Bert Ambrose

Bert Ambrose (1896-1971) led one of the most successful dance bands of the 1930s. He started out as a professional violinist and first made his name in a three year spell in New York. Ambrose spent much of the 1920s and 30s leading the resident band at the Embassy Club in London. He always made sure he employed top musicians including future bandleader, Ted Heath, saxophonist Billy Amstell, and several American musicians – trumpeter Sylvester Ahola, clarinettist Danny Polo, and pianist Leo Kahn among them. Many of the band’s strongest (and jazz-oriented) arrangements came from saxophonist Sid Phillips, who would also go on to lead his own bands. Ambrose is credited with discovering singers Vera Lynn, who sang with the band from 1937 to 1940, and Kathy Kirby, who would go on to represent the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest. He discovered Kirby in 1956 and would become her mentor and lover until his death in 1971.

Key Recordings:

‘The Essential Collection‘ Avid