Books

Following a discussion on the British Dance Bands group (click here to find the group), I have put up this web page in an attempt to list all the books which are relevant to enthusiast of British Dance Bands and popular music of the inter-war period. I am still not sure about the best way to organise the list, but I for now I have split it into two sections:

Section 1: Books about a single artist; mainly biographies or autobiographies, listed alphabetically by the artist's surname.

Section 2: Books generally about popular music of the 1920s-40s. These are listed by the author's or publisher's name.

Few, if any, of these books are still available. If you are looking to obtains copies of any of them, I suggest looking at local second-hand book-fairs or bookshops, searching on "Ebay", or looking at book-selling websites (see below). Some stallholders at the record fairs mentioned elsewhere on this site sometimes sell books as well as records.

Here are some links to websites that sell second-hand books:

Abebooks
Music Books R Us
Book FInder
Used Books

If you know of any books I've missed, then do email me with the details.

Thank you to members of the British Dance Bands Yahoo discussion group for suggesting the idea and particularly to the following for helping with book information and scans: Peter Wallace, Brian Willey, Barry McCanna, Ray Pallett, Joe Moore, Gordon Howsden

Page created: January 4th, 2009. Last updated January 03, 2016

Section 2: General books about Dance Bands and Popular Music of the 1920s-40s.

Artist	Book Details	Synopsis	Image
Sylvester Ahola	The Gloucester Gabriel by Dick Hill Published 1993 by Scarecrow Press
Billy Amstell	Don't Fuss Mr. Ambrose by Billy Amstell Published 1986 by Spellmount Ltd 137 pages Hardback	Billy Amstell's recollections of a top dance band musician's life, notably his period with Ambrose, makes fascinating reading. Includes some good photos, an index and brief notes about the other musicians in Ambrose's band.
Jimmy Blades	Drum Roll by James Blades Published 1977 by Faber and Faber Limited 264 pages Hardback	Along with his brothers Tommy and Cris, Jimmy Blades had a long career as a symphonic percussionist, but didn't forget his time in dance bands during the 1920s and 30s when writing his autobiography. The dance band period was just one small part of his life, so there is a lot of non-dance band detail in the book. Includes a few photographs and an index.
Al Bowlly	Al Bowlly by Sid Colin & Tony Staveacre Published 1979 by Elm Tree Books 160 pages Hardback	A book about the life of the famous crooner, written by someone who knew him. The book also includes a full (nearly 50-page) discography and a number of fine photographs.
Al Bowlly	Goodnight Sweetheart by Ray Pallett Published 1986 by Spellmount Ltd 187 pages Hardback	Ray's book, subtitled "The Life and Times of Al Bowlly" covers the whole career of this still very popular British crooner. It includes a number of good photographs of musicians and bands which were associated with Al, along with some family photos. The last 50 or so pages include a discography (alphabetically by song title), a list of LP re-issues, a filmography, and an index to the book.
Billy Cotton	I Did It My Way by Billy Cotton Published 1970 by George C. Harrap 192 pages hardback	Billy Cotton's autobiography which includes a number of photographs and an index.
Billy Cotton	The Greatest Billy Cotton Band Show by John Maxwell Published 1976 by Jupiter 150 pages hardback	A very interesting book covering the whole career of Billy Cotton. Includes many good photos, including some of his early band. Indexed.
Herman Darewski	Musical Memories by Herman Darewski
Denny Dennis	I'll Sing You A Thousand Love Songs by Mike Carey Published 1992 by Pinnacle
Betty Driver	Betty - The Autobiography by Betty Driver (with Daran Little) Published 2005 by Granada
Vivian Ellis	I'm On A See-Saw by Vivian Ellis Published 1953 by Cedric Chivers 259 pages hardback	Autobiography of Vivian Ellis. Ellis wrote many songs, usually for shows, many of which were recorded by dance bands of the period. Includes a handful of photos and an index.
George Elrick	Housewives Choice by George Elrick Published 1991 by Mainstream 207 pages hardback	George Elrick's autobiography.
Roy Fox	Hollywood, Mayfair and All That by Roy Fox Published 1975 by Leslie Frewin	Quite an interesting book, though I always feel that Roy spends too much time name-dropping from his period in Hollywood and not enough time on his British dance band career, which is now he made his money and fame. Having said that, it is a good read. There are a few photos in the centre of the book. No index.
Roy Fox	The Memory Lane Tribute to Roy Fox by Wemyess Craigie & Ray Pallett Published 1982 by Memory Lane 35 page softback booklet	The major part of this booklet is a full discography of Roy Fox's British recordings. In addition, there are articles about Roy Fox himself and on his vocalists and also a few photographs.
Harry Gold	Gold, Doubloons and Pieces of Eight by Harry Gold Published 2000 by Northway Publications	Reedsman Harry Gold's autobiography includes some good photographs of bands with whom he worked.
Nat Gonella	Georgia On My Mind by Ron Brown (with Cyril Brown) Published 1985 by Milestone 163 pages Hardback	Written by Ron Brown, a personal friend of Nat's for some years, this is the definitive story of Nat Gonella's life and career. The book includes a number of photographs and an index at the back.
Nat Gonella	The Gonella Discography by Ron Brown Published 1987 by Ron Brown	Despite the title, this is much more than a discography as it contains plenty of text and photographs.
Nat Gonella	A Life In Jazz - Nat Gonella by Ron Brown and Digby Fairweather Published 2005 by Northway Publications	An essential update on Nat Gonella's 1985 biography "Georgia on My Mind".
Norman Hackforth	And The Next Object... by Norman Hackforth Published 1975 by Angus and Robertson 211 pages hardback	Hackforth was the mystery voice heard by millions on the radio in the programme "Twenty Questions", but his career reaches back to the beginning of the 20th century and he composed a number of songs recorded by British Dance Bands. Perhaps of only slight interest here, it is worth picking up a copy should you see one. Includes a handful of photographs in the centre of the book, and an index.
Henry Hall	Here's To The Next Time by Henry Hall Published 1955 by Odhams Press Ltd 240 pages Hardback	Henry Hall covers the whole of his life and career, as one should in an autobiography. A very good read. Includes some fine photographs. No index.
Tommy Handley	Tommy Handley by Ted Kavanagh Published 1949 by Hodder and Stoughton	Perhaps of only peripheral interest here, it does include some good photos and interesting detail about radio of the period.
Ted Heath	I Haven't Said Thanks by Moira Heath Published 1998 by Moira Heath	The story of Ted and Moira Heath
Chick Henderson	The Chick Henderson Story by Frank Wappatt Published 1990 by Printability
Spike Hughes	Second Movement by Spike Hughes Published 1951 by Museum Press Ltd 340 pages Hardback	One of a series of books written by Hughes, many of which hardly (if at all) mention his dance band career, as though he was somewhat ashamed of it! This book, however, does cover his Jazz career, though it is very wordy and there are no photographs to break up the text.
Leslie Hutchinson	Hutch by Charlotte Breese
Max Jaffa	A Life On The Fiddle by Max Jaffa Published 1991 by Hodder & Stoughton	Long associated with the Palm Court, Jaffa's first professional job was with bandleader Jack Harris. Max recalls those early days with the dance bands in his book.
Edmund Thornton Jenkins	Edmund Thornton Jenkins The Life and Times of an American Black Composer by Jeffrey P. Green Published 1982 by Greenwood Press	At first glance, you may wonder what this book is doing here. Well, Ed Jenkins did play in some British dance bands in the early 1920s, such as Jack Hylton's Queen's Dance Orchestra. As such, this book is only of minimal interest here. Indexed, with only a couple of photos.
Mary Lee	Forever Francie - My Life with Jack Milroy by Mary Lee Published 2005 by Black and White
Louis Levy	Music For The Movies by Louis Levy Published 1948 by Sampson Low, Marston & Co 182 pages hardback
Vera Lynn	Vocal Refrain by Vera Lynn Published 1975 by W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd	Vera's autobiography
Vera Lynn	We'll Meet Again by Vera Lynn
Ivor Mairants	My Fifty Fretting Years by Ivor Mairants Published 1980 by Ashley Mark 386 pages Softback	This book shows what a hugely varied career Ivor had. It it well-written though with quite a lot of technical details. Some good photographs as well. No index.
Jessie Matthews	Over My Shoulder by Jessie Matthews Published 1974 by W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd 238 pages Hardback	Jessie Matthews' autobiography including many photographs and covering her private life and career.
Billy Mayerl	Marigold The Music of Billy Mayerl by Peter Dickinson Published 1999 by Oxford University Press 280 pages hardback	A book detailing Billy Mayerl's career, including his period in the 1920s with the Savoy Havana Band. It also cobes his compositions (including a full list) and a discography of records on which he plays. Some nice photos in the centre of the book and an index. The original book comes with CD containing excellent transfers of his solo piano records.
Jack Payne	Signature Tune by Jack Payne Published by Stanley Paul & Co.
Jack Payne and Peggy Cochrane	We Said It With Music by Peggy Cochrane Published 1980 by New Horizon 142 pages hardback	The story of Peggy Cochrane and Jack Payne with a foreword by Frank Chacksfield
Donald Peers	Pathway by Donald Peers Published 1951 by Werner Laurie
Victor Silvester	Dancing Is My Life by Victor Silvester Published 1958 by Heinemann	Victor's autobiography doesn't have much in it about dance bands, but does have good details about ballrooms and dancing.
Skyrockets	Stairway To The Stars by Chris Hayes Published 1947 by Promise Press Ltd.	The story of the Skyrockets Orchestra as told to Chris Hayes in 1947 and including individual biographies and photos of the musicians in the band. Reprinted in the early 1990s.
Lew Stone	A Career In Music by Kenith Trodd Published 1971 by Joyce Stone	Kenith Trodd had only just started on a biography of Lew Stone's life when, sadly, Stone died. As a result, this book has little biographical detail, but consists mainly of press cuttings and photographs. Includes a full discography of Lew's recordings and some information about the arrangements he wrote for other bandleaders.
Lew Stone	A Modest Maestro by Tony Staveacre Published 2010 by Tony Staveacre see www.lewstone.co.uk 128 pages paperback	After nearly 30 years, Tony Staveacre has managed to do what Kenith Trodd was frustratingly unable to do - to write the story of Lew Stone, with valuable assistance from Lew's widow, Joyce.
Leslie Thompson	Leslie Thompson - an Autobiography as told to Jeffrey P. Green Published 1985 by Rabbit Press 220 pages plus photos, hardback	Thompson was a Jamaican-born trumpeter who played with British dance bands in the 1930s. A lot of detail about his life, probably not all of interest to dance band people, but some good photos included.
Valaida	High-Hat, Trumpet and Rhythm by Mark Miller	Valaida Snow was an American variety artist who visited Britain in the mid-1930s and also recorded for Parlophone with a choice group of British musicians. As such, she is technically outside the remit of this list, but is included here because of her recordings.

Author/Publisher	Book Details	Synopsis	Image
David Boulton	Jazz In Britain Published 1958 by W.H. Allen 192 pages Hardback	This does concentrate mainly on American bands, despite the title of the book, but there are references to early British bands plus short notes about British bands current at the time the book was written. Only a few photographs, but interesting ones, plus an index.
John Chilton	Who's Who of British Jazz First Published 1997 second: 2004 by Continuum 403 pages Softback	Although concentrating on Jazz rather than dance bands, and also covering the whole period from the 1920s onwards, there is a lot of information about several musicians of the 1920s - 40s and this book should be of interest to enthusiasts of the music.
Peter Cliffe	Fascinating Rhythm Published 1990 by Egon Publishers Ltd 264 pages Hardback	A very well-written year-by-year guide to popular songs and recordings of the 1920s and 30s. The book has plenty of illustrations, some I have not seen elsewhere, and is difficult to put down once started. Includes two indexes; one for songs and one for people.
Sid Colin	And The Bands Played On Published 1977 by Elm Tree Books 135 pages Hardback	A well-informed, sometimes ascerbic book that gives an excellent insight to the London night-club scene in the 1920s and 30s. Excellent photos. A must-read for anyone interested in the dance band music of this period.
Jim Godbolt	A History Of Jazz In Britain, 1919-50 Published 1984 by Quartet Books 274 pages Hardback	Despite the "Britain" in the title, this book really concentrates on American Jazz, though with some references to later British musicians such as Humphrey Lyttleton. Includes some photographs and a detailed index. Not much to interest British dance and popular music enthusiasts.
Chris Hayes	Dance Music at the Savoy Hotel Published 1988 by Chris Hayes 72 pages A5 booklet	An A5-sized booklet which details the history of dance bands which played at the Savoy Hotel. Includes how the Savoy Orpheans and Savoy Havana Band were formed as well as other bands which played there before and afterwards.
Chris Hayes	Signature Tunes Published 1989 by Chris Hayes 92 pages A4 booklet	Short biographies of over 200 British dance band leaders and their signature tunes
Chris Hayes	Signature Tunes, supplement Published 1990 by Chris Hayes 20 pages A4 booklet	Additions and corrections to the original booket.
Chris Hayes	Leader Of The Band Published 1994 by Chris Hayes	Profiles of 10 famous bandleaders: Ambrose, Billy Cotton, Roy Fox, Henry Hall, Joe Loss, Ray Noble, Jack Payne, Harry Roy, Lew Stone and Eric Winstone.
Chris Hayes	Leader Of The Band, volume 2 Published 1994 by Chris Hayes 57 pages A4 booklet	Profiles of 21 famous British Band leaders, not included in the first volume above.
Chris Hayes	Voices In The Air Published 1995 by Chris Hayes 60 pages A4 booklet	Personal profiles of 22 British dance band vocalists selected from articles which Chris Hayes had written over a 20-year period for Memory Lane.
Arthur Jackson	The World of the Big Bands Published 1977 by David and Charles 123 pages Hardback	By necessity, this book covers both British and American bands from the 1920s onwards. Well written and with many photographs. Indexed.
Richard Johnson	Dance Bands on the Silver Screen Published 2008 by Memory Lane	A listing of all known films which included dance bands or similar artists; many of these films have not been seen for many years any may no longer exist.
Peter Leslie	Big Bands of the 30s Published 1971 by New English Library 32 pages A4 booklet	This includes some good short biographies and excellent photos of British dance bands of the 1920s & 30s.
Albert McCarthy	The Dance Band Era Published 1971 by Spring Books 170 pages Hardback	This is a larger format book with lots of photographs. It covers both British and American bands. Indexed. I class this along with Brian Rust's "The Dance Bands" as a must-have book for background information and pictures.
George Nobbs	The Wireless Stars Published 1972 by Wensum Books 154 pages Hardback	A larger format book with lots of good photographs. As the titles tells you, it is more about radio artists than purely dance band ones, but is still of much interest. Includes an index.
James J. Nott	Music For The People Published 2002 by Oxford University Press	Subtitled "Popular Music And Dance In Interwar Britain", this is quite a scholarly book, but contains useful information on the dance band business, though little on specific band or bandleaders.
Ronald Pearsall	Popular Music Of The 20s Published 1976 by David and Charles 171 pages Hardback	A commentary on music of the period, including theatre and music hall and not just confined to Britain. Plenty of photos, though not many of dance band artists and an index.
Brian Reynolds	Music While You Work Published 2006 by Book Guild Publishing	The story behind the popular war-time (and after) radio programme includes some musicians and bandleaders familiar to us from the 1930s.
Eddie Rogers & Mike Hennessey	Tin Pan Alley Published 1964 by Robert Hale	A book of general interest of all aspect of the British music scene from the 1940s to the 1960s
Brian Rust	The Dance Bands Published 1972 by Ian Allen 156 pages Hardback	Extremely well written in Brian's inimitable style, this was the first book I had about dance bands and it still surprises me with information, 36 years on. It covers British, American and some European bands, with plenty of very good photos too. Artist index.
Keith Skues	That's Entertainment Published 2005 by Lambs' Meadow	A 100-year history of the Masonic Chelsea Lodge whose membership contained many musicians.
This England	This England's Book of British Dance Bands Published 1999 by This England 150 pages Hardback	Presented in an encyclopaedic style, the book has concise details about 29 well-known bandleaders, and brief biographies of other bands. Plenty of photographs and an index with a year-by-year list of top tunes of the period. Easy to refer to and hard to put down!
This England	This England's Second Book of British Dance Bands Published 2001 by This England 153 pages Hardback	The second book covers some of the lesser-remembered bands and the vocalists, including longer sections for 12 of the top dance band singers. Again, presented in an easy-to-refer to encyclopaedic way and with plenty of photographs and an index.
Sheila Tracy	Talking Swing - The British Big Bands Published 1997 by Mainstream Publishing 247 pages Hardback	Radio 2's presenter of "Big Band Special had played trombone in Ivy Benson's all-girl band and provides an interesting insight into the British big band world, generally concentrating on the 1940s onwards, sometimes sidestepping into the 1930s. Some good photos and an index of musicians.
Julien Vedey	Band Leaders Published 1950 by Rockliff 196 pages Hardback	As a professional drummer from the 1920s and editor of "Rhythm" magazine, Vedey had close contact with the bands of the period and this book contains 28 chapters, each devoted to a different band leader. There are photographs of each leader and an index of other musicians and places mentioned.