Jack Payne
Encyclopedia
Jack Payne was a British
dance music
bandleader
.
, Warwickshire
, the only son of a music warehouse manager. While serving in the Royal Flying Corps
he played the piano
in amateur dance bands.
Payne served in the Royal Air Force
during World War I
, and 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
. In the 1920s he played in a ten-piece band which became the house band at the London
's Hotel Cecil in 1925. This ensemble regularly performed on the BBC
in the latter half of the decade. In 1928, Payne became the BBC Director of Dance Music. His signature tune was Irving Berlin
's "Say it With Music". In 1929 the band was featured in the first ever BBC television broadcast.
After leaving the BBC in 1932, when he was succeeded by Henry Hall
, he returned to playing hotel venues and took his band on nationwide tours and made a film Say it with Music (1932), followed four years later by Sunshine Ahead. In the 1930s he spent a little less time touring, so he could concentrate his efforts on running a theatrical agency.
Payne had three successful waltzes - "Blue Pacific Moonlight", "Underneath the Spanish Stars" and "Pagan Serenade", which he composed. These were later published in the 1930s.
Payne did some jazz
recording, including working with Garland Wilson
. He toured South Africa
and France
in the 1930s. In 1941 he returned to the post of Director of Dance Music at the BBC, remaining there until 1946. He engaged two young teenagers to sing with his orchestra. They were Carole Carr and Lizbeth Webb
, the musical comedy star
of Bless The Bride. During this period, Art Christmas
was one of the musicians who played with him. Following this he became a disc jockey
. In 1955, he followed this change of career by returning to the dance music scene to present his own BBC Television
programme
, Words and Music, which ran for three series. He also made the occasional television appearance as a panellist in Juke Box Jury
, as well as other popular music programmes of the decade.
During his final years, Payne ran a hotel, The Middle House, in Mayfield, East Sussex, which was not a successful financial venture. 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. He wrote two autobiographies
, This is Jack Payne (1932) and Signature Tune (1947).
Jack Payne died in December 1969.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
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....
.
Career
John Wesley Vivian Payne was born in Leamington SpaLeamington Spa
Royal Leamington Spa, commonly known as Leamington Spa or Leamington or Leam to locals, is a spa town in central Warwickshire, England. Formerly known as Leamington Priors, its expansion began following the popularisation of the medicinal qualities of its water by Dr Kerr in 1784, and by Dr Lambe...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, the only son of a music warehouse manager. While serving in the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
he played the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
in amateur dance bands.
Payne served 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...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and 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
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. In the 1920s he played in a ten-piece band which became the house band at the London
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...
's Hotel Cecil in 1925. This ensemble regularly performed on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in the latter half of the decade. In 1928, Payne became the BBC Director of Dance Music. His signature tune was Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
's "Say it With Music". In 1929 the band was featured in the first ever BBC television broadcast.
After leaving the BBC in 1932, when he was succeeded by Henry Hall
Henry Hall (bandleader)
Henry Hall was a British bandleader. He played from the 1920s to the 1950s.-Biography:Henry Hall was born in Peckham, South London and served in both the Salvation Army and the British Army...
, he returned to playing hotel venues and took his band on nationwide tours and made a film Say it with Music (1932), followed four years later by Sunshine Ahead. In the 1930s he spent a little less time touring, so he could concentrate his efforts on running a theatrical agency.
Payne had three successful waltzes - "Blue Pacific Moonlight", "Underneath the Spanish Stars" and "Pagan Serenade", which he composed. These were later published in the 1930s.
Payne did some jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
recording, including working with Garland Wilson
Garland Wilson
Garland Lorenzo Wilson was an American jazz pianist born in Martinsburg, West Virginia, perhaps best-known for his work with Nina Mae McKinney. Wilson was a boogie-woogie and stride pianist.- Career :...
. He toured South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in the 1930s. In 1941 he returned to the post of Director of Dance Music at the BBC, remaining there until 1946. He engaged two young teenagers to sing with his orchestra. They were Carole Carr and Lizbeth Webb
Lizbeth Webb
Elizabeth Holton , better known by her stage name, Lizbeth Webb, is a retired English soprano and stage actress. After entertaining British troops during World War II, Webb pursued a career in West End musicals, playing such roles as Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls.-Early life and career:Webb was...
, the musical comedy star
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
of Bless The Bride. During this period, Art Christmas
Art Christmas
Art Christmas was a Canadian dance band and jazz musician. For many years during the exciting dance band and jazz era of the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, Art Christmas was often said to be Britain's leading saxophone player and multi-instrumentalist...
was one of the musicians who played with him. Following this he became a disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
. In 1955, he followed this change of career by returning to the dance music scene to present his own BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
programme
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
, Words and Music, which ran for three series. He also made the occasional television appearance as a panellist in Juke Box Jury
Juke Box Jury
Juke Box Jury was a musical panel show which originally ran on BBC Television from 1 June 1959 until December 1967. The programme was based on the American show Jukebox Jury, itself an offshoot of a long-running radio series....
, as well as other popular music programmes of the decade.
During his final years, Payne ran a hotel, The Middle House, in Mayfield, East Sussex, which was not a successful financial venture. 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. He wrote two autobiographies
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, This is Jack Payne (1932) and Signature Tune (1947).
Jack Payne died in December 1969.
External links
- [ Jack Payne] at Allmusic