Ted Heath (bandleader)

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For other persons named Edward Heath, see Edward Heath (disambiguation).

Edward George 'Ted' Heath (30 March 1902–18 November 1969) was the United Kingdom's most famous bandleader of the 40s, 50s and early 60s.

Heath was born at 76 Atheldene Avenue, Wandsworth, South London; he started playing the trombone at the age of fourteen, and his early career involved stints with Bert Firman, Jack Hylton, Ambrose, Sid Lipton, and Geraldo.

His own first orchestra was brought together in 1944 for BBC broadcasts; in 1946 they played for London Town, a British musical film. The film was an unmitigated disaster, but Heath's career took off, including many hit records ("Swingin' Shepherd Blues" being his biggest success, reaching number three in the charts in 1958), regular work for the BBC, and especially a series – started in 1945 – of Sunday-night concerts at the London Palladium. He and his band were featured in the film Dance Hall in 1950. During the 1950s his orchestra frequently performed at the Hammersmith Palais de Dance and The Orchid Ballroom in Purley, Surrey. From 1956 Heath and his orchestra were regular and popular visitors to the United States.

The orchestra was on the cusp between dance music and jazz; not only did Heath employ many of the big-name British jazz-musicians at various times, but his staff arranger was Tadd Dameron, and his programmes of straight dance music were supplemented by projects such as his recording of Fats Waller's London Suite. Heath (in common with many other bandleaders at the time) allowed no unrehearsed improvising, however, and the orchestra was known for its note-perfect perfectionism.

His huge success lasted for about fifteen years, ended only by the popularity of rock and roll and the advent of The Beatles. The orchestra was disbanded in 1964 when Heath's health started faltering, though there have been many reunions of various of the musicians involved.

Heath's grandson, James Heath, continues the musical tradition in the family; his company Burning Vision Entertainment produces music videos.