Raymond Stanley "Ray" Noble (born 17 December 1903 – died 2 April 1978) was a popular English jazz and big band musician, who was a bandleader, songwriter, composer and arranger, as well as a radio host, television and film comedian and actor, he also performed in the United States.
Albert Allick Bowlly (born 7 January 1898 – died 17 April 1941) was a Mozambican-born South African–British vocalist and jazz guitarist, who was popular during the 1930's in Britain.
Born on 7 January 1899 in Mozambique, Albert first became interested in music when living in Johannesburg where he grew up. By his teens, he was 'music mad', running a barber's shop by day and spending his evenings singing and playing banjo and ukulele. In 1922, Bowlly joined Jimmy Clark's and Edgar Adeler's dance band organization and a year later went on tour with Adeler's band before joining the Jimmy Lequime Orchestra in India, firstly as banjoist and later as vocalist. It was in Germany, in 1927, that Bowlly made his first recordings and established his reputation as a singer.
Following an invitation to join Fred Elizalde's band at the Savoy Hotel as vocalist and guitarist, described as 'the most advanced group playing in Britain at the time', Al Bowlly arrived in London in July 1928. Bowlly toured and recorded with Elizalde's band, while adding to his rather meager income with freelance work. From late 1930, he became a regular vocalist with Ray Noble's New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, HMV's house band, and recorded more than 200 songs with the group by 1934, including 'Goodnight, Sweetheart' and 'The Very Thought of You', which helped him become increasingly recognized as a solo singer.
In January 1931, Bowlly met another bandleader, Roy Fox, Musical Director of the Decca Record Company. Over the next twenty months, Bowlly recorded more than 150 titles with Decca, and in spring 1931 became a member of Fox's new band, established at the Monseigneur Restaurant in the basement of 215-217 Piccadilly. With its popular house band, the Monseigneur soon became one of London's most fashionable attractions with shows broadcast on the BBC every Tuesday, and by the end of the year Bowlly had become one of Britain's top band singers. Known for his originality, Bowlly's good looks and charisma were admired by men and women alike. Lew Stone's new Monseigneur Dance Orchestra, which replaced Fox's band, had a major influence on Bowlly's career, encouraging him to perfect his technique and relieving him of guitar playing duties so he could concentrate on his singing. Bowlly's first record with Stone, 'Nightfall'/'Rain, Rain Go Away' (October 1932), was the first in a series of over a hundred set down in 1932-38. At the peak of his career in 1933 his signature tune was 'Some of These Days', though his rendition of 'Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?' became even more popular.
Between September 1934 and December 1936, Bowlly toured America with Ray Noble, and made a number of recordings, the best-known being 'My Melancholy Baby' (March 1935). It was a busy time. He was given his own NBC radio series, recorded (unused) footage for a film, The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935), and met his idol, Bing Crosby. Despite his popularity and high earnings, Bowlly was unhappy and disappointed; frustrated at his inability to strike out as a solo star and homesick for London. During his stay in England, Bowlly was struck by illness and he lost his voice, in August 1937 he left England to have a throat operation in New York.
By January 1938, Bowlly had returned to London with a renewed energy and made a number of recordings, including a series with Lew Stone which is seen to equal or even surpass those of 1932-34. In all, he recorded just over 600 78rpm records between 1927 and 1941. He also made broadcasts with Stone's band, continuing to do so until 1941, and in 1938-39 made a series of high-quality recordings with the bandleader Geraldo, including 'Never Break a Promise'. However, times were changing - 'society' dance bands were becoming increasingly unfashionable and the outbreak of the Second World War meant there was less work around.
On the morning of 17 April 1941 - a night of very heavy bombing in London's West End - Bowlly was one of three residents of Dukes Court killed by the blast of a landmine which fell in nearby Jermyn Street and blew in the block's windows. He was found lying next to his bed, having refused to retreat to the building's shelter. Bowlly was buried in a communal grave at Westminster City Council cemetery, Hanwell.” Stu
