Sheila Tracy
Encyclopedia
Sheila Tracy is a British
musician
, best known for her trombone
playing, and as a broadcaster
and journalist
. She studied piano
, violin
and trombone at the Royal Academy of Music
, then joined the Ivy Benson
All Girls Band between 1956 and 1958. She then formed a vocal/trombone duo, The Tracy Sisters, who appeared in variety, on radio and television, as well as in cabaret all over the world. When the act broke up, she joined BBC Television
as an announcer and worked mostly in television until 1974 when she became the first woman newsreader on BBC Radio 4
.
On BBC Radio 2
she devised and presented the Truckers Hour and introduced Big Band Special
featuring performances by the BBC Big Band
. She would sometimes join the trombone section of the band on non-broadcast concerts. She was also a regular contributor to Radio 4's Breakaway
. She was also a regular presenter on Saga Radio, presenting a big band show called Swing Time with Sheila Tracy which was syndicated across the Saga network.
Among her books are Bands, Booze & Broads (1995), a collection of her interviews with the American
sidemen
who played with the top bands in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s; and Talking Swing (1997), on British musicians of the same era.
In 1997 she was made a Freeman of the City of London and an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music
. She is a former President of The British Trombone Society.
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...
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....
, best known for her trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
playing, and as a broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
and journalist
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
. She studied piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and trombone at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
, then joined the Ivy Benson
Ivy Benson
Ivy Benson was an English musician and bandleader, who led an all-female swing band. Benson and her band rose to fame in the 1940s, headlining variety theatres and topping the bill at the London Palladium, and became the BBC's resident house band.-Early years:Benson was born on 11 November 1913 in...
All Girls Band between 1956 and 1958. She then formed a vocal/trombone duo, The Tracy Sisters, who appeared in variety, on radio and television, as well as in cabaret all over the world. When the act broke up, she joined BBC Television
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...
as an announcer and worked mostly in television until 1974 when she became the first woman newsreader on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
.
On BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
she devised and presented the Truckers Hour and introduced Big Band Special
Big Band Special
Big Band Special is a BBC Radio 2 series which launched in 1979 as a showcase for the BBC Big Band in session and in concert. Big Band Special is a 30 minute programme broadcast on Monday nights at 9.30pm and has been presented by Clare Teal since April 2006...
featuring performances by the BBC Big Band
BBC Big Band
The BBC Big Band, originally known as the BBC Radio Big Band is a British big band run under the auspices of the BBC. Widely regarded as the UK’s leading and most versatile jazz orchestra, the band broadcasts exclusivley on BBC Radio, particularly on BBC Radio 2's long running series Big Band Special...
. She would sometimes join the trombone section of the band on non-broadcast concerts. She was also a regular contributor to Radio 4's Breakaway
Breakaway (radio programme)
Breakaway was BBC radio's first regular consumer travel programme, conceived by producer Roger Macdonald. It was launched on 29 September 1979 and ran live for an hour at 0900 every Saturday morning for more than a decade, with two regular presenters, first Barry Norman and later Bernard Falk...
. She was also a regular presenter on Saga Radio, presenting a big band show called Swing Time with Sheila Tracy which was syndicated across the Saga network.
Among her books are Bands, Booze & Broads (1995), a collection of her interviews with the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sidemen
Sideman
A sideman is a professional musician who is hired to perform or record with a group of which he or she is not a regular member. They often tour with solo acts as well as bands and jazz ensembles. Sidemen are generally required to be adaptable to many different styles of music, and so able to fit...
who played with the top bands in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s; and Talking Swing (1997), on British musicians of the same era.
In 1997 she was made a Freeman of the City of London and an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
. She is a former President of The British Trombone Society.