Tommy Whittle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tommy Whittle
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Tommy Whittle playing at a jazz club circa 1990
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| Background information | |
| Born | 13 October 1926 Grangemouth, Scotland |
| Died | 13 October 2013 (aged 87) Spain |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Saxophone |
Tommy Whittle (born October 13, 1926 – died October 13, 2013) was a famous British jazz musician. He was known for playing the saxophone. Tommy played with many big bands and led his own groups. He was a very important part of the British jazz scene for many years.
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Tommy's Early Life and Music Journey
Tommy Whittle was born in Grangemouth, Scotland. He started playing the clarinet when he was 12 years old. At 13, he switched to the tenor saxophone. A musician named Alan Davie helped him learn.
When he was 16, Tommy moved to Chatham, Kent. In 1943, he began playing in a dance-hall band. This band was led by Claude Giddins in Gillingham.
Playing with Big Bands
During the 1940s, Tommy played with several famous bands. These included groups led by Johnny Claes, Lew Stone, Carl Barriteau, and Harry Hayes.
In 1946, he joined Ted Heath's band. This was a very popular band at the time. Tommy played with Ted Heath until 1952. After that, he joined Tony Kinsey's small group in London.
Later in the 1950s, Tommy joined Cyril Stapleton's BBC Show Band. He became a featured soloist on nationwide radio broadcasts. This meant many people across the country heard him play.
Leading His Own Groups
In April 1954, Tommy started his own quintet. A quintet is a group of five musicians. He later toured with a ten-piece band for 14 months. He also led other small groups and performed in clubs.
Tommy was very popular. In 1955, readers of New Musical Express voted him Britain's top tenor-sax player. The next year, he also topped the Melody Maker poll.
International Performances and Later Career
In the 1950s, Tommy's sextet visited France and the United States. In 1956, he took his quartet to the US. This was part of a musician exchange program. He also briefly played with the Stan Kenton Band when they toured the UK.
In 1958, Tommy became the bandleader at the Dorchester Hotel in London. He stayed there until 1961. After that, he spent 12 years with the Jack Parnell ATV Orchestra. This orchestra played for famous singers like Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee, and Barbra Streisand.
Tommy also ran a weekly jazz club at the Hopbine pub in Wembley. This club became a special place for British jazz musicians to perform. Playing there was a sign of being a great musician.
He later worked with Laurie Johnson's London Big Band. He also recorded music with the legendary Benny Goodman. In the 1980s and 1990s, Tommy was often asked to play for recording sessions. He also appeared in the Ted Heath Band, which was then led by Don Lusher.
Through the 1990s and 2000s, Tommy continued to lead his own quartet. He also played in a show called the Ella Fitzgerald Songbook. This show was created by his wife, singer Barbara Jay. During this time, he also became a member and leader of the Pizza Express All Stars Jazz Band.
Awards and Final Years
In July 2005, Tommy Whittle received a special award. The Worshipful Company of Musicians honored him for his lifetime achievements in British jazz.
He continued to perform until shortly before his death. His last shows included one at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester in October 2012. He also played with Ray McVay's Glenn Miller Orchestra in January 2013.
Tommy Whittle passed away on his 87th birthday, October 13, 2013. He fell ill with pneumonia while on holiday in Spain.
Images for kids
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Tommy Whittle playing at a jazz club circa 1990
