Early Ambrose...Without You Sweetheart...1927

Bert Ambrose was a frustrating character..Without doubt his earnings far exceeded any other British bandleader in the 1920s,yet he was virtually unknown to the 1920s public and he left us relatively few records during this period.
He earned his vast wealth by playing to the tiny,but ultra rich social elite.He then formed and managed many bands for this social elite's many private parties.It was said he could name any price for these private functions.At times he would have half a dozen bands playing at their private venues in addition to his Embassy residency.
So why was he not well known until mid 1931..The Embassy Club where he played until early 1927 was frequented by the Prince of Wales and anyone who had his patronage was guaranteed a large amount of his hangers on and social elite and thus their enormous spending
The club would play whatever the Prince liked and he loved Jazz and hot dance music..Ambrose's band of 8 musicians duly obliged..However,and very sadly, the owner forbid any 2LO (BBC) live broadcasts..No broadcasts so the public remained ignorant of this fine hot dance band and therefore no record contract..So Ambrose's fine hot dance band was not recorded..HMV then gave him a contract which Ambrose terminated as he was jealous of Hylton's pre-eminance on HMV..He went to the new Decca label.However technical problems at the studios meant he only released his first records 3 months into a one year contract and they did not sell well as he had yet to commence broadcasting on the radio...Once broadcasts got under way with the BBC in 1930 his popularity increased,until in mid 1931 he started to sell records in large numbers.
Back to the Embassy Club..The good ole partying Prince fancied himself on drums,and he would pop into the club late and a bit drunk and insist on playing with Ambrose's band on stage on the drums..Ambrose had to indulge the Prince,as it was unthinkable to say no to a royal.However, when he then brought in his some of his pals on other instruments,enough was enough and Ambrose decided to give them private sessions, as the music suffered somewhat from 2/3 drunk lords playing out of tune in the band.
Ambrose left the Embassy because of the no broadcasting policy and went to the Mayfair Hotel.However the Mayfair though allowing broadcasts did not allow any hot music to be played.
Luigi the Embassy Club owner was indirectly responsible through his ban on broadcasting,for denying us the pleasure of hearing him on record in what was Ambrose's hottest band.His saving grace is that without him Ambrose would have never left America and returned to Britain..Luigi begged Ambrose to come back to the Embassy (short previous stint in 1922) and he persuaded the Prince himself to cable Ambrose to request his return.This appealed to Ambrose's vanity and he left his high paying work in NY and sailed back to Britain in 1923 and the rest is history..

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Music

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• Ambrose
• British
• Dance
• Bands
• 1920s
• music
• Nostalgia