The Squadronaires

Shortly after Great Britain’s entry in to the Second World War, the Royal Air Force Music Services began recruiting seasoned entertainers to serve in dance bands which were assigned to RAF channels where they fulfilled common army duties throughout the day and became band uniforms during the night to provide MILITARY personnel with uplifting jazz and pop music. Instead of looking forward to conscription, instrumentalists from rings just like the Heralds of Golf swing as well as the Bert Ambrose Orchestra had been soon turning up at RAF Uxbridge where (after simple schooling at Morecombe) they ultimately became players within the Royal Surroundings Drive Dance Orchestra, popularly referred to as the Squadronaires and informally known as “the Squads”. This extremely acclaimed ensemble was directed by vocalist and pianist Jimmy Miller, with trumpeters Archie Craig and Tommy McQuater, trombonists Eric Air flow and George Chisholm, reed players Andy McDevitt, Jimmy Durrant, Harry Lewis, and Tom Bradbury, along with a rhythm portion of pianist Ronnie Aldrich, guitarist Sid Collin, bassist Arthur Madden, and drummer Jock Cummings. The Squads (whose theme melody was “There’s Something in the Surroundings”) produced gramophone information, performed over BBC radio, and toured thoroughly, often selecting themselves in recently liberated territory or near leading lines. Legend provides it, actually, that these were required to defeat a hasty retreat through the Battle from the Bulge in Dec 1944. Following the war, as you by one a lot of the Squadronaires withdrew from energetic provider, a civilian edition from the Squads was shaped under the command of Ronnie Aldrich and continuing to enjoy tremendous popularity, staying jointly before early ’60s. In 1985, a revived Royal Atmosphere Force Squadronaires begun to coalesce, and in January 1987, this orchestra was inaugurated at RAF Uxbridge beneath the command of Sergeant Jimmy Miller, with many of the original people in attendance. The brand new Squads possess released several exceptional albums (Big Music group Spectacular, Golf swing Squadron, Squads Apart, and Flying House), have performed at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Membership in London, and also have embraced the initial mission from the WWII music group by entertaining United kingdom military employees wherever they’re stationed today.