Scott Wood & His Orchestra

George Scott-Wood (27th May 1903 - 28th October 1978) was born in Glasgow. He studied the piano from the age of five with Miss Hoffman, Crossland Hirst and Philip Halstead (a pupil of Leschetizky). He performed his first concerto, Beethoven's Third in C Minor, at the age of 16, winning awards at the Glasgow and Edinburgh Music Festivals. He also won (with his brothers) the famous Marchant Cup for Chamber Music. In 1925, George toured the USA, making many concert appearances.
His career in popular music started sometime during the twenties when he played with a Glasgow University Band called the Five Omega Collegians, touring and recording with them until their disbandment in 1928, at which time he joined Jay Whidden's Band for a two-year spell as pianist and arranger.
In 1930 he became Director of Light Music for Parlophone (under Oscar Preuss) and subsequently for the other three EMI companies — HMV, Regal-Zonophone and Columbia - a post which he held until 1939. The thirties was a decade in which George Scott-Wood really established himself in a big way Apparently, he made more records than anyone else in Britain, either directing one of his own combinations or accompanying famous artists, often under pseudonyms or anonymously. He conducted accompaniments for an impressive list of performers which included Richard Tauber, Sir Harry Lauder, Beatrice Lillie, Larry Adler, Gracie Fields, Vic Oliver, Stanley Holloway, Max Miller, Evelyn Laye and Ivor Novello, to mention but a few of the 80 or so artists he backed! He recorded about 20 sides with the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra in 1935 after Ray Noble left for America.
It was in 1934 that Scott-Wood's Six Swingers (sometimes known as the Scott-Wood's Orchestra) came into being. This was a rather superior jazz group which really caught the public's attention during its seven-year existence and produced over 50 recordings. George was later described as 'the pioneer of swing music in this country'. In the 1938 Daily Mail radio popularity poll, the Six Swingers were voted top of radio entertainment, with all other dance music grouped together in seventh place.
(Read more on Masters Of Melody)
==Links to Peel==
Peel played his 'I Only Have Eyes for You' track for the Peelenium 1934, but didn't seem to play any further material on his programmes.
==Shows Played==
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*03 August 1999: I Only Have Eyes For You (Peelenium 1934)
==External Links==
*Masters Of Melody
*Al Bowlly Club
Category:Artists