Harry Bidgood

Henry Bidgood (1898 – 1957), known as "Harry", was an English composer, dance band leader and musical director for for numerous films including several starring George Formby. Born in London, he studied at The Royal College of Music. During the mid to late 1920s Harry Bidgood led the in-house studio band for Vocalion Records in England (its former parent, the American Vocalion label, was acquired by Brunswick in 1925). In 1927 Vocalion decided to discontinue its namesake label, replacing it with the new Broadcast label. Broadcast records were eight inch (later on, nine inch) records which, through the use of slightly narrower grooves, offered the same playing time as standard sized 10 inch records.

Because of the label name, Bidgood named his band Harry Bidgood's Broadcasters. Over the course of 20 years he would frequently broadcast on the BBC. Bidgood also recorded under a number of pseudonyms including The New York Nightbirds, Ciro’s Club Band, The Manhattan Melody Makers, Al Benny’s Broadway Boys, Nat Lewis and his Dance Band and Primo Scala and his Accordion Band. As Primo Scala he broadcast regularly on the Light Programme's 'Music While You Work' until just before his death in November 1957.

Links to Peel
Many records by groups led by Harry Bidgood, under various names, were played in the Pig's Big 78 feature of Peel's shows of the 2000s.

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Other Shows Played
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