Edward White (composer)
Encyclopedia
Edward George White was a British
composer of light music
whose compositions including Runaway Rocking Horse (1946), Paris Interlude (1952), Puffin' Billy (1952) and Telegoons (1963) became familiar as radio and television theme tunes.
White was born in London
, and was largely self-taught. He became a violinist in a trio and various dance bands, performing also on saxophone and clarinet. He became known as an arranger
of music and, after service in the RAF
during World War II
, he ran a ballroom orchestra at the Grand Spa Hotel in Bristol
.
) seen by the composer while on holiday on the Isle of Wight
. The piece was used as the signature tune for the BBC Light Programme's
'Children's Favourites
', a radio request programme, from 1952 to 1966.
In the United States
it was used for an even longer period of time (1955–1974) as the theme music to Captain Kangaroo
on the CBS
TV network. When a new theme song for Captain Kangaroo was used as "Good Morning, Captain", a portion of the "Puffing Billy" theme was used, played by strings, so that the theme trademark could live on through the next generations. In 1957 permission was granted for Mary Rodgers
to write lyrics to the tune and the vocal version was given the title "Captain Kangaroo".
Puffin' Billy has often been used to signify "1950s Middle England
", for example, in The Comic Strip
's parodies
of The Famous Five
, in some of the last cigar adverts on British TV in the early 1990s, and in a trailer for a 2004 Channel 4
documentary about anti-asylum-seeker demonstrators in Lee-on-the-Solent
).
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...
composer of light music
Light music
Light music is a generic term applied to a mainly British musical style of "light" orchestral music, which originated in the 19th century and had its heyday during the early to mid part of the 20th century, although arguably it lasts to the present day....
whose compositions including Runaway Rocking Horse (1946), Paris Interlude (1952), Puffin' Billy (1952) and Telegoons (1963) became familiar as radio and television theme tunes.
White was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and was largely self-taught. He became a violinist in a trio and various dance bands, performing also on saxophone and clarinet. He became known as an arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
of music and, after service in the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during 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 ran a ballroom orchestra at the Grand Spa Hotel in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
.
Puffin' Billy
Puffin' Billy is perhaps his most familiar composition, especially in the original recording by the "Melodi Light Orchestra". The piece was inspired by an old steam locomotive called "Puffing Billy", (not the locomotive in the London Science MuseumScience Museum (London)
The Science Museum is one of the three major museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry. The museum is a major London tourist attraction....
) seen by the composer while on holiday on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
. The piece was used as the signature tune for the BBC Light Programme's
BBC Light Programme
The Light Programme was a BBC radio station which broadcast mainstream light entertainment and music from 1945 until 1967, when it was rebranded as BBC Radio 2...
'Children's Favourites
Children's Favourites
Children's Favourites was a BBC Radio programme from 1954 broadcast on the Light Programme on Saturday mornings from 9:00. A precursor had been called Children's Choice after the style of Housewives' Choice....
', a radio request programme, from 1952 to 1966.
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
it was used for an even longer period of time (1955–1974) as the theme music to Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo is a children's television series which aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running children's television program of its day...
on the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
TV network. When a new theme song for Captain Kangaroo was used as "Good Morning, Captain", a portion of the "Puffing Billy" theme was used, played by strings, so that the theme trademark could live on through the next generations. In 1957 permission was granted for Mary Rodgers
Mary Rodgers
Mary Rodgers is an American composer of musicals and an author of children's books. She is a daughter of composer Richard Rodgers and his wife, Dorothy Rodgers, as is her sister, Linda Rodgers Emory...
to write lyrics to the tune and the vocal version was given the title "Captain Kangaroo".
Puffin' Billy has often been used to signify "1950s Middle England
Middle England
The phrase "Middle England" is a socio-political and geographical term which originally indicated the central region of England, now almost always referred to as the "Midlands"....
", for example, in The Comic Strip
The Comic Strip
The Comic Strip is a group of British comedians, known for their television series The Comic Strip Presents.... The core members are Adrian Edmondson, Dawn French, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Peter Richardson and Jennifer Saunders, with frequent appearances by Keith Allen, Robbie Coltrane and...
's parodies
Five Go Mad in Dorset
Five Go Mad in Dorset was the first of the long-running series of Comic Strip Presents... television comedy films. It first aired on the launch night of Channel 4 , and was written by Peter Richardson and Pete Richens, and directed by Bob Spiers.-Plot and satire:The film is an extreme parody of...
of The Famous Five
The Famous Five (series)
The Famous Five is the name of a series of children's novels written by British author Enid Blyton. The first book, Five on a Treasure Island, was published in 1942....
, in some of the last cigar adverts on British TV in the early 1990s, and in a trailer for a 2004 Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
documentary about anti-asylum-seeker demonstrators in Lee-on-the-Solent
Lee-on-the-Solent
Lee-on-the-Solent, often referred to as Lee-on-Solent, is a small seaside town in Hampshire, England about five miles west of Portsmouth. The town is located on the coast of the Solent and forms part of the borough of Gosport...
).
External links
- Biography
- Puffin' Billy performed by the RTÉ Concert OrchestraRTÉ Concert OrchestraThe RTÉ Concert Orchestra is one of the two full time professional orchestras in Ireland that are part of RTÉ, the national broadcasting station. Since its formation as the Radio Éireann Light Orchestra in 1948, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, has grown from a small studio-based recording group to...
conducted by Ernest TomlinsonErnest TomlinsonErnest Tomlinson is an English composer, particularly noted for his Light music compositions. He is sometimes credited as Alan Perry.-Life:... - Opening of Captain Kangaroo