Freddie Jameson
Encyclopedia
Freddie Jameson, also known as Fred Jameson, (born Frederick William Jameson, 4 October 1929, London
) is an English
trumpet
player, composer
and arranger, who worked for several leading British bandleader
s in the 1950s and 1960s.
Born in London Jameson was educated at Battersea Grammar School where he played cornet
in the Cadet Corps Brass Band under the direction of Dr Harold Hind. In 1945 he began playing in the Crystal Palace Brass Band conducted by Dr Dennis Wright, before serving as a musician
in the Royal Air Force
with the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment and No 4 Regional Band.
In 1951 whilst still in the RAF Freddie was coached by Alfie Noakes of the Geraldo Orchestra, and began professional engagements on trumpet with the Joe Loss 'Ambassadors', and went on to play with Billy Ternent, Harry Parry, Joe Loss
, Sidney Lipton, the Cyril Grantham Orchestra at the Park Lane Hotel
, Claude Cavalotti, Nat Temple
, and Geraldo - for whom he also appeared on the cruise liner Queen Mary
, making seventeen return trips to New York
.
Jameson later worked on numerous film
productions including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
, and also worked for the West End theatre impressario Jack Hylton
under the musical direction of Cyril Ornadel
on the shows Wish You Were Here (musical)
, Pal Joey
, Kismet (musical)
, and The Crazy Gang
shows at the Victoria Palace Theatre
which starred Flanagan and Allen
. From 1958 to 1963 he worked on the original hit West End
production of the musical
, My Fair Lady
, at the Drury Lane Theatre
, which starred Rex Harrison
and Julie Andrews
.
Most recently, Jameson has worked as a composer and arranger and has written marches, that have been adopted and performed by the bands of the Royal Air Force
. He is currently Vice-Chairman of the Royal Air Force Music Services Association, a member of the International Military Music Society (IMMS), and Musical Director of the Thames Television Big Band.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
player, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and arranger, who worked for several leading British bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
s in the 1950s and 1960s.
Born in London Jameson was educated at Battersea Grammar School where he played cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
in the Cadet Corps Brass Band under the direction of Dr Harold Hind. In 1945 he began playing in the Crystal Palace Brass Band conducted by Dr Dennis Wright, before serving as a musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
with the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment and No 4 Regional Band.
In 1951 whilst still in the RAF Freddie was coached by Alfie Noakes of the Geraldo Orchestra, and began professional engagements on trumpet with the Joe Loss 'Ambassadors', and went on to play with Billy Ternent, Harry Parry, Joe Loss
Joe Loss
Joshua Alexander "Joe" Loss LVO OBE was a British musician and founder of the Joe Loss Orchestra.-Life:Loss was born in Spitalfields, London, the youngest of four children. His parents, Israel and Ada Loss, were Russian Jews and first cousins. His father was a cabinet-maker who had an office...
, Sidney Lipton, the Cyril Grantham Orchestra at the Park Lane Hotel
Park Lane Hotel
The Park Lane Hotel is a 5 Star hotel on Piccadilly, London.The hotel was built in the 1920s in the Grand Art Deco Style by Sir Bracewell Smith. The building is a fine example with a mansard roof and Portland stone facade...
, Claude Cavalotti, Nat Temple
Nat Temple
Nat Temple was an English big band leader, and a clarinet and saxophone player.Amongst many others, he worked with Syd Roy, Harry Roy, Geraldo, Ambrose, Joe Daniels, and Lew Stone.-Career:...
, and Geraldo - for whom he also appeared on the cruise liner Queen Mary
Queen Mary (ship)
The following ships are named Queen Mary:* HMS Queen Mary, a battlecruiser of the Royal Navy launched in 1912 and sunk at the Battle of Jutland in 1916...
, making seventeen return trips to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Jameson later worked on numerous film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
productions including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car is a children's book written by Ian Fleming for his son Caspar, with illustrations by John Burningham...
, and also worked for the West End theatre impressario Jack Hylton
Jack Hylton
Jack Hylton was a British band leader and impresario.He was born John Greenhalgh Hilton in the Great Lever area of Bolton, Lancashire, the son of George Hilton, a cotton yarn twister. His father was an amateur singer at the local Labour Club and Jack learned piano to accompany him on the stage...
under the musical direction of Cyril Ornadel
Cyril Ornadel
Cyril Ornadel was a British conductor, songwriter and composer chiefly in musical theatre.Cyril Ornadel was born in London. He studied at the Royal College of Music. During the 1950s he was famous for conducting the orchestra for the hit TV show The Sunday Night At The Palladium...
on the shows Wish You Were Here (musical)
Wish You Were Here (musical)
Wish You Were Here is a musical with a book by Arthur Kober and Joshua Logan and music and lyrics by Harold Rome. The musical was adapted from Kober's 1937 play, Having Wonderful Time, and revolves around a summer camp for adults.-Synopsis:...
, Pal Joey
Pal Joey
Pal Joey is a 1940 epistolary novel by John O'Hara, which became the basis of the 1940 stage musical comedy and 1957 motion picture of the same name, with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart....
, Kismet (musical)
Kismet (musical)
Kismet is a musical with lyrics and musical adaptation by Robert Wright and George Forrest, adapted from the music of Alexander Borodin, and a book by Charles Lederer and Luther Davis, based on Kismet, the 1911 play by Edward Knoblock...
, and The Crazy Gang
The Crazy Gang
The Crazy Gang were a group of British entertainers, formed in the early 1930s. In the mature form the group's six men were Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen, Jimmy Nervo, Teddy Knox, Charlie Naughton and Jimmy Gold...
shows at the Victoria Palace Theatre
Victoria Palace Theatre
Victoria Palace Theatre is a West End theatre in Victoria Street, in the City of Westminster, opposite Victoria Station.-Origins:The theatre began life as a small concert room above the stables of the Royal Standard Hotel, a small hotel and tavern built in 1832 at what was then 522 Stockbridge...
which starred Flanagan and Allen
Flanagan and Allen
Flanagan and Allen were a British singing and comedy double act popular during World War II. Its members were Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen...
. From 1958 to 1963 he worked on the original hit West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
production of the musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
, My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe...
, at the Drury Lane Theatre
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
, which starred Rex Harrison
Rex Harrison
Sir Reginald Carey “Rex” Harrison was an English actor of stage and screen. Harrison won an Academy Award and two Tony Awards.-Youth and stage career:...
and Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
.
Most recently, Jameson has worked as a composer and arranger and has written marches, that have been adopted and performed by the bands of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. He is currently Vice-Chairman of the Royal Air Force Music Services Association, a member of the International Military Music Society (IMMS), and Musical Director of the Thames Television Big Band.