Lew Stone

Lew Stone

Source: Library of Congress

Born on 28 May 1898 in London, Lew Stone would grow up to rival British bandleaders like violinist, Bert Ambrose, and Ted Heath. Leading ballroom and restaurant dance bands, he made his fame via radio broadcasting while also directing music for stage and films.

Stone began recording in London, playing piano for Bert Ralton and his Havana Band in January of 1926, the first of three sessions yielding 'Lillian', 'Memory's Melody', 'I Would Like to Know Why' and 'Goodbye'. 'Maritana' followed from the next session estimated in February.

Tom Lord traces Ambrose to as early as July of 1927 leading the New Mayfair Orchestra through 'Take your finger out of your mouth' issued on Brunswick 108. Stone began arranging in 1927 for the Savoy Orpheans, Ray Starita and Ambrose. He arranged 'Without You, Sweetheart' sessioned by Ambrose on February 14, 1928. Stone arranged for Ambrose into 1931. Though Stone isn't involved, what may be Ambrose's debut recording is stacked below since the so-called "music history" at VF can't be bothered to address Ambrose at all. One must consider if who wrote that doesn't have a pea brain of three plump neurons in an apparently much bruised pod, considering Ambrose's stature in British popular music.

'Take Your Finger Out of Your Mouth'   Bert Ambrose w the New Mayfair Orchestra

Recorded July 27 at the Cafe Anglais in London toward Brunswick 108

Possibly Ambrose's debut recording   Stone out

Trumpet: Henry Hot Lips Levine / Harry Wild   Trombone: Bill Morley

Clarinet / alto sax: Louis Martin / Jack Miranda   Tenor sax: Joe Crossman

Violin: Bert Ambrose / Sidney Lipton   Piano: George Posnack

Banjo: Dick Escott   Tuba: Dick Escott   Drums: Harry Raderman

Composition: Joe Schuster / Duke Yellman

'Without You, Sweetheart'   Bert Ambrose and His Orchestra

Recorded 14 Feb 1928 in Hayes toward HMV B5464

Trumpet: Leslie Berkin / Dennis Ratcliffe   Trombone: Sam Acres

Clarinet / sax: Perley Breed / Jack Miranda / Joe Crossman

Violin: Bert Ambrose   Piano: Leo Kahn

Guitar / banjo: Joe Brannelly   Tuba: Dick Escott

Drums: Max Bacon   Arrangement: Lew Stone

Composition: B.G. De Sylva / Lew Brown / Ray Henderson

Stone recorded 'Breakaway' with his own band on September 27, 1929, after which he did time with Roy Fox from 1931 to 1932. He arranged and played cello on his first track with Fox on January 28, 1931: 'A Peach of a Pair'. Al Bowlly sang vocals on that, a crooner with whom Stone would have multiple occasions to record in the next few years.

'Breakaway'   Lew Stone and His Orchestra

Recorded 27 Sep 1929 in London toward Duophone F-2012

Trumpet: Sylvester Ahola / Max Goldberg   Trombone: Tony Thorpe

Clarinet / sax: Arthur Lally / Joe Crossman

Piano / arrangement: Lew Stone   Banjo: Tony Hill

Composition: Archie Gottler / Sidney Mitchell / Con Conrad

IMDb has Stone directing music for his first film, 'The Chance of a Night Time', to premiere in Ireland on 4 December 1931. He would arrange or direct music for above twenty more films during his career. Stone assumed leadership of the Roy Fox Orchestra at the Monseigneur Restaurant in Piccadilly while Fox was convalescing from illness in Switzerland in the spring of 1932. When Fox returned seven months later his band was the most popular in London. When Fox's contract expired in 1932 Stone became leader of the band which radio broadcasts from the Monseigneur made his fame. His first recordings with the Monseigneur Band were October 31, 1932, yielding 'Nightfall', 'Rain, Rain, Go Away, 'In the Still of the Night' and 'Why Waste Your Tears?'.

'How Could We Be Wrong'   Lew Stone and His Band backing Al Bowlly

Recorded 3 Nov 1933 in London toward Decca F-3734

Composition: Cole Porter

'Milenburg Joys'   Lew Stone and His Band

Recorded 16 March 1934 in London toward Decca F-3953

Composition: Leon Roppolo / Paul Mares / Jelly Roll Morton

'That's a Plenty'   Lew Stone and His Band

Recorded 25 April 1934 in London toward Decca F-3953

Trumpet: Nat Gonella   Clarinet: Probably Joe Crossman (poss Harry Berly)

Music: Lew Pollack 1914   Lyrics: Ray Gilbert

'As Long As I Live'   Lew Stone and His Band backing Al Bowlly

Recorded 3 Aug 1934 in London toward Decca F-5132

Music: Harold Arlen   Lyrics: Ted Koehler

'The Continental'   Lew Stone and His Band

Recorded 10 Nov 1934 in London toward Regal Zonophone MR 1503

Music: Herbert Magidson   Lyrics: Con Conrad

'Cheek to Cheek'   Lew Stone and His Band backing Sam Browne

Recorded 12 Oct 1935   Regal Zonophone MR 1871

Composition: Irving Berlin

'You Couldn't Be Cuter'   Lew Stone and His Band backing Al Bowlly

Recorded 12 Aug 1938   Decca F-6745

Music: Jerome Kern   Lyrics: Dorothy Fields   1938

Stage musicals for which Stone directed the music include 'Under Your Hat' which ran from 1938 into 1939. Stone and His Band recorded a selection from that show in January of 1939. Stone also directed the music for the film released in latter 1940. A couple months later he led his Stonecrackers on such as 'Basin Street Blues' and 'Farewell Blues' for Decca. His next couple sessions with that band in 1941 also included Jack Penn at piano.

'Under Your Hat'   Lew Stone and His Band

Selection from the stage musical recorded 18 Jan 1939 in London   Decca F-6928

Vocals: The Rhythm Brothers   Arrangement: Jack Nathan

'Basin Street Blues'   Lew Stone and His Stonecrackers

Recorded 15 Nov 1940 in London toward Decca F-7685

Trumpet: Frenchie Sartell / Dave Wilkins (vocal)   Trombone: Tony Thorpe

Clarinet / alto sax: Joe Crossman   Alto sax: Jim Easton

Tenor sax: Don Barrigo   Piano: Jack Penn   Guitar: Sidney Jacobsen

String bass: Tommy Bromley   Drums: Jock Jacobson

Composition: Spencer Williams 1928

Leading his band through various residencies while also broadcasting for radio during the forties, Lord doesn't discover Stone recording again for another eight years, putting down unissued titles like 'Indian Lament' and 'Call of the Freaks' in May of 1949. Not long later he apparently traveled to the United States, as both Discogs and Lord have him contributing violin to the orchestra of Pete Rugulo in New York City on titles backing American vocalist, Mel Torme, in 1950. Stone vanishes from Lord's discography after 'Bewitched' from that session:

'Bewitched'   Pete Rugolo's Orchestra backing Mel Torme

Recorded 3 April 1950 in NYC toward Capitol 1000

Trumpet: Louis Mucci / Tony Faso   Trombone: Kai Winding

Woodwinds: Eddie Brown/ Manny Thaler / Milt Yaner / Sid Cooper

Piano: Teddy Napoleon   Guitar: Barry Galbraith

Violin: George Zornig / Leo Kruczek / Lew Stone / Maurice Brown

Violin continued: Morris Lefkowitz / Phil Solomon / Raymond Sabinsky

Violin continued: Sandor Szatmery / Stan Karpenia / Tom Alonje

String bass: Eddie Safranski   Drums: Mel Zelnick   Vocals: Dave Lambert Singers

Composition: Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart

Stone continued at various ballrooms in his native England throughout the fifties. In 1959 he appeared on the BBC radio program, 'Music While You Work', again in 1960 and 1964. He passed away on 12 January 1969 in London.

Geraldo Bright born England:

HMR Project   Wikipedia