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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZCOTTON, Billy(b 6 May 1899, London; d 25 March '69, Wembley, Middlesex) UK bandleader, singer. Son of bandmaster; sang in church choir; joined army at 14 and became drummer boy; served in RFC WWI and led first band. Led band at Palais De Dance, Ealing, London; by '23 London Savannah Band at Southport, introducing USA dance fads like the Black Bottom; '24 at Wembley Exhibition, then dance halls in London, Liverpool, Brighton; London Astoria hotel '27, residency at Ciro's. Popular vocalist Alan Breeze present from '30; semi-hot band early '30s had Armstrong clone Nat Gonella on trumpet, black American trombonist Ellis Jackson (also a dancer) and did its best to help keep the idea of jazz alive in Britain: "I'm Just Wild About Harry', "Super Tiger Rag', "Somebody Stole My Gal' '32-3 (latter was band's theme), also covers of Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo', "Black And Tan Fantasy'. Increasingly became a variety act, playing theatres rather than dance halls: cover of "Begin The Beguine' late '30s was a straight copy of the Artie Shaw hit; by mid-'40s jazz took a back seat to period pop songs and comedy. During WWII Cotton was in charge of entertainment for Air Training Corps; after the war his radio and music hall act started each show with catchphrase "Wakey wakey!' In '50s band did "I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts' while pelting audience with cotton-wool balls, but the musicianship was alway high, a trumpet star retained: Grisha Farfel played Harry James-styled solo spots '50s. After UK charts established '52, Cotton had a few top 20 entries, continued successful on TV and radio until his death. Autobiography I Did It My Way '70. Son Bill Jr became BBC executive. |