Role

:

Ensemble

Country

:

United Kingdom

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Ray Noble & His Orchestra was a British dance band that was active from the 1920s to the 1940s. The ensemble was known for its sophisticated arrangements and the smooth vocals of its lead singer, Al Bowlly. Over the course of its career, Ray Noble & His Orchestra recorded hundreds of songs and performed in some of the most prestigious venues in the world. Ray Noble, the founder of the ensemble, was born in Brighton, England in 1903. He began playing the piano at a young age and quickly developed a talent for music. In the 1920s, he moved to London and began working as a pianist and arranger for various dance bands. In 1929, he formed his own ensemble, which he called Ray Noble & His Orchestra. The original lineup of the ensemble included some of the most talented musicians of the time, including trumpeter Nat Gonella, saxophonist Bud Freeman, and drummer Bill Harty. The band quickly gained a reputation for its sophisticated arrangements and its ability to play a wide variety of musical styles, from jazz to ballads to Latin rhythms. One of the highlights of Ray Noble & His Orchestra's early career was their performance at the Savoy Hotel in London. The Savoy was one of the most prestigious venues in the city, and the band's residency there helped to establish them as one of the top dance bands in the country. The band also began recording for the HMV label, and their first hit song, "The Very Thought of You," was released in 1934. In 1935, Al Bowlly joined Ray Noble & His Orchestra as their lead vocalist. Bowlly had previously worked with other dance bands, including the bands of Roy Fox and Lew Stone, and he quickly became one of the most popular singers of the era. His smooth, romantic voice was the perfect complement to Noble's sophisticated arrangements, and the two men developed a close working relationship. Over the next few years, Ray Noble & His Orchestra continued to record hit songs and perform in prestigious venues around the world. They toured the United States in 1935 and 1936, performing at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City and the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles. They also performed in Europe, Australia, and South Africa, and their popularity continued to grow. One of the band's most famous recordings was "Midnight, the Stars and You," which was featured in the 1980 film The Shining. The song was originally recorded in 1934, with vocals by Al Bowlly, and it became one of the band's signature tunes. Other popular songs recorded by Ray Noble & His Orchestra include "Love Is the Sweetest Thing," "Goodnight Sweetheart," and "The Touch of Your Lips." In 1939, Ray Noble & His Orchestra disbanded temporarily due to the outbreak of World War II. Noble joined the Royal Air Force and served as a pilot, while Bowlly continued to perform with other bands. However, the two men reunited in 1940 and began recording again. Sadly, Bowlly was killed in an air raid in London in 1941, bringing an end to one of the most successful partnerships in the history of British dance music. Despite the tragic loss of Al Bowlly, Ray Noble & His Orchestra continued to perform and record throughout the 1940s. They recorded several more hit songs, including "Cherokee" and "I Had the Craziest Dream," and they continued to tour around the world. However, by the end of the decade, the popularity of big band music was beginning to wane, and the ensemble disbanded for good in 1949.

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