Billy Cotton
The London Savannah Band in 1925.
Background information
Birth name	William Edward Cotton
Born	May 6, 1899
Origin	Lambeth, London
Died	March 25, 1969
Genre(s)	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Drummer Radio personality
Instrument(s)	drums
Associated acts	Nat Gonella

William Edward Cotton (May 6, 1899 – March 25, 1969), 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, an accomplished racing driver and the owner of a Gipsy Moth which he piloted himself. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (127th in leap years). ... Year 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday [1] of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Lambeth is a place in the London Borough of Lambeth. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Jazz is a musical art form that originated in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States around the start of the 20th century. ... A drummer in Action A drummer is a person who plays the drums, particularly the drum kit, marching percussion, or hand drums. ... a Radio Personality is the modern incarnation of the disk jockey, or DJ. In the 1990s, successful radio stations began to focus less on the musical expertise of their hosts and more on the individual hosts personalities. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... Nat Gonella was a UK jazz trumpeter and bandleader but also a singer, popular during the 1930s and 1940s. ... May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (127th in leap years). ... Year 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday [1] of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... A Bandleader is the director of a band of musicians. ... An entertainer is someone who is hired to entertain people. ... The de Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth was a variant of the powered by the de Havilland Gipsy I engine. ...

Born in Lambeth, 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. In the interwar 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. Lambeth is a place in the London Borough of Lambeth. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... A drummer in Action A drummer is a person who plays the drums, particularly the drum kit, marching percussion, or hand drums. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... See also: 1923 in music, other events of 1924, 1925 in music and the list of years in music. // Events October 17 - Leos Janaceks String Quartet No. ... Music Hall is a form of British theatrical entertainment which reached its peak of popularity between 1850 and 1960. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Nat Gonella was a UK jazz trumpeter and bandleader but also a singer, popular during the 1930s and 1940s. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... The American style of rhythmic foot stomping known as tap dance was born in the United States during the 19th century, and today is popular all around the world. ... It has been suggested that Childrens gramophone records be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Decca Music Group be merged into this article or section. ...

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 for more than 20 years from 1949. 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. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... The Entertainments National Service Association, or ENSA was an organisation set up in 1939 by the British Government to provide entertainment for British armed forces personnel during World War 2. ... ENSA may be: The European Student Nurse Association, (www. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion. ... The Billy Cotton Band Show was a popular Sunday afternoon radio programme on the BBC Light Programme from 1949 to 1968. ...

In 1962 Billy Cotton suffered a stroke. He died in 1969 while watching a boxing match at Wembley. Stroke is the clinical designation for a rapidly developing loss of brain function due to an interruption in the blood supply to all or part of the brain. ... Wembley Arena at Night (Taken at a live WWE Show). ...

His son, Bill Cotton, later became BBC's head of variety. He is related to TV presenter Fearne Cotton, as his son Bill Cotton Jr. is a cousin of her grandfather. Sir Bill Cotton (born April 23, 1928) CBE, is a British television producer and executive, the son of big-band leader Billy Cotton. ... Fearne Marie Cotton (born 3 September 1981) is an English television presenter and DJ. Born in Northwood, London, she grew up in the north-west London suburb of Eastcote. ...

An excellent biography of Billy Cotton was written by Scottish author John Maxwell, published by Jupiter Books Ltd, London in 1976. This gives a detailed account of Bill's life and career. A few snippets not previously mentioned on this page may interest fans of the great man. Bill enlisted in World War I by falsifying his age. He 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 1st April, 1918, the day the Royal Flying Corps became the Royal Air Force. He was still not yet 19 years of age.