LEGENDARY MUSICIAN ALAN GRAHAM’S 99th BIRTHDAY CONCERT
Saturday 18th July ‘26
Celebrating local musician Alan Graham’s 99th birthday, Crooked Billet regular. Part of UK’s music scene as it evolved over a century. On stage from 5 years old; an entertainer before television when music & drama was alive in theatres, variety halls & show bands.
Conscripted, National Service Alan performed in military concert parties, touring shows entertaining troops. It Ain’t Half Hot Mum!
A struggling jazz musician late 1940’s – Soho jazz clubs before joining Tony Bennet’s pianist Ralph Sharon’s Sextet. After a spell in America Alan returned to Britain joining The Jerry Allen Trio – voted Britain’s N°1 small group. The ‘Take That’ of 1949.
“I played around Soho jazz clubs, really, they were drinking clubs. If you had a music license you could drink after the pubs closed. Bit hairy because these clubs were controlled by East End gangsters. There was one guy who insisted on coming up & singing with my quartet & people said “get him off, he’s hopeless” but I said no don’t – look at the bulge under his coat”
1950’s/60’s television heralded new opportunity for entertainers & musicians. Filming & broadcasts were live. Alan played on ATV’s daily Monday-Friday show ‘Lunch Box’. He worked on scores of BBC productions – Ted Ray Show, Tommy Trinder show, Jimmy Tarbuck show, along with a host of American singers popular at the time doing TV specials. Simultaneously squeezing live gigs & tours with Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Peggy Lee, Jerry Lee Lewis, Howard Keel, Eartha Kitt & many more. Performed at all BBC Sunday Night at The Paladion broadcasts.
“We would drive to Birmingham to be there at 8am on Monday morning to record Lunch Box with Noel Gordon. This is after doing 3 weekend shows at The Hackney Empire or at the BBC. It was a good life but as a professional musician you have to give 110%.”
Alan became Principal Percussionist with the BBC & Britain’s Go-To recording artist. Any artist / band / record label requiring Xylophone. Glockenspiel. Tubular bells. Timpani. Tuba. Vibraphone – book Alan Graham. Can be heard on over 1,000 recordings. Also contributing to 100’s of commercials & jingles. Xylophone ~ remember the tune from Vision On’s “And Now for The Gallery”?
Late 60’s/70’s the heyday of international stars visiting Britain. Alan toured with Shirley Bassey, Ken Dodd, Tom Jones, Perry Como, Sammy Davis, Count Basie, Engelbart Humperdinck & loads more.
“These shows were relentless. 40 nights back-to-back without a night off – and still managing the television shows. But to see 8,000 people at The Royal Albert Hall standing on their feet shouting We love you Shirley Bassey: Fantastic.”
1970’s Pop music, Disco & Orchestral Pop opened new avenues for Alan; part of the Top of the Pops orchestra. Filming & recording with artists including Gladys Night & The Pips. Leena Zavaroni. Barry White, Donna Summer, The Carpenters, Dionne Warwick. The Tramps.
1973 Alan had a massive N°1 Hit Single with The Simon Park Orchestra’s “Eye Level” selling over 2 million, remaining in the charts for 22 weeks, used as the theme tune for TV’s detective series Van der Valk. The BBC made Alan presenter of Children’s TV show ‘Play School’.
Alan performed on all the big TV Variety shows needing a band: Morcombe & Wise. Jimmy Tarbuck. Val Doonican Show. Two Ronnies. Benny Hill Show Des O’Connor Tonight. Bruce Forsyth’s Big Night & Parkinson. Alan performs a remarkable un-rehearsed tune, live with Duke Ellington on Parkinson (available on YouTube).
Apologies for photo quality - Alan, Duke Ellington & Parkinson
“Production telephoned to see where Duke was. The audience had arrived at the studio. The Parkinson Show was recorded live – we didn’t know if Duke would play or just chat with Michael Parkinson. Duke arrived at 5pm offering to play. Myself, Duke & The Parkinson band performed without rehearsal.”
As BBC’s principal Percussionist & television presenter Alan’s schedule was relentless. Continuous touring with the biggest names in light entertainment & Orchestral Pop. His own Alan Graham live shows. Back-to-back recording sessions, scores of television shows. By the millennium, with technological advancements, synthesised & computer-generated music & television production advancements resulted in less work for talented entertainers & musicians (Alan’s in his 70’s now!) Alan pursued his love of Jazz, formed, conducted & toured with his Alan Graham Big Band. Became heavily involved in teaching music, nurturing & encouraging young talent. His family are all in entertainment. Alan married his wife Dulcie in 1957, the met whilst working on The Benny Hill Show. Three children: Peter runs a comedy club & agency for comedians. Suzanna an actress. Lisa started with National Youth Jazz Orchestra before joining Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, also lead saxophonist with Tina Turner the musical. A proud Dad.
He continues receiving royalties for numerous recordings & movie scores he performed on. Films including Star Wars, Life of Brian. Morons From Outer Space. Return of The Jedi.
Alan pursues his love for live performance, jazz & recording. Residences in top jazz venues: Duc des Lombard, Pizza Express, Epicurus Copenhagen & Ronnie Scott’s.
“In my 20’s I played Soho’s late night Jazz clubs which remained open after the pubs closed. if you wanted to go later you had to have a food license, so Ronnie Scot had this dive of a place in Gerard Street & he used to put a cheese sandwich on every table & say I’m serving food. These days Ronnie’s is really quite posh.”
At 98 Alan chose to slow things down a little.
“What’s kept me going is my innate love for music. Music is in my blood. It is my life.”
Saturday 18th July. Privilege & honour to witness Alan Graham on stage – all-star line-up celebrating his 99th birthday at The Crooked Billet, Stoke Row. Alan Graham, an absolute shining diamond still with enough puff to blow out 99 candles.
Full regular menu, £35 music cover charge
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The Crooked Billet
Newlands Ln, Stoke Row,
Henley-on-Thames RG9 5PU
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