| In 1930 a talented musician aged 21 | | | | with two prized autographs in his |
| decided to form a dance band, and hey | | | | notebook! |
| presto, the country's, if not the | | | | But I digress. It was with an |
| world's, longest serving entertainment | | | | eight-piece band, playing in the style |
| unit was born and has been doing jus | | | | of Oscar Rabin's Romany Band at the |
| that non-stop ever since! The Joe Loss | | | | Astoria Ballroom, that Joe took the |
| Orchestra now directed by Todd Miller is | | | | first steps to becoming well-known. His |
| still appearing countrywide to this day. | | | | growing popularity brought him a job at |
| I say "entertaining" because Joe always | | | | the Kit Kat Club where he made many of |
| said, "although we are in the music | | | | the BBC outside broadcasts. During his |
| business we are also entertainers." When | | | | time there he raised the personnel to 11 |
| Joe became ill in 1990 he asked Todd to | | | | plus a young lady vocalist - a croonette |
| take over the Orchestra and not one | | | | as they were known. She made her first |
| booking was cancelled. Todd himself | | | | broadcast singing "Red Sails In The |
| joined the Orchestra in 1972 and is now | | | | Sunset" the top hit of the day in 1935. |
| regarded by many as one of the best | | | | She was only 18 and in years to come |
| front men in the business. | | | | became the "Forces Favourite" none other |
| It was in 1969 that Joe decided, for | | | | than Vera Lynn. |
| financial reasons, that he would reduce | | | | After a long residency in London Joe |
| the personnel to ten musicians and three | | | | began to tour the music halls, as did |
| vocalists. He felt that when the moment | | | | many bands of the day. During the war he |
| was right he would re-assemble the big | | | | took the band to entertain the troops |
| band. Indeed to this day there are many | | | | around the UK and eventually to France |
| musicians playing in present day big | | | | and Holland. In 1946 Joe began a regular |
| bands who appear in the Joe Loss Big | | | | residency in the Isle of Man from May |
| Band whenever the band is booked. | | | | until the end of September, which lasted |
| On the subject of big bands and their | | | | until 1959. With the coming together of |
| leaders there is an amusing story | | | | the ITV companies Joe and the orchestra |
| relating to Joe and Billy Cotton. It | | | | became the house band for ABC and opened |
| appears that one morning just after the | | | | up all of the television regions |
| end of the war, Joe arrived home after a | | | | throughout the UK during the period from |
| gig just before breakfast. Having had a | | | | 1956 to 1960. They were to be seen |
| quick cup of tea and still in pyjamas | | | | regularly on television often up to four |
| and dressing gown, who should be | | | | times a week. This was followed by a |
| knocking at the front door other than | | | | long residency at the Hammersmith Palais |
| Billy Cotton with a brand new motor car. | | | | until August 1969 broken only by an |
| He insisted on taking Joe for a spin and | | | | 18-week season at the Empire Leicester |
| although the weather conditions were | | | | Square and 12months at the Lyceum in |
| pretty grim, bitterly cold and with | | | | 1967. They then moved on to the Empire |
| thick snow off they went into the | | | | until November 1970 at which point Joe |
| surrounding countryside. Unfortunately, | | | | decided to retire. He told Sam Watmough, |
| before too long the car ran out of | | | | the current manager of the band, who |
| petrol (it still being rationed that | | | | joined in 1956 that during the meeting |
| time didn't help) and Billy left Joe in | | | | he was to inform the band of his |
| the car whilst he set off in the quest | | | | decision. |
| for a garage. There sat Joe as cold as | | | | Joe opened his speech saying "Gentlemen, |
| ice and with teeth chattering when along | | | | we shall be leaving the Empire and Mecca |
| came the local bobby. Pushing his | | | | in 6 weeks time on November 30th." This |
| bicycle, he enquired as to why Joe was | | | | brought Stan Pickstock, lead trumpet, to |
| sitting in the car in freezing weather | | | | his feet, Stan had been with the band |
| wearing his pyjamas and dressing gown. | | | | since 1961, who said, "bloody great, now |
| Joe informed the police constable that | | | | we can get back on the road," at which |
| he was Joe Loss and that Billy Cotton | | | | point the band applauded. |
| had gone off to try and get some petrol. | | | | Joe however was taken aback and said, "I |
| By the look in his eye the constable was | | | | didn't think you would want to go on the |
| finding it hard to believe such a story, | | | | road again, but if you do that's fine." |
| until Billy re-appeared with a can of | | | | So the Joe Loss Orchestra was back on |
| petrol and convinced the sceptic that | | | | the road once again and had remained so |
| the story was indeed true! The constable | | | | ever since. |
| cycled away with a smile on his face | | | | |