The Saxophones

Peter Hughes (Lead Alto)

Andy Potts (2nd Alto)

Martin Dunsdon (1st Tenor)

Ian East (2nd Tenor)

Dave Willis (Baritone)

Dave was born in London within the sound of Bow bells in March 1940.

He began his musical career in his early teens under the guidance of his father Freddy, a highly respected and talented pre-war guitarist and post war saxophonist.

Dave worked with some of the best semi-pro bands in South London before turning full time professional at the age of eighteen. He followed the usual path of a young musician at that time doing summer seasons and ballroom residences, working along with the orchestras of Roy Kenton, Alan Kane, Frank Weir, Jack Dorsey, Johnny Howard and Syd Dean. It was at this time that he first met his present leader Ray McVay when depping with his wonderful orchestra at the Orchid Ballroom Purley.

After eighteen months of touring worldwide with the controversial pop star P.J.Proby in 1966, he joined the orchestra at London's famous international cabaret venue 'The Talk of the Town' which under the musical baton of Burt Rhodes was to be his base for the next Sixteen years. In this same period he worked, toured and recorded with many of the worlds top entertainers and singers including Lena Horne, Pearl Bailey, Liza Minnelli, Caterina Valente, Mel Torme, Judy Garland, Sammy Davis Jnr., Ella Fitzgerald, Marlene Dietrich, Billy Eckstine, Shirley Maclaine, Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield and Matt Monroe, to name but a few!!

During this time Dave became in demand as a session musician working with Jack Parnell's ATV orchestra,'Alyn Ainsworth's LWT orchestra (which played many Royal Galas and variety shows) and the TV shows of Benny Hill, Paul Daniels, Bob Monkhouse, Ken Dodd, Janet Brown, Michael Barrymore, Bruce Forsyth and Beryl Reid. He would also augment the 'Wogan' and 'Parkinson' TV shows when required.

BBC's 'Come Dancing' would see Dave sitting on the end of the the saxophone sections in the many fine orchestras that took part in that program, including the Ray McVay Orchestra.

In the mid 1970s he added the Bass Sax to his musical repertoire and was on the soundtrack of the films 'Gold', 'Shout At The Devil' and most recently 'Antz'. He was the Bass Saxophonist on Yorkshire TV's series 'The Beiderbecke Affair' which showcased the cornet of the late Kenny Baker and it was Kenny who invited Dave to play the Bass Sax for him when he reformed his Bakers Dozen in 1994. Dave also managed somehow to squeeze in six summer seasons at Monte Carlo's Sporting Club, and dep in the BBC Orchestras, Joe Loss, and Bert Kaempfert Orchestras. As well as playing on many film scores he has appeared in the films 'Beat Girl', 'Virgin Soldiers', 'Entrapment', and Stanley Kubrick's last film 'Eyes Wide Shut'. He also had the distinction of appearing and performing on set for a week with Paul and Linda McCartney, Ringo, and Led Zeppelin in the ballroom sequence of 'Give My Regards To Broadstreet'.

His career has brought him in contact with some of the world's finest composers and conductors including Elmer Bernstein, Maurice Jarre, Nelson Riddle, Jerry Goldsmith, Manny Albam, Michel Legrand, Carl Davis, Henry Mancini, Bill Holman, Bill Russo, Bob Florence and Robert Farnon.

Dave cites the highlights of his long and varied career as being picked to play with Benny Goodman's Orchestra on his three European tours in 1970/71, Ray Conniff's two British tours in 1973/74 and of course being invited to join the Glenn Miller UK Orchestra in October 1990.

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