Eric Delaney

Eric Delaney (born 22 May, 1924, Acton, West London) is an English drummer and bandleader, popular in the 1950s and early 1960s.

Aged 16 he won the Best Swing Drummer award and later joined the Bert Ambrose Octet which featured George Shearing on piano. During 1947-54 he appeared with the Geraldo Orchestra and filled his time with regular session work in recording studios and on film, TV and radio. In 1954 he formed his own band and later signed with the new Pye Records label. He made three Royal Variety Show appearances, the first in 1956.

Delaney specialised in up-tempo dance hall music, often carrying a rock n' roll label but closer in spirit to that of Geraldo and Joe Loss. As with many similar artists, the music Delaney performed moved out of vogue after The Beatles. Nonetheless, Delaney remained active touring in the UK, notably in holiday resorts.

Fuller details of Delaney's life - he's still touring - along with photographs and comments from Kenny Ball, Elkie Brooks,Terry Lightfoot, Humphrey Lyttelton and others - are in "The Magnificent Eric Delaney" by Eddie Sammons (Upfront Publishing, 2007).

Eric's grandson, Jake Delaney, is also a talented drummer. He will probably inherit Eric's drum kit.

ingles

Pye

THE ERIC DELANEY BAND
*N.15046 Cockles and Mussels/Say Si Si (04/56)
*N.15054 Oranges and Lemons/Truckin' (07/56)
*N.15069 Rockin' the Tymps/Ain't She Sweet (09/56)
*N.15079 Rock 'n' Roll King Cole/ Time for Chimes (02/57)
*7N.15113 Fanfare Jump/Jingle Bells (11/57)ERIC DELANEY'S BIG BEAT SIX
*7N.15782 Big Noise from Winnetka/Big Beat (02/65)

Parlophone

THE ERIC DELANEY BAND
*R4646 Bass Drum Boogie/Let's Get Organised (1960)
*R4753 Drum Twist/Yes Indeed (1961)
*R4876 Washboard Blues Twist/Sing, Sing, Sing (1962)
*R4925 Manhattan Spiritual/Down Home (1962)

A more complete list of Delaney's records (78rpm to CD) including earlier Mercury recordings together with a tentative filmography and videography are in "The Magnificent Eric Delaney".