Eddie Calvert
Encyclopedia
Eddie Calvert was an English
trumpeter, who enjoyed his greatest successes in the 1950s. Calvert had his first United Kingdom
, number one instrumental
single
in 1954, with "Oh Mein Papa
".
, and grew up in a family where the music of his local brass band
featured highly. He was soon able to play a variety of instruments
, and he was most accomplished on the trumpet
. After World War II
he graduated from playing as an amateur in brass bands to professional engagements with popular dance orchestra
s of the day, including Geraldo's
plus Billy Ternet, and he soon became renowned for the virtuosity of his performances. Following his exposure on television
with the Stanley Black Orchestra
, an enthusiastic announcer introduced him as the 'Man With The Golden Trumpet' - an apt description that remained with him for the rest of his musical career.
Calvert's style was unusually individualistic, and he became a familiar musician
on BBC Radio
and TV
during the 1950s. He first recorded for Melodisc, ca 1949-1951 before he started to record
for the Columbia
label
and his records
included two UK
number ones, "Oh Mein Papa" and, more than a year later, "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White
". He was the first British
instrumentalist to achieve two number ones. "Oh Mein Papa" which also sold well in the United States
, topped the UK Singles Chart
for nine weeks (then a UK chart
record), and he received the first gold disc
awarded for a UK instrumental track.
Further chart entries were "John And Julie", taken from the soundtrack
of the movie
John and Juliet, and "Mandy", his last major hit
. Other recordings included "Stranger In Paradise
" (1955), "The Man with the Golden Arm" (1956) and "Jealousy
" (1960). Calvert also co-wrote
"My Son, My Son
" in 1954 - a chart-topper
for Vera Lynn
. His theme
to the film
, The Man with the Golden Arm
was banned by the BBC
. Despite the fact that that this was an instrumental disc, a BBC spokesman said "The ban is due to its connection with a film about drugs".
As the music industry entered the less innocent age of the 1960s, Calvert's musical renditions became less appreciated by record buyers. By 1968 Calvert had become disillusioned by his dwindling fortunes and left the UK, making South Africa
his home. He was popular with the white minority regimes there and in Rhodesia
, recording a pro-apartheid version of "Amazing Grace
" retitled "Amazing Race".
On the 7 August 1978, Calvert collapsed and died of a heart attack
in the bathroom of his home in Rivonia
, Johannesburg
. He was fifty six years old.
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...
trumpeter, who enjoyed his greatest successes in the 1950s. Calvert had his first United Kingdom
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...
, number one instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in 1954, with "Oh Mein Papa
Oh My Pa-Pa (O Mein Papa)
"O mein Papa" is a German song, as related by a young woman remembering her beloved, once-famous clown father. It was written by Swiss composer Paul Burkhard in 1939 for the musical Der Schwarze Hecht , reproduced in 1950 as Feuerwerk to a libretto by Erik Charell, Jürg Amstein, and Robert Gilbert...
".
Biography
Albert Edward Calvert was born in Preston, Lancashire, EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and grew up in a family where the music of his local brass band
Brass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
featured highly. He was soon able to play a variety of instruments
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
, and he was most accomplished on the trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he graduated from playing as an amateur in brass bands to professional engagements with popular dance orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
s of the day, including Geraldo's
Gerald Bright
Gerald Walcan Bright, better known as Geraldo was a British bandleader....
plus Billy Ternet, and he soon became renowned for the virtuosity of his performances. Following his exposure on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
with the Stanley Black Orchestra
Stanley Black
Stanley Black OBE was an English Bandleader, Composer, conductor, arranger and pianist. He wrote and arranged many film scores and recorded prolifically for the Decca label...
, an enthusiastic announcer introduced him as the 'Man With The Golden Trumpet' - an apt description that remained with him for the rest of his musical career.
Calvert's style was unusually individualistic, and he became a familiar musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
on 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...
and TV
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
during the 1950s. He first recorded for Melodisc, ca 1949-1951 before he started to record
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...
for the Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
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 his records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
included two UK
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...
number ones, "Oh Mein Papa" and, more than a year later, "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White
Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)
"Cereza rosa", or "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" or "Gummy Mambo" is the English version of "Cerisier rose et pommier blanc", a popular song with music by Louiguy written in 1950. French lyrics to the song by Jacques Larue and English lyrics by Mack David both exist and recordings of both...
". He was the first British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
instrumentalist to achieve two number ones. "Oh Mein Papa" which also sold well in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, topped 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 ...
for nine weeks (then a UK chart
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....
record), and he received the first gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
awarded for a UK instrumental track.
Further chart entries were "John And Julie", taken from the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
of the movie
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...
John and Juliet, and "Mandy", his last major hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
. Other recordings included "Stranger In Paradise
Stranger in Paradise (song)
"Stranger in Paradise" is a popular song from the 1953 musical Kismet and is credited to Robert Wright and George Forrest. Like all the music in that show, the melody was based on music composed by Alexander Borodin, in this case, the "Gliding Dance of the Maidens," from the Polovtsian...
" (1955), "The Man with the Golden Arm" (1956) and "Jealousy
Jealousy
Jealousy is a second emotion and typically refers to the negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety over an anticipated loss of something that the person values, particularly in reference to a human connection. Jealousy often consists of a combination of presenting emotions...
" (1960). Calvert also co-wrote
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
"My Son, My Son
My Son, My Son
"My Son, My Son" is a traditional popular music song written by Bob Howard, Melville Farley and Eddie Calvert in 1954.The best known recording of the song, by Vera Lynn, climbed to the number one spot in the UK Singles Chart in November that year....
" in 1954 - a chart-topper
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....
for Vera Lynn
Vera Lynn
Dame Vera Lynn, DBE is an English singer-songwriter and actress whose musical recordings and performances were enormously popular during World War II. During the war she toured Egypt, India and Burma, giving outdoor concerts for the troops...
. His theme
Theme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
to the 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...
, The Man with the Golden Arm
The Man with the Golden Arm
The Man with the Golden Arm is a 1955 American drama film, based on the novel of the same name by Nelson Algren, which tells the story of a heroin addict who gets clean while in prison, but struggles to stay that way in the outside world. It stars Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Parker, Kim Novak, Arnold...
was banned by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. Despite the fact that that this was an instrumental disc, a BBC spokesman said "The ban is due to its connection with a film about drugs".
As the music industry entered the less innocent age of the 1960s, Calvert's musical renditions became less appreciated by record buyers. By 1968 Calvert had become disillusioned by his dwindling fortunes and left the UK, making South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
his home. He was popular with the white minority regimes there and in Rhodesia
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, recording a pro-apartheid version of "Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,...
" retitled "Amazing Race".
On the 7 August 1978, Calvert collapsed and died of 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 the bathroom of his home in Rivonia
Rivonia, Gauteng
Rivonia is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa in the Sandton area. It is located in Region 3. Rivonia is one of the most affluent residential and business suburbs of Johannesburg, and regarded as the hub of upstart I.T. companies...
, Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
. He was fifty six years old.
Early recordings
- Melodisc - 78rpm (c 1949-1951)
- 1022 Eddie Calvert & His Rumba Band - "Miserlou" / Eddie Calvert & Orchestra - "Hora Samba"
- 1023 Eddie Calvert & Orchestra - "Gypsy Lullaby" / "Son Mambo"
- 1178 Eddie Calvert & Orchestra - "With A Song In My Heart" / "Kiss Me Again"
- Melodisc 45rpm EPExtended playAn 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...
(c 1955)- EPM 7-58 Eddie Calvert and His Rumba Band - Eddie Calvert Plays Latin American - "Miserlou" / "Hora Samba" / "Gypsy Lullaby" / "Son Mambo"
UK singles chart discography
- "Oh Mein PapaOh My Pa-Pa (O Mein Papa)"O mein Papa" is a German song, as related by a young woman remembering her beloved, once-famous clown father. It was written by Swiss composer Paul Burkhard in 1939 for the musical Der Schwarze Hecht , reproduced in 1950 as Feuerwerk to a libretto by Erik Charell, Jürg Amstein, and Robert Gilbert...
" (#1) - 1953 - "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom WhiteCherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)"Cereza rosa", or "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" or "Gummy Mambo" is the English version of "Cerisier rose et pommier blanc", a popular song with music by Louiguy written in 1950. French lyrics to the song by Jacques Larue and English lyrics by Mack David both exist and recordings of both...
" (#1) - 1955 - "Stranger In ParadiseStranger in Paradise (song)"Stranger in Paradise" is a popular song from the 1953 musical Kismet and is credited to Robert Wright and George Forrest. Like all the music in that show, the melody was based on music composed by Alexander Borodin, in this case, the "Gliding Dance of the Maidens," from the Polovtsian...
" (#14) - 1955 - "John and Julie" (#6) - 1955
- "Zambesi" (#13) - 1956
- "Mandy (La Pense)" (#9) - 1958
- "Little Serenade" (#28) - 1958
See also
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
- List of people from Preston
- UK Singles Chart recordsUK Singles Chart recordsSince the inception of the UK Singles Chart in 1952 there have been various records to break, including most chart toppers, longest run at number one, biggest selling single etc. All the records have changed hands over the years, some more than others and many have certain reasons as to why the...
External links
- [ Allmusic.com biography]
- 45-rpm.org.uk article with discography