| Ted Heath |
| Background
information |
| Birth name |
Edward George Heath. |
| Also known as |
"Ted" |
| Born |
March 30, 1902
 Wandsworth, South
London, England |
| Origin |
British. |
| Died |
November 18, 1969 in London. |
| Genre(s) |
Easy Listening, Instrumental,
Jazz, Big band. |
| Occupation(s) |
Orchestra leader, Composer. |
| Instrument(s) |
Trombone. |
| Years active |
1916-1969. |
| Label(s) |
Decca, and London. |
For other persons named
Edward Heath, see Edward Heath
(disambiguation).
George Edward 'Ted' Heath (30 March 1902–18
November 1969)
was the United Kingdom's most famous bandleader
of the 40s, 50s and early 60s.
Heath was born at 76 Atheldene Avenue, Wandsworth,
South
London; he started playing the trombone at the age of fourteen, and his
early career involved stints with Bert Firman, Jack
Hylton, Ambrose, Sid Lipton, and Geraldo.
His own first orchestra was brought together in 1944 for BBC broadcasts; in 1946 they played for London
Town, a British musical film. The film was an
unmitigated disaster, but Heath's career took off, including many hit
records ("Swingin' Shepherd Blues" being his biggest success, reaching
number three in the charts in 1958), regular work for the BBC, and especially
a series – started in 1945 – of Sunday-night concerts at the London
Palladium. He and his band were featured in the film Dance
Hall in 1950. During the 1950s his orchestra
frequently performed at the Hammersmith Palais de Dance and The
Orchid Ballroom in Purley,
Surrey.
From 1956
Heath and his orchestra were regular and popular visitors to the United
States.
The orchestra was on the cusp between dance music and jazz;
not only did Heath employ many of the big-name British jazz-musicians
at various times, but his staff arranger for a time was Tadd
Dameron, and his programmes of straight dance music were supplemented
by projects such as his recording of Fats Waller's London Suite.
Heath (in common with many other bandleaders at the time) allowed no
unrehearsed improvising, however, and the orchestra was known for its
note-perfect perfectionism.
His huge success lasted for about fifteen years, ended only by
the popularity of rock and roll and the advent of The
Beatles. The orchestra was disbanded in 1964 when Heath's
health started faltering, though there have been many reunions of
various of the musicians involved.
Heath's grandson, James Heath, continues
the musical tradition in the family; his company Burning Vision
Entertainment produces music videos.
Sources
- Ian Carr, Digby Fairweather, & Brian Priestley Jazz:
The Rough Guide 2nd edition. ISBN
1-85828-528-3
