Ronnie Aldrich

Ronnie Aldrich (15 February 1916, Erith, Kent, England - 30 September 1993, Isle of Man) was a British easy listening pianist, arranger, conductor and composer.

Ronnie Aldrich first gained fame in the 1940s as leader of The Squadronaires, up until their disbanding in 1964.Fact|date=May 2007

He was noteworthy for the recording development of playing two pianos in his recordings.Fact|date=May 2007 He recorded for The Decca Record Company Ltd in the 1960s and 1970s, moving to Seaward Ltd (his own company) licensed to EMI in the 1980s. He also regularly broadcast on BBC Radio 2 with his own orchestra as well as with the BBC Radio Orchestra, directing from the piano.

Aldrich was also widely known as the musical director for the world-famous "The Benny Hill Show".Fact|date=May 2007 He was appointed musical director at Thames Television.Fact|date=May 2007

Ronnie Aldrich died of prostate cancer at age 77.

Decca Discography "Ronnie Aldrich And His Two Pianos"

*Melody and Percussion for Two Pianos, Decca Phase4 PFS34007 (SP-44007) 1961
*Ronnie Aldrich and His Two Pianos, Decca Phase 4 PFS4019 (SP-44018) 1962
*The Magnificent Pianos of Ronnie Aldrich, London Phase 4 SP-44029 1963
*The Romantic Pianos of Ronnie Aldrich, London Phase 4 SP-44042 1964
*Christmas with Ronnie Aldrich. London Phase 4 SP-44051 1964
*The Magic Mood of Ronnie Aldrich, Decca Phase 4 PFS4064 (SP-44062) 1865
*That Aldrich Feeling, Decca Phase 4 PFS4076 (SP-44070) 1965
*All Time Piano Hits, London Phase 4 SP-44081 1966
*Where The Sun Is, Decca Phase 4 PFS4106 1966
*Two Pianos in Hollywood, Decca Phase 4 PFS4108 (SP-44092) 1967
*Two Pianos Today!, Decca Phase 4 PFS4132 (SP-44100) 1967
*For Young Lovers, Decca Phase 4 PFS4141 (SP 44108) 1968
*This Way "In," Decca Phase 4 PFS4152 (SP-44116) 1968
*Its Happening Now, Decca Phase 4 PFS 4159 (SP-44127) 1969
*Destination Love, Decca Phase 4 PFS4179 (SP 44135) 1969
*Togetherness, Decca Phase 4 DDS 2, 1970
*Here Come the Hits!, London Phase 4 SP-44143 1970 (**)
*Close to You, London H-17156 1970 (**)
*Love Story, Decca Phase 4 PFS4222 (SP-44162) 1971
*Great Themes To Remember Decca Phase 4 1971
*Invitation To Love, Decca Phase 4 PFS4242 (SP-44176) 1972
*Come to Where the Love Is, Decca Phase 4 PFS4264 (SP 44190) 1972
*The Phase 4 Stereo World of Burt Bacharach, Decca Phase 4 SPA193, 1972
*Soft And Wicked, Decca Phase 4 PFS4268 (SP-44195 H-17195) 1973
*Top of the World, London Phase 4 SP-44203, 1973
*The Way We Were, Decca Phase 4 PFS4300 (SP 44209) 1974
*In the Gentle Hours, Decca Phase 4 PFS 4329 (SP-44221), 1975
*Love, Decca Phase 4 PFS4361 (SP 44253) 1975
*Reflections, Decca Phase 4 PFS4377 (SP-44264) 1976
*Webb Country, Decca Phase 4 PFS4397 (SP-44278) 1977
*With Love & Understanding, Decca Phase 4 PFS4406 (SP-44286) 1977 (Evergreen USA)
*Melodies from the Classics, Decca Phase 4 PFS 4424(SP-44300) 1978
*Emotions, Decca Phase 4 PFS4436 (SP-44310) 1978

(PFS is Decca -UK- original catalogue number, SP is London -USA version-)(**) "Togetherness" (UK double disc set) was issued as two separate albums in USA

Decca (Polygram) Discography (One Piano)

*Tomorrows Yesterdays, Decca PFS4436 1979
*For The One You Love, Decca SKL5319 1980

Amberjack Discography (One Piano)

*One Fine Day, Amberjack 902, 1981
*Imagine, Amberjack 1981
*Beautiful Music, Amberjack 1982

eaward Music recordings licenced to EMI (One Piano)

*Nights Birds, EMI MFP 1982
*Sea Dreams, EMI MFP 1984
*For All Seasons EMI MFP 6016 1987
*Ronnie Aldrich, his Piano and Orchestra EMI CC220 1988

Seaward also issued a vynil LP, "The Wonderful World of Man" - recordings of the sounds of the Isle of Man, where Ronnie Aldrich lived from the 1960s onwards. This record was sold in the island to tourists.

References