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Ben Davis (Selmer)
Encyclopedia
Ben Davis was a British
saxophonist, businessman and author.
He served in the British army until 1919. After being demobbed he became a self-taught saxophonist, playing Dixieland jazz
in many big bands
, leading his own, The Carlton Dance Orchestra, and small combos. He was the first British saxophonist to play with Sydney Bechet and the Jazz Kings.
He later wrote two instructional books about saxophone
playing.
After meeting Henri Selmer in 1928, Davis formed the London branch of the French Selmer Company
with an office and showroom at Davis House, 12 Moor Street, London W1. Selmer UK expanded from 1934 to 1939, moving to 114-116 Charing Cross Road, London WC2, adjacent to the Phoenix Theatre, becoming the largest musical instrument company in Britain.
In 1953 Lew Davis (Ben Davis's brother), a professional trombonist who had played with Jack Hylton
, Louis Armstrong
, Lew Stone
, Bert Ambrose, and Ray Noble
joined the business and ran the brass and woodwind sections in the new showrooms at 114-116 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2. This served as the head office and showroom until the 1970s.
By 1964, Ben and Lew Davis sold their majority holding in Selmer (UK) and retired to the south of France, where Ben lived until he was 87.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
saxophonist, businessman and author.
Dixieland Jazz
Dixieland Jazz was a Canadian music television series which aired on CBC Television in 1954.-Premise:The series host was Trump Davidson, a cornet player. He also hosted a radio music series on CBC's Trans-Canada Network.-Scheduling:...
in many big bands
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
, leading his own, The Carlton Dance Orchestra, and small combos. He was the first British saxophonist to play with Sydney Bechet and the Jazz Kings.
He later wrote two instructional books about saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
playing.
After meeting Henri Selmer in 1928, Davis formed the London branch of the French Selmer Company
The Selmer Company
Henri Selmer Paris company is a French family-owned enterprise, manufacturer of musical instruments based in Paris, France in 1885. It is known for its high-quality woodwind and brass instruments, especially saxophones, clarinets and trumpets...
with an office and showroom at Davis House, 12 Moor Street, London W1. Selmer UK expanded from 1934 to 1939, moving to 114-116 Charing Cross Road, London WC2, adjacent to the Phoenix Theatre, becoming the largest musical instrument company in Britain.
In 1953 Lew Davis (Ben Davis's brother), a professional trombonist who had played with Jack Hylton
Jack Hylton
Jack Hylton was a British band leader and impresario.He was born John Greenhalgh Hilton in the Great Lever area of Bolton, Lancashire, the son of George Hilton, a cotton yarn twister. His father was an amateur singer at the local Labour Club and Jack learned piano to accompany him on the stage...
, Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
, Lew Stone
Lew Stone
Lew Stone was a British dance band leader and arranger. He was well known in Britain during the 1930s.Stone learned music at an early age and became an accomplished pianist. In the 1920s, he worked with many important dance bands...
, Bert Ambrose, and Ray Noble
Ray Noble (musician)
Ray Noble was an English bandleader, composer, arranger and actor. Noble studied music at the Royal Academy of Music and became leader of the HMV Records studio band in 1929. The band, known as the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, featured members of many of the top hotel orchestras of the day...
joined the business and ran the brass and woodwind sections in the new showrooms at 114-116 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2. This served as the head office and showroom until the 1970s.
By 1964, Ben and Lew Davis sold their majority holding in Selmer (UK) and retired to the south of France, where Ben lived until he was 87.
External links
- The Story of Henri Selmer Co. London and Ben Davis, by Don Mackrill
- "The Story of Henri Selmer Co. UK and Ben Davis" by Steve Russel
- excerpt from Davis's book The Saxophone: A Comprehensive Course dealing with different styles of saxophone embouchure