Harry Lewis (musician)

Harry Lewis (1915—1998) was an English saxophonist and clarinetist and the husband of singer Vera Lynn.[1]

Lewis was born to a Jewish family in the East End of London in 1916.[2] Lewis was part of George Elrick's Six Swing Makers during 1937 and 1938.[3]

Lewis met Lynn in late 1939 when he joined Bert Ambrose's eponymous orchestra and after a long courtship the couple married in August 1941.[4] Lewis and eight other members of the Ambrose orchestra joined the RAF at the start of the Second World War, and subsequently formed a new dance orchestra, The Squadronaires. The musicians had presented themselves at RAF Uxbridge, and having signed up, went to leave as they had an engagement with Ambrose that night. The commanding officer had to immediately give them a week's emergency leave, and they arrived just before the start of the evening's show.[5] Though the Squadronaires were one of the country's top dance bands, they were only paid five shillings a day in the RAF. The band performed all over the United Kingdom during the war and was occasionally accompanied by Lynn on vocals.[1]

Lewis worked as Lynn's manager following the war, and accompanied her on her international concerts, overseeing lighting and production of her shows. Lewis also worked as a music publisher.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "Harry Lewis". Herald Scotland. 2 June 1998. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "Kings of Swing". John Robert Brown. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  3. ↑ Colin MacKenzie (2005). Mantovani: A Lifetime in Music. Melrose Press. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-905226-19-1.
  4. ↑ Lynn 2009, p. 111
  5. ↑ Lynn 2009, p. 112
  6. ↑ Lynn 2009, p. 258
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