John Wesley Vivian Payne (22 August 1899 – 4 December 1969)[1] was a British dance music bandleader who established his reputation during the British dance band era of the 1930s.
Payne was born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England,[1] the only son of a music publisher's warehouse manager. While serving in the Royal Flying Corps, he played the piano in amateur dance bands.[1] After the RFC became the Royal Air Force towards the end of World War I, Payne led dance bands for the troops. Prior to joining the Royal Air Force, he was part of "The Allies" concert party. This voluntary group performed to wounded soldiers convalescing around Birmingham.
He played with visiting American jazz bands at the Birmingham Palais during the early 1920s, including the Southern Rag-a-Jazz Orchestra in 1922, before moving to London in 1925.[2] He played in a ten-piece band which became the house band at London's Hotel Cecil in 1925.[1] This ensemble regularly performed on the BBC in the latter half of the decade.[1] In 1928, Payne became the BBC Director of Dance Music and the leader of the BBC's first official dance band.[1] In 1929, the band was featured in the first ever BBC television broadcast, also appearing in the short film Jazz Time that same year. His signature tune was "Say it With Music", written by Irving Berlin.[3]
1930s and 1940s
In July 1930, a reviewer from The Gramophone magazine wrote that "Jack Payne's Band is public property. It is paid out of the wireless licence fees which you and I supply...As such its one duty is to please the masses. It has to be good musically, it has to entertain, it needn't worry about anything advanced in the way of style, and the last thing it need be is rhythmically hot. I think we must all agree that it does its job well, and that anything it may at times lack in modern rhythmic stylishness is amply compensated by other qualities more important from the public's viewpoint, such as musical ability and versatility".[4]
After leaving the BBC in 1932, when he was succeeded by Henry Hall, he returned to playing hotel venues and switched labels to Imperial, followed by Rex from 1934.[1] Payne took his band on nationwide tours and made a film Say it with Music (1932), followed four years later by Sunshine Ahead.[1] Payne had three successful waltzes – "Blue Pacific Moonlight", "Underneath the Spanish Stars" and "Pagan Serenade", which he composed and later published in the 1930s. Payne did some jazz recording, including working with Garland Wilson. He toured South Africa and France in the 1930s, but also concentrated his efforts on running a theatrical agency.
1940s and 1950s
In 1941, he returned to the post of Director of Dance Music at the BBC, remaining there until 1946.[1] He engaged two young teenagers to sing with his orchestra: they were Carole Carr and Lizbeth Webb, the star of the musical comedyBless The Bride. During this period, Art Christmas was one of the musicians who played with him. Following this, Payne became a disc jockey.[1] In 1955, he returned to the dance music scene to present his own BBC Television programme, Words and Music, which ran for three series.[5] He also made the occasional television appearance as a panellist in Juke Box Jury, as well as other popular music programmes of the decade, including a film appearance as himself in Jamboree (1957). During his final years, Payne ran a hotel, The Middle House, in Mayfield, East Sussex, which was not a successful financial venture.
Personal life and death
Payne was married twice, his first wife having died after sixteen years of marriage. He had an adopted daughter with his second wife, the pianist and composer Peggy Cochrane. Payne wrote two autobiographies, This is Jack Payne (1932) and Signature Tune (1947). He died in Tonbridge, Kent, on 4 December 1969, aged 70.[1]
^Chilton, John, ed. (2004), "PAYNE, Jack", Who's Who of British Jazz (2nd ed.), New York: Continuum International Publishing Group, p. 275, ISBN0826472346, retrieved 20 January 2013
^ Ades, David; Bickerdyke, Percy; Holmes, Eric (July 1999). This England's Book of British Dance Bands. Cheltenham: This England Books. pp. 28–30. ISBN0-906324-25-4.
^"Article DANCE BANDS COLUMBIA website". Gramophone. Retrieved 29 April 2012.[permanent dead link]
^Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 14. CN 5585.
External links
"Internet Archive Search: Jack Payne – archive.org (multimedia content in the public domain)". Retrieved 30 April 2012.
"British Pathé Search: Jack Payne - britishpathe.com". Retrieved 2 May 2012.
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John Wesley Vivian Payne 22 August 1899 4 December 1969 1 was a British dance music bandleader who established his reputation during the British dance band era of the 1930s Jack PayneBirth nameJohn Wesley Vivian PayneBorn 1899 08 22 22 August 1899Leamington Spa Warwickshire EnglandDied4 December 1969 1969 12 04 aged 70 Tonbridge Kent EnglandGenresJazz British dance bandOccupation s Bandleader composer vocalist actorLabelsColumbia Rex Imperial Contents 1 Early life and career 2 1930s and 1940s 3 1940s and 1950s 4 Personal life and death 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and career EditPayne was born in Leamington Spa Warwickshire England 1 the only son of a music publisher s warehouse manager While serving in the Royal Flying Corps he played the piano in amateur dance bands 1 After the RFC became the Royal Air Force towards the end of World War I Payne led dance bands for the troops Prior to joining the Royal Air Force he was part of The Allies concert party This voluntary group performed to wounded soldiers convalescing around Birmingham He played with visiting American jazz bands at the Birmingham Palais during the early 1920s including the Southern Rag a Jazz Orchestra in 1922 before moving to London in 1925 2 He played in a ten piece band which became the house band at London s Hotel Cecil in 1925 1 This ensemble regularly performed on the BBC in the latter half of the decade 1 In 1928 Payne became the BBC Director of Dance Music and the leader of the BBC s first official dance band 1 In 1929 the band was featured in the first ever BBC television broadcast also appearing in the short film Jazz Time that same year His signature tune was Say it With Music written by Irving Berlin 3 1930s and 1940s EditIn July 1930 a reviewer from The Gramophone magazine wrote that Jack Payne s Band is public property It is paid out of the wireless licence fees which you and I supply As such its one duty is to please the masses It has to be good musically it has to entertain it needn t worry about anything advanced in the way of style and the last thing it need be is rhythmically hot I think we must all agree that it does its job well and that anything it may at times lack in modern rhythmic stylishness is amply compensated by other qualities more important from the public s viewpoint such as musical ability and versatility 4 After leaving the BBC in 1932 when he was succeeded by Henry Hall he returned to playing hotel venues and switched labels to Imperial followed by Rex from 1934 1 Payne took his band on nationwide tours and made a film Say it with Music 1932 followed four years later by Sunshine Ahead 1 Payne had three successful waltzes Blue Pacific Moonlight Underneath the Spanish Stars and Pagan Serenade which he composed and later published in the 1930s Payne did some jazz recording including working with Garland Wilson He toured South Africa and France in the 1930s but also concentrated his efforts on running a theatrical agency 1940s and 1950s EditIn 1941 he returned to the post of Director of Dance Music at the BBC remaining there until 1946 1 He engaged two young teenagers to sing with his orchestra they were Carole Carr and Lizbeth Webb the star of the musical comedy Bless The Bride During this period Art Christmas was one of the musicians who played with him Following this Payne became a disc jockey 1 In 1955 he returned to the dance music scene to present his own BBC Television programme Words and Music which ran for three series 5 He also made the occasional television appearance as a panellist in Juke Box Jury as well as other popular music programmes of the decade including a film appearance as himself in Jamboree 1957 During his final years Payne ran a hotel The Middle House in Mayfield East Sussex which was not a successful financial venture Personal life and death EditPayne was married twice his first wife having died after sixteen years of marriage He had an adopted daughter with his second wife the pianist and composer Peggy Cochrane Payne wrote two autobiographies This is Jack Payne 1932 and Signature Tune 1947 He died in Tonbridge Kent on 4 December 1969 aged 70 1 References Edit a b c d e f g h i j k Colin Larkin ed 1992 The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music First ed Guinness Publishing p 1924 ISBN 0 85112 939 0 Chilton John ed 2004 PAYNE Jack Who s Who of British Jazz 2nd ed New York Continuum International Publishing Group p 275 ISBN 0826472346 retrieved 20 January 2013 Ades David Bickerdyke Percy Holmes Eric July 1999 This England s Book of British Dance Bands Cheltenham This England Books pp 28 30 ISBN 0 906324 25 4 Article DANCE BANDS COLUMBIA website Gramophone Retrieved 29 April 2012 permanent dead link Tobler John 1992 NME Rock N Roll Years 1st ed London Reed International Books Ltd p 14 CN 5585 External links Edit Internet Archive Search Jack Payne archive org multimedia content in the public domain Retrieved 30 April 2012 British Pathe Search Jack Payne britishpathe com Retrieved 2 May 2012 Jack Payne at Allmusic Jack Payne 78rpm Rex Label Discography 78rpm Collectors Community Retrieved 22 July 2013 Everything Stops For Tea Jack Payne and his Band on YouTube recorded December 1935 vocal chorus by Billy Scott Coomber Jack Payne at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jack Payne bandleader amp oldid 1121902994, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
