Charlie Kunz
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Charlie Kunz | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Charles Leonard Kunz |
Born | Allentown, Pennsylvania | August 18, 1896
Died | March 16, 1958 | (aged 61)
Occupation(s) | Bandleader, musician |
Instrument(s) | Piano |
Years active | 1912–1958 |
Labels | Decca Records, Sterno Records, Rex |
Charles Leonard Kunz (August 18, 1896 – March 16, 1958) was an American-born pianist and band leader who worked in Great Britain during the British dance band era, eventually becoming a well-known solo pianist.[1]
Life and career
Kunz was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States,[1] the only son of Margaret T. (Wehr) and Leonard Kunz, a master baker who played the French horn. He made his debut aged six and made his first appearance as a prodigy aged seven. During World War I he led his own resident band, while working in a munitions factory.
He came to the United Kingdom in 1922 as a pianist in a small dance band.[1] He was to remain there until his death from a heart attack in 1958.[1] He is buried in Streatham Vale Cemetery. He was such a distinctive and popular pianist that he abandoned his orchestra to concentrate on his piano playing, both at music hall venues and on the BBC.[1] Two of Britain's most famous female vocalists were with his orchestra in the 1930s: Vera Lynn and Welsh songstress Dorothy Squires. His best known crooner was George Barclay.
Kunz was the pianist in a dance band which was led by the drummer, Ed Krick. The band came to London in 1922 to play a residency in the London Trocadero. The band returned without Kunz to Pennsylvania after a successful run at the 'Troc' and, until 1998, still got together for sessions for retirement homes, renamed as 'The B Flats'.
His debut as a soloist came in 1934 at the
He became the highest paid pianist in the world, earning up to £1,000 a week.[3] His piano transcriptions sold widely in the teaching of piano-playing. Kunz's playing style was a relaxed flowing interpretation of popular melodies played with subtle soft and loud accents, which he called "melody and rhythm with expression".[citation needed]
He was married three times:
- 1) Amanda Dysher (died) (one son Joseph)
- 2) Eva Dorothy "Nin" Lloyd, a fashion model (1923–1939) (two sons Peter and Gerald) In 1939 he was living with Eva in Elmer Road, Chichester Area.
- 3) Pat Sparkes (1942–1958)
He is buried in Streatham Park Cemetery in London.
References
- ^ ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^
Ades, David; Bickerdyke, Percy; Holmes, Eric (July 1999). This England's Book of British Dance Bands. Cheltenham: This England Books. pp. 11–13. ISBN 0-906324-25-4.
- ^ "Charlie Kunz, jazz musician, his connections with Brent, London". Brent-heritage.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
External links
- "Internet Archive Search: Charlie Kunz - archive.org (multimedia content in the public domain)". Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- "British Pathé Search: Charlie Kunz - britishpathe.com". Retrieved 1 May 2012.
- Charlie Kunz Archived 22 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- Charlie Kunz Discography
- Charlie Kunz Biography - AllMusic