George Evans (bandleader)
Encyclopedia
George Evans, born London, died February 16, 1993, was an English jazz bandleader, arranger and tenor saxophonist.
Having started playing ukelele-banjo, he moved on to the saxophone at 14, and was doing local gigs at age 15. He got his first professional job in Sonny Winter's Band at 16, before going on to join Al Lever's band.
In the early 1930s he was doing arrangements for Freddie Bretherton's Band as well as Syd Lipton’s band.
In 1938, together with fellow saxophonist Harry Hayes he joined Geraldo
and between 1938 and 1942 was arranging, singing and playing tenor for the orchestra. He was the composer of Geraldo’s signature tune "Hello Again".
From 1940-46, he was a member of the Welsh Guards Band
, although like many servicemen at the time, he carried on playing with civilian bands as well as appearing on broadcasts with George Melachrino
’s combined Forces Orchestra.
One of his bands at around that time, Saxes 'n’ Sevens, was made up of three altos, four tenors, and four musicians in the rhythm section, including leading saxophonists of the day: Hayes, Les Gilbert and Tommy Bradbury, on altos; himself, Jimmy Durrant, Poggy Pogson, Tommy Bradbury, Andy McDevitt, Norman Maloney, and Aubrey Frank on tenors. Later lineups would also include Pete King
. The rhythm section consisted of, at various times, Joe Deniz on guitar, Wilkie Davidson on bass, Bobby Midgeley or Kenny Clare
on drums and George Shearing
or Ronnie Selby on piano.
Shortly after leaving the Welsh Guards Evans was admitted to a sanatorium with T.B. and his brother, Les took the band on tour.
Retiring in 1957, he returned to playing with local Newcastle bands and school youth orchestras in 1980.
Other leading UK musicians who at one time were members of Evans’ bands include Jimmy Staples, Don Rendell
, Charles Chapman
, Tony Symes, Jackie Sprague, Bill Geldard, Jock Cummings, Jack Parnell
, Pat Dodd, Jack Llewellyn, Kenny Baker
, Billy Riddick, Cliff Haines, Izzy Duman, Bill Apps, Eric Jupp, Malcolm Mitchell, Don Raine, Dougie Cooper, Arthur Greenslade, Ricky Derges, Ted Hunt, Bill Jackson, Graham Smith, Frank Pritchard, Hank Shaw
, and Denis Shirley, Charlie Payne, Frank Rogers, Roy Ringrose, Freddie Syer, Ronnie Chandler, Erik Maxwell, Dennis Hughes, Syd Dowel, Kenny Kaye, Jimmy Paul and Shirley Gray on vocals.
Having started playing ukelele-banjo, he moved on to the saxophone at 14, and was doing local gigs at age 15. He got his first professional job in Sonny Winter's Band at 16, before going on to join Al Lever's band.
In the early 1930s he was doing arrangements for Freddie Bretherton's Band as well as Syd Lipton’s band.
In 1938, together with fellow saxophonist Harry Hayes he joined Geraldo
Gerald Bright
Gerald Walcan Bright, better known as Geraldo was a British bandleader....
and between 1938 and 1942 was arranging, singing and playing tenor for the orchestra. He was the composer of Geraldo’s signature tune "Hello Again".
From 1940-46, he was a member of the Welsh Guards Band
Welsh Guards Band
The Band of the Welsh Guards is the youngest of the five bands in the Foot Guards Regiments in the Household Division which primarily guards the British monarch.-Band membership duties:...
, although like many servicemen at the time, he carried on playing with civilian bands as well as appearing on broadcasts with George Melachrino
George Melachrino
George Melachrino was a musician, movie composer, and musical director who was English born of Greek and Italian descent. He was an accomplished player of the violin, viola, oboe, clarinet and saxophone....
’s combined Forces Orchestra.
One of his bands at around that time, Saxes 'n’ Sevens, was made up of three altos, four tenors, and four musicians in the rhythm section, including leading saxophonists of the day: Hayes, Les Gilbert and Tommy Bradbury, on altos; himself, Jimmy Durrant, Poggy Pogson, Tommy Bradbury, Andy McDevitt, Norman Maloney, and Aubrey Frank on tenors. Later lineups would also include Pete King
Pete King (saxophonist)
Peter "Pete" Stephen George King was a British jazz tenor saxophonist. He was the manager of London's famous jazz club, Ronnie Scott's, for almost 50 years.-Biography:...
. The rhythm section consisted of, at various times, Joe Deniz on guitar, Wilkie Davidson on bass, Bobby Midgeley or Kenny Clare
Kenny Clare
Kenneth 'Kenny' Clare was an English jazz drummer. He should not be confused with Kenny Clarke, whose band he played in....
on drums and George Shearing
George Shearing
Sir George Shearing, OBE was an Anglo-American jazz pianist who for many years led a popular jazz group that recorded for MGM Records and Capitol Records. The composer of over 300 titles, he had multiple albums on the Billboard charts during the 1950s, 1960s, 1980s and 1990s...
or Ronnie Selby on piano.
Shortly after leaving the Welsh Guards Evans was admitted to a sanatorium with T.B. and his brother, Les took the band on tour.
Retiring in 1957, he returned to playing with local Newcastle bands and school youth orchestras in 1980.
Other leading UK musicians who at one time were members of Evans’ bands include Jimmy Staples, Don Rendell
Don Rendell
Donald Percy 'Don' Rendell is an English jazz musician and arranger, specialising on tenor saxophone, but also playing soprano saxophone, flute, and clarinet....
, Charles Chapman
Charles Chapman
Charles Clarke Chapman was the first mayor of Fullerton, California and a relative of John Chapman, the legendary "Johnny Appleseed." He was a native of Illinois who had been a Chicago publisher before settling in Southern California....
, Tony Symes, Jackie Sprague, Bill Geldard, Jock Cummings, Jack Parnell
Jack Parnell
John Russell Parnell was an English bandleader and musician.-Biography:Parnell was born into a theatrical family in London....
, Pat Dodd, Jack Llewellyn, Kenny Baker
Kenny Baker
Kenneth George "Kenny" Baker is a British actor and musician, best known as the man inside R2-D2 in the popular Star Wars film series.- Career :...
, Billy Riddick, Cliff Haines, Izzy Duman, Bill Apps, Eric Jupp, Malcolm Mitchell, Don Raine, Dougie Cooper, Arthur Greenslade, Ricky Derges, Ted Hunt, Bill Jackson, Graham Smith, Frank Pritchard, Hank Shaw
Hank Shaw
Henry Shalofsky, better known as Hank Shaw was an English bebop jazz trumpeter.Shaw played with Teddy Foster's band during World War II at the age of 15...
, and Denis Shirley, Charlie Payne, Frank Rogers, Roy Ringrose, Freddie Syer, Ronnie Chandler, Erik Maxwell, Dennis Hughes, Syd Dowel, Kenny Kaye, Jimmy Paul and Shirley Gray on vocals.