Dick Charlesworth
Encyclopedia
Richard Anthony "Dick" Charlesworth (8 January 1932 – 15 April 2008) was an English
jazz
clarinet
tist and bandleader
.
and attended King Edward VII School
. At 16, he became a clerk in the Ministry of Labour
and was in due course transferred to London. He bought a clarinet and started playing jazz as a hobby in 1952-53. He was entirely self-taught, but became good enough to play clarinet and saxophone
in a dance band and perform with jazz bands in south London including Jim Weller’s Jazzmen. He formed his first group in 1956 while still doing his day job, and his 'Dick Charlesworth's Jazzmen' won the South London Jazz Band Championship in 1957. Charlesworth's group was signed by the Melodisc label
, and they recorded
an EP
in December 1957 and produced an album
for Doug Dobell
's 77 Records
.
Charlesworth left the Civil Service in 1959 and became a professional musician. He signed a recording contract
with EMI
and his group was remarketed as 'Dick Charlesworth's City Gents'. This was the time when light jazz was popular in the British charts
as typified by Acker Bilk and Kenny Ball
, also attired in distinctive costumes. Charlesworth's group sported pin stripes and bowler hat
s, and had a Latin motto, Dum vivimus vivamus, (“While we live, let us enjoy life”). Their only chart single was "Billy Boy",which reached 41 in the UK Singles Chart
in May 1961. The City Gents often appeared on television including The Morecambe and Wise Show and Sunday Night at the London Palladium
. Charlesworth sang the title song of a comedy film
, In the Doghouse
, starring Leslie Phillips
and featured in his own 15 minute musical short in 1963.
However the British pop
scene changed significantly in the early sixties and jazz went out of vogue. Charlesworth broke up his band, and from 1964 to 1969 worked for P & O fronting a band on the cruise liners Canberra and Orsova. He then settled in Mojacar
, in Spain where he ran a music bar until he returned to Britain in 1977. He was active on the London jazz scene until the early 2000s. He worked with many artists including Keith Smith, Rod Mason, Alan Littlejohn
and Denny Wright
. He appeared on the BBC Radio
series, Jazz Score, a quiz show which encouraged its participants to relate anecdotes about their lives in jazz.
In his later years, Charlesworth lived in Thames Ditton
, Surrey
, and played a residency at the George and Dragon pub
every Tuesday and also at various other local pubs.
He died following a heart attack
in April 2008, at the age of 76.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
tist and bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
.
Biography
Charlesworth was born and brought up in SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
and attended King Edward VII School
King Edward VII School (Sheffield)
King Edward VII School is a secondary school and language college located in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. KES, named after the reigning monarch, was formed in 1905 when Wesley College was merged with Sheffield Royal Grammar School on the site of the former on Glossop Road...
. At 16, he became a clerk in the Ministry of Labour
Ministry of Labour
The Ministry of Labour was a British civil service department established by the New Ministries and Secretaries Act 1916. It was renamed the Employment Department in 1988, and finally abolished in 1995...
and was in due course transferred to London. He bought a clarinet and started playing jazz as a hobby in 1952-53. He was entirely self-taught, but became good enough to play clarinet and 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...
in a dance band and perform with jazz bands in south London including Jim Weller’s Jazzmen. He formed his first group in 1956 while still doing his day job, and his 'Dick Charlesworth's Jazzmen' won the South London Jazz Band Championship in 1957. Charlesworth's group was signed by the Melodisc label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, and they recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
in December 1957 and produced an album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
for Doug Dobell
Doug Dobell
Douglas "Doug" Dobell was a British record store proprietor and record producer, responsible for running Dobell's Record Shop in Charing Cross Road, London, and 77 Records...
's 77 Records
77 Records
77 Records was a British record label set up in 1957 by Doug Dobell, the proprietor of Dobell's Jazz Record Shop at 77 Charing Cross Road, London...
.
Charlesworth left the Civil Service in 1959 and became a professional musician. He signed a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
and his group was remarketed as 'Dick Charlesworth's City Gents'. This was the time when light jazz was popular in the British charts
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
as typified by Acker Bilk and Kenny Ball
Kenny Ball
Kenny Ball is an English jazz musician, best known as the lead trumpet player in Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen.-Career:...
, also attired in distinctive costumes. Charlesworth's group sported pin stripes and bowler hat
Bowler hat
The bowler hat, also known as a coke hat, derby , billycock or bombin, is a hard felt hat with a rounded crown originally created in 1849 for the English soldier and politician Edward Coke, the younger brother of the 2nd Earl of Leicester...
s, and had a Latin motto, Dum vivimus vivamus, (“While we live, let us enjoy life”). Their only chart single was "Billy Boy",which reached 41 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in May 1961. The City Gents often appeared on television including The Morecambe and Wise Show and Sunday Night at the London Palladium
Sunday Night at the London Palladium
Sunday Night at the London Palladium is a British television variety show produced by ATV for the ITV network, originally running from 1955 to 1967, with a brief revival in 1973 and 1974...
. Charlesworth sang the title song of a comedy film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, In the Doghouse
In the Doghouse
"In the Doghouse" is a short story by Orson Scott Card and Jay A. Parry. It appears in his short story collection Maps in a Mirror. Card originally published this story in the December 1978 issue of Analog Science Fiction and Fact.-Plot summary:...
, starring Leslie Phillips
Leslie Phillips
Leslie Samuel Phillips, CBE is an English actor with a highly recognisable upper class accent. Originally known for his work as a comedy actor, Phillips subsequently made the transition to character roles.-Early life:...
and featured in his own 15 minute musical short in 1963.
However the British pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
scene changed significantly in the early sixties and jazz went out of vogue. Charlesworth broke up his band, and from 1964 to 1969 worked for P & O fronting a band on the cruise liners Canberra and Orsova. He then settled in Mojacar
Mojácar
Mojácar is a municipality situated in the south east of the Province of Almería in southern Spain, bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It is 90 km from the capital of the province, Almería. It is an elevated mountain village displaying the traditional white color from its earlier days...
, in Spain where he ran a music bar until he returned to Britain in 1977. He was active on the London jazz scene until the early 2000s. He worked with many artists including Keith Smith, Rod Mason, Alan Littlejohn
Alan Littlejohn
Alan Littlejohn was a British jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and bandleader born in London, England, most notable for his work with artists such as Ben Webster, Earl Hines, Bill Coleman, Sonny Dee, Laurie Chescoe, Alvin Roy, and Billy Butterfield.-References:...
and Denny Wright
Denny Wright
Denny Wright was a jazz and skiffle guitarist, who performed with Stephane Grappelli, Lonnie Donegan, Johnny Duncan , Digby Fairweather, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Eckstine, Fapy Lafertin and many other musicians, including young rising stars such as Bireli Lagrene and Nigel Kennedy...
. He appeared on the BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
series, Jazz Score, a quiz show which encouraged its participants to relate anecdotes about their lives in jazz.
In his later years, Charlesworth lived in Thames Ditton
Thames Ditton
Thames Ditton is a village in Surrey, England, bordering Greater London. It is situated 12.2 miles south-west of Charing Cross between the towns of Kingston upon Thames, Surbiton, Esher and East Molesey...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, and played a residency at the George and Dragon pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
every Tuesday and also at various other local pubs.
He died following a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in April 2008, at the age of 76.