Cecil Norman

English dance pianist & composer from 1920's-into the 1970's.

Born 29 September 1897 in Oldham, Lancashire, United Kingdom.
Died 8 February 1988 aged 91 in East Sussex, England.
Brother of saxophonist and bandleader Les Norman.
Norman was considered a child prodigy. By the age of 11 he was playing concertos, at 15 he appeared at London’s Aeolian Hall. He was the son of music hall artists, billed as Olga and Otto, with his mother playing trumpet, trombone, concertina and piano. After serving in World War I, Cecil switched from classical to popular music, parly due to developing neuritis in the right hand, which forced him to give up the piano for a couple of years. Thereafter Cecil specialised in dance music, it being less likely to aggravate his condition.
He played in so many popular bands its hard to list them all. His first major job was with Jack Hylton in 1922, with whom his brother Leslie played alto saxophone. Cecil also began playing for Bert Firman in London, later playing on hundreds of Firman Zonophone recordings and doing arrangements on some as well. Norman worked with many bandleaders including Sydney Kyte and Howard Jacobs.
In 1924 Cecil and Leslie began their own band at the Savoy Hotel for tea dances and the Bekeley Hotel in the evenings. They soon moved to the Empress Rooms where they played seven days a week plus tea dances. At times, either he or his brother were in charge and arranging for the Savoy Plaza Band and Savoy Dance Band. In 1927, the Norman Brothers Band moved to Carlton Hotel. In 1928, Cecil went to America and had Rudy Vallee introduce him around, including to Bert Lown, whom Cecil joined in New York. Cecil moved back to London in 1929. He played and recorded with Fred Elizalde Band in 1930 before moving on to Jerry Hoey's band and Melville Gideon's band in 1931. All this time Norman was freelancing as well, playing all over London including with Firman and then Ray Noble band. In 1935 he joined Jack Jackson for a year as well as recorded for Percival Mackey and Jay Wibur. In 1936, Cecil went to Australia with [a=howard jacobs (3)] and the Melbourne A.B.C. Dance Band as arranger and pianist. He returned in 1937 to join Reg. Leopold in London.
Cecil stayed in London during World War II, with many engagements to entertain the troops, accompanying Vera Lynn as well as Inga Anderson, who sang with the George Melachrino Orchestra. Norman was also, at the time, making broadcasts and recordings with Maurice Winnick and Jack Payne and the "Music While You Work" sessions. He and Pat Dodd were the pianists used by VIctor Silverster and his orchesta in numerous recordings for Decca from 1941-44. Cecil joined the BBC Dance orchestra under Billy Ternent in 1943-44.
After the war, Cecil formed the Rhythm Players, a quintet that included Ernest Wilson on the second piano. As part of the BBC's "Music While You Work" programme in the 1950's, Cecil Norman and His Rhythm Players were a cornerstone of the programme and a household name in the country from the 1950's to it's end in 1967. His 5-piece group played over 450 live broadcasts over that time.
In 1959 Cecil played in 'The Composer at the Piano' series in which different pianists played 30 minutes of their own compositions. Cecil composed several instrumental numbers and some songs. These included "Waltzing the Blues", "Small Town Parade", "Tulip Chimes", "Jazz Drum Major", "Rock 'n' Roll Samba", "Macapa", "Green Turtle", and "I'm a Little Christmas Cracker". He retired in 1962 when he was 65 after suffering an accident. He un-retired one last time for a 15-minute spot in 1970, ending his more than sixty years in music.
Norman used pseudonym "Norman Sissel" (last name switched with first) for some Norman Sissel And His Rhythm Twisters recordings.