formed a band that played to commuters outside London Bridge Station before winding their way along the streets in London to a location outside the Queen’s Hall Gardens venue. It was here that Heath’s professional career began as he was spotted on the street and asked to play with the Jack Hylton Band who had a residence there. He did not last long, not having the experience required, but it gave him the ambition to pursue a career as a professional musician.
Bert Firman [1924–1925]; Jack Hylton [1925–1927]; Ambrose [1928–1936]
His first real band gig was with an American band on tour in Europe – the Southern Syncopation Orchestra – which had an engagement in Vienna, Austria and needed a trombone player. The drummer for this band, Benny Payton, taught Heath all about Jazz and Swing. Heath had to pay his own way back from Austria when the band ran out of money.
He next played with the Metro-Gnomes, a small band fronted by Ennis Parkes, who later married Jack Hylton. In late 1920, Heath again joined Hylton's theatre band.
From 1925 to 1926 Heath played in the Kit Cat Club band led by American Al Starita. There he heard Bunny Berrigan, Tommy Dorsey and Jimmy Dorsey and Paul Whiteman when they toured Europe.
Ambrose [1928–1936]; Sydney Lipton [1936–1939]; Geraldo [1939–1944]
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