Ray Ellington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ray Ellington
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Ray Ellington
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Henry Pitts Brown |
| Born | 17 March 1916 Kennington, London, England |
| Origin | England |
| Died | 27 February 1985 (aged 68) England |
| Genres | Jazz, blues |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, drummer, bandleader |
| Instruments | Drums |
Henry Pitts Brown (born March 17, 1916 – died February 27, 1985) was a talented English musician. He was known to everyone as Ray Ellington. He was a singer, a drummer, and led his own band.
Ray Ellington became very famous for being on a radio show called The Goon Show. He was on the show from 1951 to 1960. His band, The Ray Ellington Quartet, played music on the show regularly. Ray also had small speaking parts in many episodes.
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Early Life of Ray Ellington
Ray Ellington was born Henry Pitts Brown in London, England. His birthday was March 17, 1916. He was the youngest of four children in his family.
His father, Harry Pitts Brown, was an American comedian and entertainer. His mother, Eva Stenkell Rosenthal, was from Russia. Ray's father passed away when Ray was only four years old.
Ray was raised in the Jewish faith. He went to the South London Jewish School. He started working in show business when he was just twelve years old. His first job was acting on a stage in London.
Ray Ellington's Music Career
Ray Ellington got his first big chance in music in 1937. He joined a band called Harry Roy and His Orchestra. Ray became the band's drummer. He also showed off his singing skills. One of his first songs with them was "Swing for Sale."
In May 1940, Ray joined the Royal Air Force (RAF). He worked as a physical training instructor during World War II. He also played music in service bands, like the RAF Blue Eagles.
Forming The Ray Ellington Quartet
After the war, Ray started his music career again. He led his own group and played at a club called The Bag O'Nails. In 1947, he played with Harry Roy's band again for a short time. Later that same year, The Ray Ellington Quartet was officially formed.
Ray Ellington loved jazz music. But he also tried out many other styles. His music was greatly inspired by the funny jump blues style of Louis Jordan.
New Sounds in British Music
Ray Ellington's band was one of the first in the UK to use a special setup. They used a guitar, bass, drums, and piano. This setup later became the basis for rock and roll music.
His band was also one of the first in Britain to use an electric guitar a lot. They were even thought to be the first jazz band in the UK to use an amplified guitar. Their guitar player, Lauderic Caton, created and introduced it.
Other members of Ray's quartet included Dick Katz on piano and Coleridge Goode on bass. When Lauderic Caton left, other guitarists joined. These included Laurie Deniz, Don Fraser, and Judd Proctor. Judd Proctor played with the quartet for six years.
Ray Ellington and The Goon Show
During the early years of The Goon Show, there were many jokes about Ray Ellington and the country of Ghana. This led Ray to sometimes say he was from Ghana.
Ray Ellington also had a hit song called "The Madison". It reached number 36 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1962.
Ray Ellington's Family
Ray Ellington was married to Anita West. She later became a presenter for the TV show Blue Peter. Ray and Anita had two children, Lance and Nina. Their marriage ended in divorce.
Ray's son, Lance Ellington, is also a singer. He has recorded several jazz albums. Lance is also one of the backing singers on the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing.
Lance Ellington has honored his father in special ways. He played his father in a film called The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. He also took his father's part in a special Goon Show tribute in 2001.
Later Life and Legacy
Ray Ellington passed away from cancer on February 27, 1985. He is remembered as a pioneering musician and a beloved part of British radio history.
