Black Dyke Band
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Black Dyke Band, formerly the Black Dyke Mills Band, is one of the oldest and best known brass bands in the world. It was formerly the band of the Black Dyke Mills in Queensbury, West Yorkshire, England, a company owned by John Foster. Foster, a French horn player, joined with others in a small band in Queensbury in 1816. This band faltered but finally, in 1855, Foster and other musicians established the new mill band and outfitted it with uniforms made from the mill's own cloth. The band has remained active since that time, and still rehearses in its original rooms.
The band has won many prizes and competitions over the years. In 1969, it released a brass band version of The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" on Apple Records under the name John Foster & Sons Ltd Black Dyke Mills Band. The single, backed with a Lennon/McCartney instrumental "Thingummybob" (the theme to a Yorkshire Television sitcom starring Stanley Holloway) was produced by Paul McCartney; it was one of the first four singles released on Apple.
The Black Dyke Band has made many recordings including classical music. It has recorded with classical bass trombonist Douglas Yeo, and pop acts Tori Amos, Peter Gabriel and The Beautiful South. The band also worked with Gabriel on the highly acclaimed Millennium Show, featured in the Millennium Dome, as well as recording the music for the BBC programme Ground Force.
