Roy Fox
Roy Fox | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Roy Fox |
Born | Denver, Colorado, US | 25 October 1901
Died | 20 March 1982 Twickenham, Middlesex, England | (aged 80)
Genres | Jazz Swing music Big band British dance band |
Occupation(s) | Dance bandleader |
Instrument(s) | Cornet |
Years active | 1914-1952 |
Labels | Decca, His Master's Voice |
Roy Fox (October 25, 1901 – March 20, 1982) was an American-born British dance bandleader who was popular in Britain during the British dance band era.[1]
Early life and career
Roy Fox was born in
He got a job as a bank messenger, but soon took up music full-time.
Fame as bandleader
In 1920, he put together his own band, with whom he recorded in 1925. That same year he also scored a gig on radio broadcasting with Art Hickman's orchestra;[1] this ensemble toured the U.S., then did an extended residency in Florida. After some time in New York City, Fox and Arnheim reconvened in Hollywood, working at the Ambassador Hotel, and Fox continued to broadcast with his own bands. During this time he also did a number of film soundtracks.[4]
In 1929, Fox was invited to lead a band based at the Café de Paris in London,[1][2] which he first did on September 29, 1930.[3] He recorded on the BBC that year, and when his band returned to the U.S. the following spring, Fox remained behind, recording with a new group for Decca Records (also acting as musical director for the label) and accepting an engagement at the Monseigneur restaurant in Piccadilly starting in May 1931.[2][3][5] His band included Lew Stone, Bill Harty, Harry Berly, Sid Buckman, Nat Gonella and Al Bowlly.[3]
In 1932, he fell ill with pleurisy and travelled to Switzerland for a stay at a sanatorium. During his convalescence the band was led by its pianist, Lew Stone.[1] Upon Fox's return he resumed control of the band but when the Monseigneur contract came up for renewal in the autumn of 1932 was unable to agree terms. The restaurant's owner then offered the residency to Stone and all the band, with the exception of trumpeter Sid Buckman, decided to remain with Stone. Fox took out an injunction on the grounds of breach of contract against his singer, Al Bowlly, which prevented Bowlly performing with Stone's band on the first night; however, Fox lost his action.[6]
Fox formed a new band with Buckman as trumpeter and vocalist, secured a residency at the Café Anglais in Leicester Square, London,[1][3] and performed in Belgium as well as at home in the UK. Art Christmas played a variety of instruments in this band. Among his vocalists were Denny Dennis and Mary Lee, whilst his musicians included Jack Jackson, Nat Gonella and Harry Gold.[4] In 1933, the band performed as part of the Royal Command Performance at the London Palladium, and the following year embarked on a tour of Britain.[3]
Fox appeared in the films On the Air (1934) and Radio Pirates (also known as Big Ben Calling) the following year.[7][8] In January 1936, he moved to the His Master's Voice (HMV) label, and toured Europe until 1938, when he fell ill again, and broke up the band.[9][6]
War and post-war years
The Roy Fox band disbanded in 1938,
He led a band back in Britain from 1946 to 1947, with appearances at the Isle of Man and London's Potomac Club. He also briefly resumed recording in this period, returning to his old label, Decca, with whom he released several more 78s.[10] Fox went into semi-retirement after 1952, when he opened his own booking agency.[1] His autobiography, Hollywood, Mayfair, and All That Jazz (1975) is still in print.
Personal life and death
Fox was married three times. His first wife, Dorothea, was a
Fox had a house in
References
- Footnotes
- ^ ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ a b c d e f Jackson, Edgar. Hello Ladies and Gentlemen, This Is Roy Fox Speaking (Sleeve Notes). Decca. ACL 1172.
- ^ a b c d e f g Clegg, Austin. The Bands That Matter: Roy Fox (Sleeve notes). Decca. ECM 2045.
- ^ a b c d Thomas, Michael. "RoyFox". Dance Band Encyclopaedia. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "diary of an English debutante in Nazi Germany". Debsdiaries.wordpress.com. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- ^ a b c Bhamra, Chunny. "Roy Fox". www.albowlly.club. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- ^ "On the Air". IMDb. British Lion Film Corporation. 16 July 1934. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "Radio Pirates". IMDb. Sound City. 18 August 1935. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ a b "British Pathé Search: Roy Fox". Britishpathe.com. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
- ISBN 1852832681.
- ^ "Chicago Gay History". Chicagogayhistory.org. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- Further reading
- Roy Fox, Hollywood, Mayfair and all That jazz: The Roy Fox Story, Leslie Frewin Publishers Ltd, London, 1975, ISBN 978-0856321719
- Roy Fox at AllMusic
External links
- "Internet Archive Search: Roy Fox - archive.org (multimedia content in the public domain)". Retrieved 29 April 2012.