Hubbry Logo
search
logo
Eric Winstone avatar
Eric Winstone
Eric Winstone
current hub
E

Eric Winstone

logo
Community Hub0 Subscribers
Read side by side
Eric Winstone
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Key Information

Eric Winstone (1 January 1913 – 2 May 1974) was an English big band leader, conductor and composer.

Biography and career

[edit]

Playing piano in his spare time from a job as Westminster Gas and Coke Company led him to form his first band in 1935.[citation needed]

During World War II his orchestra entertained the forces, and performed at holiday camps after the war. In 1955 a CinemaScope short of The Eric Winstone Bandshow was made.[1]

He was quoted in 1955 as saying that

With the exception of money, length of working hours, living and working conditions, the price of beer, and the opposite sex, a musician is completely unconcerned about the material things of life.[2]

His limited company, Eric Winstone Orchestras Ltd., was involved in a widely reported court case involving Diana Dors in 1957. Dors had been engaged to appear with the orchestra at a charity matinee in July 1954 for the RAF Association in Clacton, where Winstone's orchestra was playing a season at Butlins holiday camp. She failed to fulfil the singing commitment, which was to take place in a cinema, due to having a septic throat. She claimed that the illness had been notified to the company. The company argued that she was fulfilling her film commitments and therefore the illness was an excuse, and furthermore that being unable to sing was not the issue at stake as merely saying "hello" would have sufficed. Winstone remarked to the audience that she was not a woman of her word, did not respect her obligations and considered the people of Clacton to be unworthy of her talents, He thereafter told a newspaper journalist that she had let him down. Winstone's company sued for breach of contract and this caused Dors to counter-sue for slander, the outcome of which was that the company was awarded £5 compensation and Dors received 100 guineas. The judge in the case said that the company's financial loss had been non-existent, having heard that it was to receive £210 for the performance and a further £40 if all the seats were sold. Dors, who was to receive £80 for her fifteen-minute appearance, donated her court award to the charity. Her husband had said in court that the need for a court's ruling (by which he was referring to the company's claim) was "a waste of time".[3][4][5][6][7]

Personal life

[edit]

Winstone had a somewhat tempestuous personal life at times. In September 1959 he obtained a court order that banned his mother-in-law from staying at his home.[8] In the same month a court ordered that an "iron curtain" be constructed in the property so as to split the rooms between himself, then aged 46, and his wife and two-year-old daughter. He was also ordered to stop playing his piano by 6pm each day in order not to disturb his family. At that time he was using it to compose arrangements for three bands and five radio shows.[9] Four months later, his then 26-year-old wife, Myrtle Shepherd, a former fashion model, was seeking a judicial separation. They had married on 25 February 1957.[10]

Discography

[edit]
  • Rumbas & Sambas (EP) - Eric Winstone And Los Chicos 1967

Notes

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Eric Winstone

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Eric Winstone was an English big band leader, conductor, composer, and accordionist known for his prominent role in British dance band and swing music from the 1930s through the 1970s. [1] [2] He gained widespread popularity as a bandleader who transitioned from small ensembles to larger orchestras, with his performances frequently broadcast on radio and his work reflecting the popular music trends of mid-20th-century Britain. [2] Born in London on January 1, 1915, Winstone initially worked as a clerk at the Westminster Gas and Coke Company while playing piano in his spare time. [1] He formed his first band in 1935 at the Spanish Club in Cavendish Square and later developed expertise on the piano accordion, even establishing an accordion school. [1] His career peaked in the late 1930s to 1950s with leadership of a signature swing quartet—featuring accordion, bass, guitar, and vibraphone—as well as larger dance bands that performed both as solo acts and in group settings. [2] Winstone achieved notable visibility through the BBC radio program Music While You Work and appeared in the 1955 CinemaScope short film The Eric Winstone Bandshow. [2] He remained active as a performer, composer, and arranger into the later decades of his life, contributing to the enduring legacy of British big band music until his death on May 2, 1974, in Pagham, Sussex. [1]

Early life

Birth and family

Eric Winstone was born on 1 January 1915 in London, England. [3] [4] Details about his parents, siblings, and immediate family background remain sparsely documented in available sources. He spent his early years in London, where he worked as a clerk at the Gas Light and Coke Company in Westminster before transitioning to a full-time career in music. [4]

Early musical education and influences

Eric Winstone played the piano in his spare time while working as a clerk at the Gas Light and Coke Company in Westminster.[2] This amateur engagement with the instrument represented his primary early musical activity before turning professional.[2] Little additional detail is documented about formal training, specific teachers, or named influences during this period.[2] His hobbyist piano playing directly led to the formation of his first band in 1935 at the Spanish Club in Cavendish Square, marking the transition to his professional career.[2] [4]

Career

Early professional work and band formation

Eric Winstone left his clerical job at the Gas Light and Coke Company in Westminster, where he had played piano in his spare time, to pursue music professionally. [4] [1] In 1935, he formed and led his first band at the Spanish Club in Cavendish Square, London, marking his entry into professional bandleading. [4] [2] He later learned to play the accordion, founded an accordion school, and developed expertise as an arranger for the instrument. [4] Winstone formed the Eric Winstone Accordion Quintet and the Eric Winstone Swing Quartet, the latter featuring himself on accordion alongside string bass, vibraphone, guitar, and vocalist Julie Dawn. [4] During World War II, he led the Eric Winstone Dance Orchestra and toured Europe entertaining Allied troops. [4] He gained further exposure through the BBC radio program "Music While You Work," as well as solo performances and leadership of smaller ensembles during the late 1930s and early 1940s. [2] These early activities established his reputation as a versatile musician and bandleader before his wider popularity in the post-war years. [4]

Rise to prominence as bandleader

Winstone's rise to prominence as a bandleader accelerated in the post-war period, particularly from the late 1940s through the 1950s, when he established himself as one of the leading figures in British light and dance music. [3] [2] During this time, he periodically led a larger dance band in addition to his earlier swing quartet format, delivering accessible and popular music that resonated with audiences recovering from wartime austerity. [3] His orchestra gained widespread exposure through regular BBC radio broadcasts, most notably on the long-running programme Music While You Work, which aired light music to factory workers and home listeners, thereby bringing Winstone's lively arrangements to a broad national audience. [3] [2] These frequent appearances solidified his reputation and contributed to his status as a household name in light entertainment during the era's dance band revival. [3] In addition to radio work, Winstone's band undertook live engagements that further enhanced his public image as a charismatic and reliable bandleader in British popular music circles. [2] His blend of swing influences and melodic accessibility helped define the sound of post-war British dance halls and variety entertainment throughout the 1950s. [3]

Major compositions and recordings

Eric Winstone's major compositions reflected his background as a bandleader and multi-instrumentalist, blending swing elements with British light music traditions and often showcasing his distinctive piano-accordion work. https://www.discogs.com/artist/279904-Eric-Winstone His best-remembered pieces include "Stage Coach", which served as his signature tune, alongside "Oasis" (1941), "Bottle Party", "Mirage", and "Pony Express". https://www.discogs.com/artist/279904-Eric-Winstone https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/eric-winstone-and-his-orchestra/129895351 These works exemplified the catchy, melodic style that characterized his output during his peak popularity from the late 1930s to the late 1950s. https://www.discogs.com/artist/279904-Eric-Winstone He also composed several additional light pieces and contributed background music for films. https://www.discogs.com/artist/279904-Eric-Winstone Winstone recorded extensively with his various ensembles, including Eric Winstone & His Orchestra and Eric Winstone & His Swing Quartet, across formats ranging from 78 RPM singles to LPs. https://www.discogs.com/artist/279904-Eric-Winstone Notable releases include 78 RPM singles on the Conroy label, such as "The Happy Hippo" / "Time And Tide" and "Country Fair" in 1958, as well as later albums on Avenue, including Stay Late (1971) and Eric Winstone Plays 007 (1973). https://www.discogs.com/artist/279904-Eric-Winstone His compositions and performances have continued to appear on posthumous compilation albums. https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/eric-winstone-and-his-orchestra/129895351

Film and television contributions

Film scoring and music direction

Eric Winstone's contributions to film scoring were limited compared to his extensive work as a bandleader and composer for recordings and radio. He is credited as composer for a small number of short films in the mid-1950s and one later in the 1960s.[5] He provided the music for the short film The Right Person (1955), as well as Dick Turpin: Highwayman (1956) and Copenhagen (1956).[5] In these projects, his role was primarily as composer, drawing on his characteristic light orchestral style. A later credit came with the short A Penny for Your Thoughts or 'Birds, Dolls & Scratch' English Style (1966), where he again served as composer.[5] Winstone also featured with his band in the 1955 CinemaScope short film The Eric Winstone Bandshow.[2] No evidence exists of Winstone acting as music director or conductor for feature films, and he did not compose original scores for major motion pictures.[5] However, some of his existing compositions appeared as uncredited stock music in feature films, including "Saratoga" in Stolen Face (1952), Wheel of Fate (1953), The Saint's Girl Friday (1953), and Paid to Kill (1954).[5] These usages highlight the broader reach of his library music rather than direct film scoring engagements.

Television and radio appearances

Eric Winstone and his orchestra were frequent performers on BBC radio, where they broadcast light music and big band arrangements, often featuring his own compositions such as "Stage Coach." [6] His radio work included a weekly show during periods of his career, showcasing his skills as a pianist and bandleader. [7] In 1971, Winstone led a series of broadcasts on BBC Radio 2, including Wednesday evening programs at 8:00 pm that highlighted his orchestra's performances. [8] [9] These broadcasts captured live renditions of his repertoire and occasional collaborations, reflecting his ongoing activity in broadcast media late in his life. [10] For television, Winstone served as musical director for Southern Television for some years, contributing to program music. [4] Specific personal on-camera appearances on television were limited, with his contributions primarily behind the scenes in music direction rather than direct performances.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Eric Winstone married fashion model Myrtle Shepherd in 1957. [11] Their daughter Erika Winstone was born later that year in London. [12] The couple separated when Erika was two years old, after which Erika lived with her mother, who became a single parent, initially in London and then in Belfast from ages two to five, returning there for school holidays. [12] Myrtle Winstone, who had worked as a high couture model, later established her own fashion model agency. [12] No further details of subsequent relationships or family developments are documented.

Death

Final years and passing

Eric Winstone's musical activities became less frequent in the 1960s and 1970s compared to his earlier prominence as a bandleader and composer. [3] One of his final recordings was the album Eric Winstone Plays 007, released in 1973, which featured his arrangements of James Bond film themes. [13] He died on 2 May 1974 in Pagham, Sussex, England. [3] [14] No further details regarding the circumstances of his passing or health in his later years are widely documented in available sources.

Legacy

Influence on British light music

Eric Winstone's recordings and orchestral arrangements have been included in compilations celebrating the golden age of British light music, reflecting his role as a contributor to the genre's easy listening and pop-inflected repertoire during the mid-20th century. [15] His work with ensembles such as the Connaught Light Orchestra further positioned him within the tradition of British light music performance and composition. [16] While specific influences on subsequent composers or developments in British light music are not widely documented in available sources, his sustained presence in BBC broadcasts and light music collections attests to his participation in maintaining the popularity of orchestral light music styles through the 1950s and 1960s. [17] His blending of big band elements with light orchestral formats helped sustain the accessibility of the genre during a period of musical transition in Britain. [18]

Posthumous recognition

Eric Winstone's recordings have continued to see occasional reissue on compact disc since his death in 1974, primarily through budget and specialist labels focusing on vintage British big band and swing material.[3][19] Compilations such as Big Band Bond, released in 1996 by Hallmark Records, collect tracks from his early 1970s albums including Plays 007 (originally 1973) with additional material from Supersonic Sounds (1972).[20][19] This CD, along with related Hallmark releases like By the Fireside (2006) and Easy Going Sixties, has made his later studio recordings available to collectors.[21][22] Earlier works have also been anthologized, including Reminiscing With Erika & Lisa (President Records, 1993), which compiles mono recordings mostly from the 1940s featuring vocalists such as Alan Kane and Julie Dawn.[23] More recently, Songs for Stagecoach Travellers (Sounds Of Yesteryear, 2020) presents a 24-track collection of his World War II-era swing and big band performances.[24] These reissues reflect a modest ongoing interest in Winstone's catalogue among enthusiasts of British dance band music, though no large-scale tributes, biographies, or institutional recognitions have been widely documented.[3]

References

  1. https://www.tracklib.com/music/artists/eric-winstone
  2. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0970517/bio/
  3. https://www.discogs.com/artist/279904-Eric-Winstone
  4. https://fromthevaults-boppinbob.blogspot.com/2016/01/eric-winstone-born-1-january-1915.html
  5. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0970517/
  6. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Band-Bond-Eric-Winstone/dp/B00514KBK4
  7. https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/engine-room-25
  8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjudneV_KTw
  9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n31k8ejR1kw
  10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTLSkedC19c
  11. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/bandleader-eric-winstone-with-his-wife-fashion-model-myrtle-news-photo/2201891579
  12. https://365artists365days.com/2015/02/21/erika-winstone/
  13. https://suburbanpagans.substack.com/p/the-hi-fi-that-loved-me-eric-winstone
  14. https://musicbrainz.org/artist/cce1255b-1c2a-446a-a19c-5550b116fcd8
  15. https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Lel4yC5rJpPmeazZAI6aJ
  16. https://pima.freegalmusic.com/artist/VGhlIENvbm5hdWdodCBMaWdodCBPcmNoZXN0cmEsRXJpYyBXaW5zdG9uZQ
  17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzMsKvFKxqY
  18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iETBIAuYYpo
  19. https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/the-big-band-bond-mr0001088801
  20. https://www.discogs.com/release/2601502-Eric-Winstone-Band-Big-Band-Bond
  21. https://open.spotify.com/album/3bOPQ9MhCazafxsjw3IKvW
  22. https://www.discogs.com/artist/913748-Eric-Winstone-His-Orchestra
  23. https://www.discogs.com/release/6379070-Eric-Winstone-His-Band-Reminiscing-With-Erika-Lisa
  24. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/songs-for-stagecoach-travellers-eric-winstone-his-band/1138732077
User Avatar
No comments yet.