Jay Wilbur

This article is about the British bandleader. For the computer game designer, see id Software.

James Edward Wilbur (1898–1968) was a British bandleader and prolifically recorded musician identified with and influential in the era of Big Band and British dance band music.^[1]

Jay Wilbur
Birth name	Wilbur Blinco
Born	1898 Bournemouth, Hampshire, England
Died	1968 Cape Town, South Africa
Genres	Jazz Swing music Big band British dance band
Occupation(s)	Dance bandleader
Labels	Rex, Dominion Records, Crown, Imperial, Eclipse

Wilbur was born Wilbur Blinco in 1898 in Leamington Spa.^[2] He became recording director for Dominion Records^[3] in 1928, but left Dominion shortly before its demise, and became recording manager for the Crystalate Manufacturing Company.^[4] With his own name and under many pseudonyms,^[5] his recordings appeared on a variety of labels, including Imperial, Eclipse, Rex and Crown.

He broadcast for the BBC in the 1930s, often featuring guest artists such as Fats Waller.^[6] In 1941, he appeared as himself in the film Hi Gang!.^[7] His dance band recordings often featured a young Vera Lynn on vocals, and he later accompanied Lynn on her solo releases.^[8]

Jay Wilbur and His Band performed extensively for Allied military servicemembers during World War II. He is known for recording established tunes while rendering them in foxtrot style.^[9]

Wilbur died in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1968.^[10]

References

1. McCanna, Barry (2005). "Jay Wilbur" (PDF). Dance Band Personalities. Retrieved 4 April 2011. See also the London Band photograph (accessed 2011-04-04).
2. Cliffe, Peter (1990). Fascinating Rhythm. Egon Publishers Limited. ISBN 9780905858494.
3. Arthur Badrock (1976). "Dominion Records: a catalogue and history". Talking Machine Review.
4. Schleman, Hilton R. (1978). Rhythm on Record. Greenwood Press. p. 212.
5. Brocken, Michael (2013). Other Voices: Hidden Histories of Liverpool's Popular Music Scenes 19. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 9781409493969. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
6. Taylor, Stephen (2006). Fats Waller on the Air: The Radio Broadcasts and Discography. Scarecrow Press. pp. 58–59. ISBN 9780810856561. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
7. Reid, John Howard (2006). More Movie Musicals: Volume 18 of Hollywood classics. Lulu. pp. 67–68. ISBN 9781411673427. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
8. "Vera Lynn Accompanied By Jay Wilbur And His Band – The First Lullaby / Room Five-Hundred-And-Four (1941, Shellac)". Discogs. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
9. For example, a 1934 rendition of "Just Awearyin' for You" w. Frank Lebby Stanton m. Carrie Jacobs-Bond: Jay Wilbur and His Band, "Just Awearyin' for You" on YouTube 1934 foxtrot rendition (accessed 2011-04-04).
10. Rust, Brian A. L. (1974). The Dance Bands. Arlington House. ISBN 9780870002724.