Oscar was more interested in the business side of the music industry than in being the band's leader and delegated that role to its popular singer and guitarist Harry Davies.
The first edition began at 1.00 pm on Monday 29 December 1958 and was listed in the Radio Times as "Go, Man, Go a lunch-time session of rock, cha-cha, jazz and the top of the pops played by the Oscar Rabin Orchestra.
The listing credited singers Lorie Mann, Mel Gaynor, Ray Pilgrim and Colin Day along with vocal backing group the Hound Dogs and what became regular features Clarinet plus Five, The Jazz Bag and Groovin' Guitar.
Gradually, the invitations to appear as a guest on the show became extended to "pop" artists in general either currently in or well-known in the popular music charts, no longer focusing strictly on traditional jazz.
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 Greenslade on piano; Laurie Steele on guitar; Andy White on drums; and Ron Prentice on bass.
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.
Backing vocals came from the resident vocalists and the band members, particularly David Ede and saxophonist Johnny Evans, performing as "The Travellers", a pun on the show's title.
Popular music in Britain had begun to change significantly by the end of 1963 and was becoming dominated by small groups led by guitar-playing singers rather than the orchestra-backed solo vocalists of five years earlier.
[12] Discotheques and dance clubs were beginning to appear around the country and provided opportunities for young people to hear the sounds of their favourite artists on the original records rather than cover versions in dancehalls.
The dinghy overturned in bad weather while they were out and Ede's body was washed ashore the following morning at Rossall Beach six miles north of Blackpool.