George Evans (bandleader)

He also ran his own band, Saxes 'n Sevens, at the Embassy Club, 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.

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.

After a residency at the Hammersmith Palais, George Evans was admitted to a sanatorium with tuberculosis and his brother Les took the band on tour until February 1947.

After lengthy hospital treatment and recuperation, he returned to singing with Geraldo, wrote arrangements for various bands, and formed a student orchestra.

[1] Other leading UK musicians who at one time were members of Evans' bands include Jimmy Staples, Don Rendell, Charles Chapman, Gracie Cole, 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, Arthur Mowatt, Ray Chester, Don Fairly, Eddy Shearer, Ray Harley, Gordon Marshall, David Barnes, and Denis Shirley, Charlie Payne, Frank Rogers, Roy Ringrose, Freddie Syer, Ronnie Chandler, Erik Maxwell, Dennis Hughes, Syd Dowel, Kenny Kaye, Ronnie Summerell (tenor sax), Jimmy Paul and Shirley Gray on vocals.

In 1985, to celebrate his 70th birthday, he formed a big band of local professionals and teachers to perform for one night at the Mayfair Ballroom in Newcastle.