Billy Cotton

Infobox Person
name = Billy Cotton
image_size = 320px
caption = The London Savannah Band in 1925.
birth_name = William Edward Cotton
birth_date = birth date|1899|05|06
birth_place = ENG - Smith Square, London [GRO Register of Births SEP 1899 1a 479 ST GEO H SQ
death_date = death date and age|1969|03|25|1899|05|06
death_place = ENG - Wembley, London [GRO Register of Deaths MAR 1969 5a 329 BRENT]
death_cause = Stroke
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nationality = British
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occupation = Drummer, Band leader, Radio personality
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spouse = Mabel E. Gregory (1921-1969) [GRO Register of Marriages: DEC 1921 3a 373 WILLESDEN]
partner =
children = Edward (Ted) Cotton
William (Bill) Cotton (Jnr)
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William Edward Cotton (6 May1899 – 25 March1969), better known as Billy Cotton, was a British band leader and entertainer, one of the few whose orchestra survived the dance band era. Today, he is mainly remembered as a 1950s and 1960s radio and television personality, although his musical talent emerged as early as the 1920s. In his younger years Billy Cotton was also an amateur footballer for Brentford F.C., an accomplished racing driver and the owner of a Gipsy Moth which he piloted himself.

Born in Smith Square, London, Cotton was a choirboy and then started his musical career as a drummer, an occupation he also pursued in the army during the First World War. He enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers by falsifying his age and saw service in Malta and Egypt, before landing at Gallipoli in the middle of an artillery barrage. Later in the war he was recommended for a commission and learned to fly Bristol Fighter aircraft. He flew solo for the first time on 1918-04-01, the day the Royal Flying Corps became the Royal Air Force. He was then not yet 19 years old.

He married Mabel E. Gregory in 1921 and had two sons, Ted and Bill Jnr. In the inter-war years. he had several jobs such as bus driver before setting up his own orchestra, the London Savannah Band, in 1924. At first a straight dance band, over the years the London Savannah Band more and more tended towards music hall/vaudeville entertainment, introducing all sorts of visual and verbal humour in between songs. Famous musicians that played in Billy Cotton's band during the 1920s and 1930s included Arthur Rosebery, Syd Lipton and Nat Gonella. The band was also noted for their African American trombonist and tap dancer, Ellis Jackson. Their signature tune was "Somebody Stole My Gal", and they made numerous records – 78s, that is – for Decca.

During the Second World War Cotton and his band toured France with the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA). After the war, he started his successful Sunday lunchtime radio show on BBC, the "Billy Cotton Band Show", which ran from 1949 to 1968. It regularly opened with the band's signature tune and Cotton's call of "Wakey Wakey". From 1957, it was also broadcast on BBC television.

In 1962 Billy Cotton suffered a stroke. He died in 1969 while watching a boxing match at Wembley.His son, Bill Cotton, later became BBC's head of variety.

TV presenter Fearne Cotton is related to him, as he was uncle to her grandfather.

As a racing driver his finest moment came in 1949 when he finished fourth in the 1949 British Grand Prix, sharing an ERA with David Hampshire.

References

* 1976 biography of Billy Cotton, by Scottish author John Maxwell, published by Jupiter Books Ltd, London. It gives a detailed account of Bill's life and career.

External links

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Persondata
NAME=Cotton, Billy
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Cotton, William Edward
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Bandleader
DATE OF BIRTH=1909-05-06
PLACE OF BIRTH=Smith Square, London
DATE OF DEATH=1969-03-25
PLACE OF DEATH=Wembley, London