Billy Mayerl

Born: 31st May 1902, London, England.
Died: 25th March 1959, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England.

English pianist and composer, who performed in music hall, theatre and the BBC's "Music While You Work" between the two world wars. He wrote many syncopated piano solos.

Mayerl studied music, from a very early age, at Trinity College Of Music, London. In his teens he began his career playing to silent movies and supporting dance bands, eventually becoming part of the Southampton Dance Band in 1921.

His 'novelty' solo piano style was recorded for over thirty releases on the Echo label by the time he had joined the Savoy Havana Band back in London. In the late '20s one of his works was used on the Aeolian Company's popular 'Duo-Art' player-piano system.

By 1926 Mayerl had left the band and opened a correspondence school of music in London's Oxford Street, known as the "School Of Syncopation", through which he taught the techniques of ragtime and stride piano-playing. He became a featured soloist at premieres, in films and shows and also played a Royal Command Performance. Mayerl also led his own orchestral group "Mayerl's Claviers", in which he was joined by jazz pianist Marian McPartland, who soloed as "Marian Page".

Almost a year before his death from a heart condition Mayerl was Roy Plomley's guest on "Desert Island Discs", in which he signed off with his characteristic "Goodbye chaps and chapesses".