Sharing a birthday as he does with such magnificently-named individuals as Wolfgang Windgassen, Chesty Puller and Hedwig Sophia, Duchess of Holstein-Gottorp, Syd Lawrence sounds positively pedestrian...
However, in his day Mr Lawrence was lauded for "reviving" the sound of the Big Bands of yesteryear for a new audience, and, such was his renown that his orchestra - decades after his passing - continues to perform in venues up and down the country.
The Syd Lawrence Orchestra was also a staple of prime-time variety shows during the 60s, 70s and even into the 80s - as in this remarkably unusual performance on Sez Les (Les Dawson's flagship ITV show) in 1972. On this Tacky Music Monday, here's his rendition of We're in the Money - but why the strippers..?
They make Pan's People seem like The Bolshoi.
Have a good week, peeps!
Syd Lawrence (26th June 1923 – 5th May 1998)
