A Big Band TV Special featuring the reformed New Squadronaires Orchestra under the leadership of Harry Bence. Hear the band play the original wartime swing arrangements with Sheila Southern Stutz Bear Cats & The Squad Cats. There is also an exclusive interview with Roy Edwards band singer and one-time leader of the original Squadronaires as well as vocalist with Geraldo and the Oscar Rabin Band plus a short history of the original orchestra. In 1939 the Royal Air Force implemented a plan to raise morale and entertain the troops during wartime and The Squadronaires... was one of the bands organized as a result. The band drew from some of the best musicians of the day. It became a popular jazz band and likely the best known of the English military dance bands of the time with hits like There's Something in the Air and South Rampart Street Parade. The Squadronaires played at dances and concerts for service personnel and also broadcast on the BBC and recorded on the Decca label. The orchestra's first broadcast took place in January 1941. After demobilization the members formed a civilian band of the same name. Ronnie Aldrich had been the arranger and co-piano player but in 1950 he took over as bandleader and the band was then billed as Ronnie Aldrich and The Squadronaires. The Squadronaires continued to work together under Ronnie Aldrich until 1964. Bandleader Harry Bence re-formed the orchestra as the 'New' Squadronaires until his death in 1997 when musical arranger and trumpet player Greg Francis took over the leadership and the The Squadronaires remain as popular today as they always were. [show more]
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Big band TV special featuring the reformed New Squadronaires Orchestra under the leadership of Harry Bence as they play a selection of original wartime swing arrangements.
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