Jack Hylton, 1892- 1965 , British dance band leader 1920 - 1940
this page first published by John Wright, 2 March 1998
last update 22 October 2002
vintage@jabw.demon.co.uk
Jack Hylton was born in Great Lever, near Bolton, Lancashire, on July 2nd 1892. As a child Jack had some keyboard tuition and appeared on stage many times. After serving in WW1 Jack joined the Queen's Dance Orchestra, which played at
The Queen's in Langham Place, London, as second pianist.
| By 1920 Jack was leading the dance band and in 1921 began making records with HMV, issued as "Queen's" Dance Orchestra. The band also made recordings for HMV's cheaper label, Zonophone, under the name Jack Hylton's Jazz Band. Some of these recording s were also released on the Ariel label. Most of the songs on both labels were fox-trots some with a Dixieland flavour and style like the Paul Whiteman records being issued in Britain.
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| The later Queen's records credited Jack as director, then at the end of 1922 the HMV's began to be issued as Jack Hylton and his Orchestra, and most of the Zonophones were issued as the Grosvenor Dance Orchestra. Early in 1924 the saxophone player Noel 'Chappie' D'Amato began to sing on some of the records and soon Jack himself took some of the vocals.
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| Jack Hylton's orchestra remained popular during the 1920's. They first broadcast with the BBC in 1926 and visited Europe several times. Hundreds of records were issued. Members of the band at that time included Jack Raine (t), Lew Davis (tb), Poggy Pogson (reeds), Chappie D'Amato (sax, g, and vocals), Hugo Rignold (vn).
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| A Hylton-sponsored band appeared at the new Kit-Cat club, directed by the American Al Starita. This band made many fine records, often issued as by Jack Hylton's Kit-Cat Band or Hylton's Hyltonians, then as the Kit-Cat Band. As well as Al Starita on sax and vocals, the Kit-Cat Band featured Ted Heath (tb), Tom Smith (t), Billy Ternent (asax), Eric Siday (vn), Len Fillis (g). The band switched to the Columbia label in May 1927.
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| Al Starita's band and other Hylton bands led by the two other Starita brothers, Ray and Rudy, made some of the finest British dance records of the late 1920's.
Jack Hylton's own band benefited from the arrival of Jack Jackson (t) in 1927 and vocalist Sam Browne joined in 1928. I have written separate features
about Jack Jackson and Sam Browne.
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| It has been estimated that over three million Jack Hylton records were sold in 1929 alone. By then many singers had been featured on Jack Hylton records including Leslie Sarony, Tommy Handley, Peter Dawson, Ennis Parkes (Mrs Jack Hylton), and in 1930 both Pat O'Malley and Jack Plant first recorded with the Hylton band. Phillippe Brun (t) replaced Jackson. European and British tours continued, records were made with Maurice Chevalier and Paul Robeson, and many 'concert arrangement' recordings were issued in America.
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| 1931 saw the Hylton band switch over to the Decca record label. He continued to record popular songs and medleys (e.g. Favourite Dance Hits, Old-Time Favourites), then in 1933 influences from some American visitors were revealed in two excellent recordings:
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| In 1935 the Hylton band was back on the HMV label (BD-series) and they made their first film 'She Shall Have Music'. Meanwhile Jack's wife led a band for a while and made over 40 recordings on the Crown label. During winter'35 - summer'36 Jack was in USA and during that time he formed a band in Chicago which recorded one session. Sonny Farrar directed the British band during this time. Jack returned home with more American influences in the form of a singing group, The Swingtette.
During the next two years this group sang on many Hylton recordings.
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| After another US visit Jack Hylton succeeded in obtaining the services of arranger Fletcher Henderson and tenor sax player Coleman Hawkins for a British session on May 26, 1939.
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With the outbreak of WW2 Jack Hylton operated two bands, one directed by Billy Ternent did regular broadcasts while another led by Freddy Bretherton toured the nation. Recordings continued, probably involving personnel from both bands. Hylton appeared in his second film 'Bandwaggon'. Then in 1940 Jack Hylton disbanded, but continued in the entertainment business producing shows.
There is an active discussion group where you can talk about Jack Hylton and other bands:
or check out the group site first at http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/british-dance-bands/
Many CD's have now been issued featuring Jack Hylton Orch recordings. Some of them can be easily ordered from Amazon.com, click the logo:
Visit Pete Faint's website devoted to Jack Hylton's life and work.
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