Concert Dates

Please click underlined venues to visit their websites.
Dates in italics are provisional dates.

April 2008

May 2008

June 2008

Guest-starring on this show is the legendary drummer Eric Delaney with his bass drums, tympani and a host of assorted percussion instruments! You’ll be amazed by Eric’s enormous energy as he leaps around the stage playing what appears to be everything in sight!

Eric was born in London in 1924, and played to his first live audience at the age of six. In his early teens he was acclaimed as a "Drum Genius" taking command of the Royal Kiltie Junior Band and the Hughie Green Roadshow. By the time he was 16, he was voted Britain's Best Young Swing Drummer, and in 1941 at the age of 17, Eric joined George Shearing of the famous Ambrose Octet touring the variety theatres of that time.

From 1947 to 1954 Eric provided the rhythmic impulse for the Great Geraldo Orchestra, not only was he touring the country and playing in such venues as The Royal Festival Hall and The Royal Albert Hall but also provided the unmistakable sound for the session work and film soundtracks such as "Dance Hall", "Charlie's Aunt", "The Longest Day" etc.

In 1954 The Eric Delaney Orchestra was formed consisting of 5 trumpets, 3 tenors and 1 baritone saxophones, double bass and of course Eric on drums. By 1955 The Eric Delaney Band was established and he was at the climax of his career. Eric was voted No.1 by the public in the musical media polls 8 times over, with such titles as Drummer of the Year, Musician of the Year and Band of the Year and various awards too abundant to mention.

Eric was commanded by the Royal Family to perform at the Royal Variety Performance. He subsequently appeared on two more occasions. Following the 1st Royal Performance he went on a demanding sequence of world tours. Meanwhile his recording career had taken off and he recorded his first hit record Oranges and Lemons for which he was awarded a Silver Record. He recorded 19 albums and 18 singles.

Eric is still pulling large crowds, and was recently given the 'Freedom of the City of London' award.

Joan Regan joins the Orchestra for this special evening when she will be singing many of her hits including ‘May You Always’.

Joan Regan was one of the most popular British lady singers of the post-war years, with a string of hits to her name in the top ten, with such famous titles as ‘Ricochet’, ‘Someone Else’s Roses’, ‘Wait For Me Darling’ and One of the Lucky Ones.’

Joan’s showbusiness career began after Bernard Delfont heard a record she had made privately of ‘Too Young’ and ‘I’ll Walk Alone’. She was contracted to Decca and recorded many best sellers. Joan was invited to the film premiere in Hollywood to sing the title song of Prize of Gold which she had recorded the soundtrack of the film. Following the success of her records Joan made her television debut on Quite Contrary and appeared on Sunday Night at the London Palladium and for four years hosted her own series Be My Guest partnering such international stars as Maurice Chevalier, Eddie Fisher, and Perry Como.

Over the years Joan has starred in pantomime and variety seasons at the London Palladium with such stars as Frankie Vaughan, Morecombe and Wise, and Tommy Cooper. At the time of her television series Joan was chosen by the world-famous photographer Baron as one of the ten most beautiful women in Great Britain, his photograph appearing in all the national newspapers at the time. In 1992 BBC Radio 2 broadcast the biographical Joan Regan Story, and in 1995 she toured with Vince Hill and The Harry Bence Orchestra as part of VE Day 50th Anniversary celebrations.

Always a favourite with the Royal Family, having appeared in many Royal Variety Galas, Joan went to St James’ Palace in 1998 to sing for HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and she has released a CD on Nectar Records with the title Remember I love You.

Tommy Whittle is one of Britain’s most highly respected mainstream saxophonists The Scottish tenorist, who had replaced Ronnie Scott with the Ted Heath band, was one such noteworthy player. Whittle's small groups during the period concentrated on the middle ground, which American musicians like Zoot Sims occupied and which was to become known as mainstream. A spell as a 'society' bandleader took Whittle away from jazz in the early 1960s and in the 1970s, he played with Benny Goodman. Now in his seventies, he remains one of Britain's busiest veteran jazzmen.