Carroll Gibbons
b. Richard Carroll Gibbons, 4 January 1903, Clinton, Massachusetts, USA, d. 10 May 1954, London, England. Gibbons studied classical piano at the New England Conservatory in Boston and became interested in dance music while at college. In 1924 he went to London with singer Rudy Vallee and worked in the Berkeley Hotel's resident group, the Boston Orchestra. He led his own band, the Sylvians, at the Savoy Hotel in 1926 and a year later took over the leadership of the celebrated Savoy Orpheans from Debroy Somers. After a German tour in 1928, the Orpheans disbanded and Gibbons went to HMV Records as director of light music. He assembled their house band, the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, before leaving in 1929 to become musical director for British and Dominion Films. Back in the USA he worked for MGM films and, with Harry Warrenand Richard Rodgers, provided music for Billy Rose's 1930 Broadway revue, CRAZY QUILT, starring Fanny Brice. In 1931 he returned to London as co-director with Howard Jacobs, of the New Savoy Orpheans, eventually becoming sole leader. He broadcast frequently from the hotel, sometimes with The Boy Friends, a small group drawn from within the main band. At the outbreak of World War II he was on holiday in the USA but returned to the UK and formed a touring band before again residing at the Savoy, eventually becoming director of entertainment there in 1950, a position he held until his death in May 1954. Gibbons’ individual piano style and quiet, almost shy, personality made him very popular on UK radio. While records such as Room 504, A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square, Home, and These Foolish Things, were all big hits in the USA. He also made a series of solo piano records entitled Carroll Calls The Tunes. His personnel included musicians Howard Jacobs, Paul Fenhoulet, Joe Brannelly, Laurie Payne, Max Goldberg and George Melachrino, who also sang with the band along with other vocalists such as Anne Lenner, Dorothy Stedeford and Brian Lawrence. Gibbons’ best known compositions are probably Garden In The Rain and his theme tune On The Air. He also contributed music to several West End shows including LESLIE HENSON'S GAIETIES, BIG BOY, OPEN YOUR EYES and SYLVIA.