William Edward Cotton (6 May 1899 – 25 March 1969)[3] as Billy Cotton was an English band leader and entertainer, one of the few whose orchestras survived the British dance band era. Cotton is now mainly remembered as a 1950s and 1960s radio and television personality, but his musical career had begun in the 1920s. In his younger years, Billy Cotton was also an amateur footballer for Brentford (and later, for the then Athenian league club Wimbledon), an accomplished racing driver and the owner of a Gipsy Moth, which he piloted himself. His autobiography, I Did It My Way, was published in 1970, a year after his death.
Born in Smith Square, Westminster, London, England,[4] to Joseph and Susan Cotton, Cotton was a choirboy and started his musical career as a drummer. He enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers by falsifying his age and saw service in the First World War in Malta and Egypt before landing at Gallipoli in the middle of an artillery barrage.[4] He was recommended for a commission and learned to fly Bristol Fighter aircraft. Not yet 19 years old, he flew solo for the first time in 1918, on the day the Royal Flying Corps became the Royal Air Force. After the end of the war, in the early 1920s, he worked at several jobs, including as a bus driver, before setting up his own orchestra, the London Savannah Band, in 1924.[4]
At first a conventional dance band, the London Savannah Band gradually tended towards music hall/vaudeville entertainment, introducing visual and verbal humour in between songs.[4] Famous musicians who played in Billy Cotton's band during the 1920s and 1930s included Arthur Rosebery, Syd Lipton and Nat Gonella.[4] The band was also noted for their African American trombonist and tap dancer, Ellis Jackson.[4] Their signature tune was "Somebody Stole My Gal", and they made numerous commercial recordings for Decca.[5]
During the Second World War Cotton and his band toured France with the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA).[4] After the war, he started his successful Sunday lunchtime radio show on BBC, the Billy Cotton Band Show, which ran from 1949 to 1968.[4] In the 1950s, composer Lionel Bart contributed comedy songs to the show. It regularly opened with the band's signature tune and Cotton's call of "Wakey Wakey". From 1956, it was also broadcast on BBC television.[6] Cotton often also provided vocals on many of his band's recordings, in addition to work as a vocalist on recordings that did not feature his band.
Cotton married Mabel E. Gregory in 1921. They had two sons, Ted and Bill Cotton, who later became the BBC's managing director of television,[4] despite this he had an affair with one of his bands singers Doreen Stephans and moved into a flat with her in the early 1950s.[8] In 1962, Billy Cotton suffered a stroke. He died in 1969 while watching a boxing match at Wembley Arena.[4]
Billy Cotton was the great-great-uncle of TV and radio presenter Fearne Cotton.
billy, cotton, english, football, player, 1920s, footballer, born, 1894, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sour. For the English football player of the 1920s see Billy Cotton footballer born 1894 This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Billy Cotton news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message William Edward Cotton 6 May 1899 25 March 1969 3 as Billy Cotton was an English band leader and entertainer one of the few whose orchestras survived the British dance band era Cotton is now mainly remembered as a 1950s and 1960s radio and television personality but his musical career had begun in the 1920s In his younger years Billy Cotton was also an amateur footballer for Brentford and later for the then Athenian league club Wimbledon an accomplished racing driver and the owner of a Gipsy Moth which he piloted himself His autobiography I Did It My Way was published in 1970 a year after his death Billy CottonBirth nameWilliam Edward CottonBorn 1899 05 06 6 May 1899Smith Square London England 1 Died25 March 1969 1969 03 25 aged 69 Wembley London England 2 GenresBig bandOccupation s Musician radio personality singerYears activeEarly 1920s 1969 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Personal life 3 Selected filmography 4 Bibliography 5 References 6 External linksLife and career EditBorn in Smith Square Westminster London England 4 to Joseph and Susan Cotton Cotton was a choirboy and started his musical career as a drummer He enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers by falsifying his age and saw service in the First World War in Malta and Egypt before landing at Gallipoli in the middle of an artillery barrage 4 He was recommended for a commission and learned to fly Bristol Fighter aircraft Not yet 19 years old he flew solo for the first time in 1918 on the day the Royal Flying Corps became the Royal Air Force After the end of the war in the early 1920s he worked at several jobs including as a bus driver before setting up his own orchestra the London Savannah Band in 1924 4 At first a conventional dance band the London Savannah Band gradually tended towards music hall vaudeville entertainment introducing visual and verbal humour in between songs 4 Famous musicians who played in Billy Cotton s band during the 1920s and 1930s included Arthur Rosebery Syd Lipton and Nat Gonella 4 The band was also noted for their African American trombonist and tap dancer Ellis Jackson 4 Their signature tune was Somebody Stole My Gal and they made numerous commercial recordings for Decca 5 During the Second World War Cotton and his band toured France with the Entertainments National Service Association ENSA 4 After the war he started his successful Sunday lunchtime radio show on BBC the Billy Cotton Band Show which ran from 1949 to 1968 4 In the 1950s composer Lionel Bart contributed comedy songs to the show It regularly opened with the band s signature tune and Cotton s call of Wakey Wakey From 1956 it was also broadcast on BBC television 6 Cotton often also provided vocals on many of his band s recordings in addition to work as a vocalist on recordings that did not feature his band As a racing driver he raced at Brooklands between the wars but his finest moment came in 1949 when he finished fourth in the 1949 British Grand Prix sharing an English Racing Automobiles car with David Hampshire 7 Personal life EditCotton married Mabel E Gregory in 1921 They had two sons Ted and Bill Cotton who later became the BBC s managing director of television 4 despite this he had an affair with one of his bands singers Doreen Stephans and moved into a flat with her in the early 1950s 8 In 1962 Billy Cotton suffered a stroke He died in 1969 while watching a boxing match at Wembley Arena 4 Billy Cotton was the great great uncle of TV and radio presenter Fearne Cotton Selected filmography EditThe First Mrs Fraser 1932 Variety 1935 Music Hall Parade 1939 Bibliography EditI Did It My Way Autobiography 1970 Publisher George G Harrap amp Co Ltd SBN 245 59941 x The Greatest Billy Cotton Band Show John Maxwell 1976 Publisher Jupiter Books London Ltd SBN 904041 31x Ades David Bickerdyke Percy Holmes Eric 1999 This England s Book of British Dance Bands Cheltenham This England Books ISBN 0 906324 25 4 References Edit GRO Register of Births Sep 1899 1a 479 ST GEO H SQ GRO Register of Deaths Mar 1969 5a 329 BRENT Billy Cotton Historicracing com Retrieved 21 August 2021 a b c d e f g h i j Colin Larkin ed 1992 The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music First ed Guinness Publishing p 566 7 ISBN 0 85112 939 0 45worlds com 45worlds com Retrieved 22 March 2022 bbc co uk BBC Retrieved 22 March 2022 Birmingham Daily Gazette Birmingham Daily Gazette 5 16 May 1949 Billy Cotton A life less ordinary BBC News 23 December 2014 Retrieved 7 July 2022 External links EditBilly Cotton at IMDb Biography portal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Billy Cotton amp oldid 1121752325, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
