Percy Launcelot Chandler. Pianist & Band leader:
(25 November 1902 - April 1986) Dates not confirmed.
Probably the most elusive of the Dance Band leaders. There is very little mention of Percy Chandler in the music press of the era. The only concrete evidence is of the 20 or so record releases on the budget Piccadilly label.
To complicate matters, some of these were released on “sister” labels like Mayfair, Empire and Simcha but under confusing pseudonyms: Cunard Dance Band, White Star Syncopators and Alberta Dance Band. Even more confusingly some other bands were credited as by Percy Chandler and his Band. For example; Howard Godfrey’s Waldorfians appear on the Piccadilly label but when the same takes were issued on the Empire label the band was credited to Percy Chandler.
According to Brian Rust’s discographies the personnel for these recordings were: Percy Chandler (piano / director); Alan Ford -Doug Foss (clarinet, soprano & alto sax); Fred Everett (clarinet, soprano & tenor sax, violin); Bert Barnes (piano); Al Fenton (guitar); Sid Price (string bass, violin) and Arthur Lilley (drums). The vocalists were Al Bowlly; Jimmy Allen; Jimmy Mesene and Harry Bentley.
The Al Bowlly sides released as Percy Chandler and his Band on Piccadilly were: Why Couldn't You?, Tango Lady and Really Mine.
The Al Bowlly sides credited to the Waldorfians on Piccadilly but to Percy Chandler on Mayfair were: Time on my Hands, Got a Date with an Angel and Who do you Love?
Confusing to say the least.
Even Percy Chandler's biography is shrouded in mystery. What little that is known has been uncovered by Terry Brown. Terry has written two articles on Percy Chandler for the Memory Lane magazine. I attach the latter one here with kind permission from Memory Lane. The only known picture of Percy Chandler again comes from Terry Brown.
Here is a quick synopsis:
Percy Chandler first formed a Band around 1921. In 1926 he leads the Selma Five, at the Berkeley Hotel, remaining there till 1930. He then moved to the Quaglino's Restaurant in London as Quaglino Quartette and even did a few broadcasts as Percy Chandler's Quaglino Quartette. From here he moved to Malmaison Restaurant in Mayfair. In 1931 he made his 20 or so recordings for the Piccadilly label.
1932: “Chandler began what would become a long on/off association with the Ace of Spades, a so-called ‘Roadhouse’ on the Kingston By-Pass, in outer London.” “Chandler not only leading a band but also playing piano in the afternoon at the Ace of Spades”. The Ace of Spades was near the Thames and during this time, Percy Chandlers love of sailing starts taking over and he is documented as a member of sailing clubs. He entered races on his own yachts. His band also play at sailing events at the Ace of Spades. The band were still playing at the end of 1936 and then Percy Chandler started another career with the Royal Navy.
He retired from the Admiralty as a Third Commander.