GRAM-R-PHONE INDEX 41 to 50

The three lady organists in this compilation are ESME HAND, WINIFREA & IRIS NORGROVE. Each in their own individual way had styles that have previously never been documented in words and music. When the last of the group, ESME HAND passing in 2017 at the grand age of 100 years, the time has come to re-cap on their respective contributions to the popular organ music world.

WILLIAM DAVIES plays the COPEMAN HART electronic theatre organ: the only one of its kind. He musically recalls some of the signature tunes used by English cinema, theatre, broadcasting and recording organists of the Golden Years..

Ethel Smith – the first lady of the Hammond organ. An affectionate tribute

LOIS SAGAR described herself as a ‘jobbing organist’. It was a description that aptly described her musical career playing & appearing for Hammond Organs in many Countries. She had a small [un-credited] cameo role in a famous British film: met and had dinner with the First Lady of the Hammond organ, Ethel Smith: was ‘hired’ by Hollywood star Jerry Lewis, and had a love of VW Beetle cars which resulted in her marriage to an ITV Sound Recordist. This is her story told in words and music.

Despite her many years as a Broadcasting, Concert & Recording organist no complete documentary exists of Frieda Hall. After many months research this video traces her lifetime as the International Queen of the Keys, from childhood days to her final performance. It is told in a mixture of her own words and music.