| Stan Greening
(UK)
In
the 1920s Stan Greening was responsible for hundreds of dance band
recordings for a number of different record labels, such as Imperial,
Columbia, Regal, Mimosa, HMV, Parlophone, Edison Bell Winner and
Duophone. A classically trained Cellist, Stan chose the banjo for dance
band work, playing not only on all of his own recordings, but on many of
those directed by Nat Star as well. When studio pick-up dance bands fell
out of favour in the 1930s, Stan continued his career playing in various theatre and
symphony orchestras until his retirement in the early 1960s. |
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More
information and some rare pictures
|
Art
Gregory (UK) Saxophonist
Art Gregory played at many venues in London and around the country in
the late 1920s & 1930s. In 1929 & 1930 he was at the Royal Opera
House, Covent Garden with his St Louis Band. In the early 1930s he and
his band were at the Locarno Dance Hall on Streatham Hill. According to
his letterhead he also played at the Astoria, Charing Cross;
Murray's Club; the Casani Club; Femina Club and the Florida Club as well
as many places outside of London. He was musical director for Santos
Casani in 1936.
By the start of 1940 Art & his band were playing at Murray's Club
and were also at the Astoria while Joe Loss was in France in late
January to February 1940. At this period the personnel (as given in Melody
Maker January 20th, 1940) was T.
Simpson (tpt); T. Waring, B. Houston & T. Harrison (saxes); Walter
Wild (piano); P. Winning (bass); Roy Haracre (drums); and Sidney Lewis
(vocals). (The same
issue of Melody Maker mentions "past successes at the Paramount
Salon" which could be the same at the Paramount Ballroom mentioned
below.)
The start of the Second World War found Art at the
Paramount Ballroom (possibly the one in Tottenham Court Road) before
becoming part of ENSA. Art Gregory died in 1970.
My thanks to Mark
Gregory (Art's son) for providing the above information |
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Art Gregory & his St Louis Band at
Leicester -possibly late 1920s |
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