Hedley Ward | |
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![]() Sheet music for Mona Lisa, featuring a portrait photo of Hedley Ward | |
Occupation(s) | Band leader; band manager |
Years active | 1930s-1960s |
Hedley Ward was a leading British bandleader of the 1930s to 1960s, known for his Birmingham-based Hedley Ward Band (sometimes "...Big Band", "...Dance Band", "...Broadcasting Band" or "...Orchestra"), which made many appearances on BBC Radio programmes, including Music While You Work,[1][2] Shall We Dance?,[3] and regional programmes named for the band.[4][5]
Among the musicians to appear in the band were drummer Tony Levin.[6]
Ward also created and managed the Hedley Ward Trio in 1948, featuring John "Jack" McKechnie (1918-2002) on guitar, Derek Franklin (second husband of Beryl Reid) on bass and lead vocals, and Bob Carter on piano.[7] In 1953 George Taylor (1926/1927-2019[8]) replaced Carter. Listings in The Radio Times show that the trio appeared on the BBC Home Service and Light Programme many times from 1948 onwards.[9] They also featured in the programme Educating Archie.[10] The trio released records on the Melodisc Records label.