Billy Mayerl (1902 – 1959)
Mayerl deserves a post of his own, but by 1930 he was a celebrity pianist and songwriter whose career involved dance bands, recordings, and even performing the premiere of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Mayerl was an early adopter of American ragtime (and got into trouble for using it while training at Trinity College of Music) leading to the establishment of his ‘School of Syncopation’.
Arthur Wimperis (1874 – 1953)
Wimperis is probably best remembered as the lyricist of the Edwardian musical comedy The Arcadians (1909) but was also an Oscar-winning screenwriter in the 1940s. During his career he contributed lyrics to numerous revues and musicals, including The Gay Gordons, alongside P G Wodehouse.
Binnie Hale (1899 – 1984)
Hale’s most notable leads roles included No, No, Nanette (the show that introduced ‘Tea for Two’) and Mr. Cinders (her recording of ‘Spread A Little Happiness’ her most enduring ) as well as a string pf ‘principal boy’ roles in pantomimes. During her career she worked with C B Cochrane and Frankie Howard (in his own stage debut).