"[2] Born in London, he learned the violin as a child, and was considering finishing his studies with Albert Sammons when an injury to his hand forced a change of plan.

[3] He turned to lighter music by joining cinema orchestras providing the accompaniment to silent movies.

He left Cotton to form his own dance band in 1931, and the following year became the resident bandleader at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

[4] His band started recording in 1932, first for Zonophone and then Decca, and made regular appearances on BBC radio after 1933.

Other singers who performed with the ensemble included Anona Wynn, Primrose Hayes, Les Allen, and Chips Chippindall.