Joshua Alexander Loss or Joe Loss, musician, born 22 June 1909 in Spitalfields, London died 1990. Founder of The Joe Loss Orchestra, a light orchestra in the United Kingdom.

Early life

He was the youngest of 4 children of Israel and Ada Loss, Russian Jews who were first cousins. His father was a cabinet-maker who had an office furnishing business, and his wife, Ada Loss. Joe started violin lessons at the age of seven. He was educated at Jews' Free School, Trinity College of Music and the London College of Music.

Career

The Joe Loss orchestra was one of the most successful acts of the Big band era, in the nineteen forties, with hits such as "In the mood", "March of the Mods" and "The Stripper". In 1961 they had a hit with 'Wheels Cha Cha', a revival of the String-A-Longs' hit 'Wheels'.

Loss' daughter Jennifer was the wife of famous British coachbuilder Robert Jankel. Elvis Costello's father, Ross McManus, sang with the Joe Loss Orchestra. The Joe Loss orchestra carries on to this day under the musical direction of Todd Miller who was a vocalist with the band for many years prior to Joe Loss's death. Todd sought and obtained the permission of Joe's widow to carry on the band's name.

External links

• http://www.45-rpm.org.uk/dirj/joel.htm
• Information about the Joe Loss Orchestra performance at Wakefield Theatre Royal

References

• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography