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http://accordions.com/news.aspx?d=02-Oct-2009&lang=en&s=1400
http://accordions.com/news.aspx?d=02-Oct-2009&lang=en&s=1400
02-Oct-2009
George Booth Passes Away, Fleetwood - UKby Rob Howard |
 Veteran professional accordionist George Booth, born in 1919, died on September 23rd at the age of 90.Despite his London accent, George Booth was born in Nottingham, the son of a coal miner. George played accordion and piano from an early age, and became a professional musician after leaving school, working in variety theatres. In the 1930s he played with Macari’s Dutch Serenaders and the Al Podesta Accordion Band. During World War Two George saw active service in the British army in Italy, which led to him acquiring a new Wurlitzer accordion from some US troops he had been entertaining. In the post-war years George became a Bavarian-style band leader, fronting the very successful Willi Gatte and his Alpen Dorf Musik, touring extensively around Britain and Europe for many years, and also making recordings. He also led various dance bands and show bands. In 1952 the American comedian Jack Benny was in England for a performance at the London Palladium, and a strike called by the US Musicians’ Union meant that his team of accompanists – including the legendary Pietro Deiro – could not appear. Thus it was that George Booth found himself on stage with Jack Benny, filling in for the great Pietro Deiro. Afterwards, George and Pietro met up backstage, socialised and played music together. In his later years, George Booth retired to Fleetwood, Lancashire, but was a frequent visitor to accordion clubs and festivals, where his often critical views on other accordionists made him a controversial character. |