Debroy Somers

Debroy Somers (born William Henry Somers, 11 April 1890[1] in Dublin[2] – 16 May 1952 in London)[3] was a British twentieth-century big band bandleader.[4]

He had trained as a musician at the Duke of York's Royal Military School in Chelsea,[5] and having left the school at 15 he joined the 2nd Battalion the Royal Irish Regiment as a boy bandsman in 1905, before retiring in 1913.[6] He rejoined his old regiment in 1916 retiring as a sergeant musician in 1918; being demobilised in Wiltshire.[7]

He married a widow Doddy Payne (nee Watts) on 9 September 1912 in Fulham, London;[8] she already had three children from her previous marriage[7]. The family home remained in Twickenham, Surrey for many years.[1]

His period of celebrity stretched from the 1920s to the 1940s.[9] He appeared in numerous films, including Second Choice, Stars on Parade and Aunt Sally,[10] and founded the Savoy Orpheans. On 15 June 1925, Somers conducted the first British performance of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" from the Savoy Hotel with the Orpheans, alongside the Savoy Havana Band and Gershwin himself on piano. The performance was broadcast live by the BBC.[11]

His ensemble, the Debroy Somers Band, was also known as the Midnight Minstrels.[12]In 1930 they covered "Amy, Wonderful Amy", a song about Amy Johnson.[13]

References
  1. 1939 England and Wales Register
  2. Ireland, Civil Registration Births Index, 1864-1958
  3. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995
  4. Faint, Pete (2014). Jack Hylton. p. 147. ISBN 9781326061395.
  5. 1901 England Census
  6. British Army WWI Pension Records 1914-1920
  7. British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920
  8. England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915
  9. "Duke of York - Debroy Somers". Richardgilbert.ca. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  10. "Debroy Somers Band". Bfi.org.uk. British Film Institute. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  11. Radio Times, Issue 90, 12 June 1925, p538
  12. British dance bands on record 1911 to 1945
  13. "AMY - Lyrics - International Lyrics Playground". Lyricsplayground.com. Retrieved 9 August 2020.


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