When I hear that jazz band play; The Melody Maker; Stumbling towards criteria; Early definitions, bands and records; Odd bedfellows; Leading up to Louis; Duke and lesser mortals; Pundits, record companies and rhythm clubs; Books and magazines; Discographers; Archer Street jazzmen and the BBC; Peckham, pandemonium and Humphrey Lyttelton; Heebie jeebie boys; Jazz comes to Britain by stealth; Jazz and justice; Britain's first real jazz age; Select discography; Select bibliography; Index of tune titles; General index
Born in south London in 1922, Jim Godbolt became manager of George Webb's Dixielanders in 1946 after demobilization from the Royal navy. He ran a band agency with Lyn Dutton and Humphrey Lyttelton in 1951 and formed his own agency in 1952, representing Mick Mulligan, Al Fairweather and Sandy Brown, and pop groups including the Swinging Blue Jeans. He left the entertainment business in 1971 for a career in writing, supporting himself by working as a meter reader. In 1979 he founded Jazz at Ronnie Scott's, the house magazine of Ronnie Scott's Club, which he edited until 2006. His hilarious autobiography, All This and Many a Dog, will be republished by Northway in 2007.
Reviews of first edition: 'This important book is delightfully readable... we owe Jim Godbolt a debt of gratitude,' Ian Carr, New Society. 'Enlivened throughout by the author's passion for the music itself and his sharp eye for human failings, ' George Melly, Guardian. 'A substantial book ... the narrative is piquantly supported by his own personal involvement in much of what he relates,' Philip Larkin, Observer. 'At last! The long-felt want satisfied spendidly! ... A truly valuable and readable work,' Gay Buckland, Memory Lane. 'This somewhat turbulent period is well chronicled by the author, whose humerous approach throughout makes the book a delightful read,' Stan Woolley, Liverpool Daily Post. 'Jim Godbolt's approach is as breezy as a riverboat shuffle, ever on the lookout for the preposterous detail and the opportunity for raffish reminiscence,' Brian Case, The Times Literary Supplement. 'In view of the magnitude of the subject, author Godbolt has to be unreservedly praised for his achievement,' Kevin Henriques, Financial Times. 'A shrewdly observed description of the period in which Godbolt, quite accurately, sets the music into the context of the times ... deserves a place on any reference shelf', Simon Adams, Jazz Journal. 'If you have not bought this book, I urge you to do so - now!' Humphrey Lyttelton, BBC 'Sounds of Jazz'.
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