Go Man Go (radio show)
Encyclopedia
Go Man Go, featuring David Ede and the Rabin Band, was one of British radio’s flagship lunchtime pop music
shows during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
(BBC), which was responsible for all radio broadcasting
in the country, had three big-band
music shows on weekday lunchtimes: Make Way for Music featuring the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra (originally conducted by Alyn Ainsworth
and later by Bernard Herrmann); Parade of the Pops featuring Bob Miller and the Millermen; and Go Man Go featuring David Ede and the Rabin Band. Make Way for Music was broadcast from the north of England
without a studio audience, and the latter two were broadcast live from the BBC studio at the Paris Theatre in London’s Lower Regent Street
in front of an audience.
The Rabin Band evolved from a highly popular British dance band in the 1940s known as the Oscar Rabin Band
, directed by bass saxophonist Oscar Rabin
. Following Oscar’s death in 1959, the band became known as David Ede and the Rabin Band under the musical direction of one of the band’s saxophonists, David Ede.
By the late 1950s, rock and roll
, particularly on records from USA, had begun to take a firm hold on the popular music scene in Britain, and the BBC began to adjust its programming to accommodate the new trends. However, the powerful and protective Musicians Union had a strict policy that only a designated proportion of music broadcast on radio could be in the form of gramophone record
s and that the remainder must be provided by musicians performing live (or recorded) in the BBC studios.
Dance-halls were a popular form of entertainment at the time and the Rabin Band, which was the resident band at the Wimbledon Palais in London, was playing this music six nights a week. The band was invited to appear in a weekly one-hour radio show
on the BBC Light Programme
performing the pop music of the day.
, Pick of the Pops
compere Alan Freeman
, and BBC staff announcer Don Moss.
on piano; Laurie Steele on guitar; Andy White
on drums; and Ron Prentice on bass. Female vocals were provided at various times by Lorie Mann, Barbara Kay, Marion Williams
, and Kay Garner. Male vocalists included Ray Pilgrim
(who was on the show for more than three years), Colin Day, Johnny Towers and Bobby Sansom. Johnny Towers originally appeared on the show under the name of Johnny Sherman but adopted the stage name Towers to avoid confusion with American rock singer Bobby Sherman
.
Most of the musicians were session men. Trombonist Charlie Messenger also managed to maintain a parallel career as a member of the band of H.M. Life Guards performing on horseback at ceremonial occasions. But apart from inevitable deputizing when a musician had a gig elsewhere, the band’s line up on Go Man Go was the same as that at its nightly performances at the Wimbledon Palais and later at the Orchid Ballroom in Purley in south London
, and remained relatively static from week to week.
When the style of music demanded, the band would split into smaller groups: Arthur Greenslade (on piano) and the G-Men; Laurie Steele (guitar) and the Steele Men; the Rabin Stompers (for Dixieland jazz
). Backing vocals came from within the band, particularly David Ede and saxophonist Johnny Evans, performing as “The Travellers”, a pun on the show’s title. Baritone saxophonist Bill Suett took on the comedy and novelty pieces.
Produced by the BBC’s Terry Henebery, the show ran for well over four years. Its 200th performance aired on 4 January 1963 and was the first edition compered by Alan Freeman (who took over from the long-running Diz Disley).
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...
shows during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Background and evolution
At that time, the British Broadcasting CorporationBBC
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...
(BBC), which was responsible for all radio broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
in the country, had three big-band
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...
music shows on weekday lunchtimes: Make Way for Music featuring the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra (originally conducted by Alyn Ainsworth
Alyn Ainsworth
Alyn Ainsworth was a singer and dance band conductor in the late 20th century-Education and early career:...
and later by Bernard Herrmann); Parade of the Pops featuring Bob Miller and the Millermen; and Go Man Go featuring David Ede and the Rabin Band. Make Way for Music was broadcast from the north of England
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
without a studio audience, and the latter two were broadcast live from the BBC studio at the Paris Theatre in London’s Lower Regent Street
Regent Street
Regent Street is one of the major shopping streets in London's West End, well known to tourists and Londoners alike, and famous for its Christmas illuminations...
in front of an audience.
The Rabin Band evolved from a highly popular British dance band in the 1940s known as the Oscar Rabin Band
Oscar Rabin Band
The Oscar Rabin Band was a British Jazz dance band that was one of the most successful bands of the 1950s. Band leader Oscar Rabin played bass saxophone, an unusual instrument then as now. His friend Harry Davis, tall, elegant and good-looking, acted as compère and conductor.-Formation:Oscar...
, directed by bass saxophonist Oscar Rabin
Oscar Rabin
Oscar Rabin was a Latvian born English bandleader and musician. He was notable for being the musical director of the Oscar Rabin Band....
. Following Oscar’s death in 1959, the band became known as David Ede and the Rabin Band under the musical direction of one of the band’s saxophonists, David Ede.
By the late 1950s, rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
, particularly on records from USA, had begun to take a firm hold on the popular music scene in Britain, and the BBC began to adjust its programming to accommodate the new trends. However, the powerful and protective Musicians Union had a strict policy that only a designated proportion of music broadcast on radio could be in the form of gramophone record
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...
s and that the remainder must be provided by musicians performing live (or recorded) in the BBC studios.
Dance-halls were a popular form of entertainment at the time and the Rabin Band, which was the resident band at the Wimbledon Palais in London, was playing this music six nights a week. The band was invited to appear in a weekly one-hour radio show
Radio programming
Radio programming is the Broadcast programming of a Radio format or content that is organized for Commercial broadcasting and Public broadcasting radio stations....
on the BBC Light Programme
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...
performing the pop music of the day.
Programme format
Go Man Go would consist typically of the band’s renditions of songs and music from the current pop charts together with set pieces showcasing the impeccable jazz and swing credentials of the musicians. Each week would see the appearance of at least one guest artist or group either currently in or well known in the popular music charts. Listener requests and dedications were encouraged (‘on a postcard only please’) and the show was linked by a resident compere. Several comperes were used throughout the show’s long run, including such personalities as jazz guitarist Diz DisleyDiz Disley
Diz Disley was an Anglo-Canadian jazz guitarist and graphic designer. He is best known for his jazz guitar playing, strongly influenced by Django Reinhardt, and for his collaborations with the violinist Stéphane Grappelli....
, Pick of the Pops
Pick of the Pops
Pick of the Pops is a BBC Radio programme, originally based on the Top 20 UK singles chart and first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1955. It transferred to BBC Radio 1 from 1967...
compere Alan Freeman
Alan Freeman
Alan Leslie "Fluff" Freeman, MBE was a British disc jockey and radio personality in the United Kingdom for 40 years.-Career:...
, and BBC staff announcer Don Moss.
Band personnel
At a minimum the band would perform on the show with three trumpets, one trombone, five saxes, piano, bass, guitar and drums plus one male and one female vocalist. In the show’s heyday in 1962 and 1963 a typical line up would include Ian Hamer, Tony Mabbett and Derek Healey on trumpet; Charlie Messenger on trombone; Cecil Pressling, David Ede, Gene Cotterill, Johnny Evans, Bill Suett, and ‘Rocking’ Rex Morris on saxes; Arthur GreensladeArthur Greenslade
Arthur Greenslade was a British conductor and arranger for films and television as well as for a number of performers. In the 1950s he was pianist and arranger with the Oscar Rabin Band. He has arranged for Jack Jones, Chris Farlowe, Serge Gainsbourg, Genesis, Cat Stevens, Diana Ross and Dusty...
on piano; Laurie Steele on guitar; Andy White
Andy White
Andy White may refer to:* Andy White , Scottish studio drummer* Andy White , Irish singer/songwriter and poet...
on drums; and Ron Prentice on bass. Female vocals were provided at various times by Lorie Mann, Barbara Kay, Marion Williams
Marion Williams
Marion Williams was an American gospel singer.-Early years:Marion Williams was born in Miami, Florida, to a religiously devout mother and musically inclined father. She left school when she was nine years old to help support the family, and worked as a maid, a nurse, and in factories and...
, and Kay Garner. Male vocalists included Ray Pilgrim
Ray Pilgrim
Ray Pilgrim was one of the most prolific big band singers, radio broadcasters, recording and session singers in Britain in the late 1950s/early 1960s.-Music Career:...
(who was on the show for more than three years), Colin Day, Johnny Towers and Bobby Sansom. Johnny Towers originally appeared on the show under the name of Johnny Sherman but adopted the stage name Towers to avoid confusion with American rock singer Bobby Sherman
Bobby Sherman
Robert Cabot "Bobby" Sherman, Jr. , is an American singer, actor and occasional songwriter, who became a popular teen idol in the late 1960s and early 1970s.He graduated in 1961 from Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, California...
.
Most of the musicians were session men. Trombonist Charlie Messenger also managed to maintain a parallel career as a member of the band of H.M. Life Guards performing on horseback at ceremonial occasions. But apart from inevitable deputizing when a musician had a gig elsewhere, the band’s line up on Go Man Go was the same as that at its nightly performances at the Wimbledon Palais and later at the Orchid Ballroom in Purley in south London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
, and remained relatively static from week to week.
When the style of music demanded, the band would split into smaller groups: Arthur Greenslade (on piano) and the G-Men; Laurie Steele (guitar) and the Steele Men; the Rabin Stompers (for Dixieland jazz
Dixieland
Dixieland music, sometimes referred to as Hot jazz, Early Jazz or New Orleans jazz, is a style of jazz music which developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and was spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s.Well-known jazz standard songs from the...
). Backing vocals came from within the band, particularly David Ede and saxophonist Johnny Evans, performing as “The Travellers”, a pun on the show’s title. Baritone saxophonist Bill Suett took on the comedy and novelty pieces.
Produced by the BBC’s Terry Henebery, the show ran for well over four years. Its 200th performance aired on 4 January 1963 and was the first edition compered by Alan Freeman (who took over from the long-running Diz Disley).