18 Facts About Lew Stone

Louis Stone known professionally as Lew Stone was a British bandleader and arranger of the British dance band era, and was well known in Britain during the 1930s.

Lew Stone was known as a skillful, innovative and imaginative musical arranger.

Lew Stone showed promise in both music and football, playing for the Corinthian FC and Casuals FC teams in the daytime and playing as a pianist in the evening.

Some arrangements attributed to Lew Stone can be heard on particular records by the Savoy Orpheans and Ray Starita and his Ambassador's Band.

Roy Fox's Band opened at the Monseigneur Restaurant in 1931 and Lew Stone took up the position of pianist and arranger.

In 1932, Lew Stone worked with a studio band and several recordings were issued on the flexible Durium Records featuring vocals by Al Bowlly, Sam Browne and Les Allen.

In October 1932, when Roy Fox's contract at the Monseigneur ended, Lew Stone was offered the post of bandleader and this story filled the pages of the music press.

In November 1933, Lew Stone transferred his band to the Cafe Anglais and in February 1934 started a successful tour for the Mecca Agency.

In September 1934, Al Bowlly and Bill Harty left to join Ray Noble in US For about a year from November 1934, Lew Stone moved to the Regal Zonophone record label, continued with theatre tours, and the band was resident for a time at the Hollywood Restaurant.

In 1936, Lew Stone stopped touring and formed a smaller band which opened on 30 March at the Cafe de Paris.

Lew Stone's band played music of all kinds, for all tastes, and for all the dance tempos, but today it is particularly their playing of the sentimental ballads that is recognised and in demand for re-issue on CD, especially the titles featuring Bowlly.

Lew Stone was not afraid to work with modern music and was an innovator.

In October, Lew Stone became musical director for the Jack Hulbert show Under Your Hat which continued into 1939, and featured the Rhythm Brothers.

Lew Stone's band played at the El Morocco Club, London.

In June 1940, Lew Stone opened at the Dorchester Hotel with a seven piece band which he led on the novachord.

Lew Stone continued to work round the ballrooms and broadcast with his fourteen piece band until 1959, when the BBC told him that he could not expect to broadcast as frequently as he would wish unless he reduced the size of his band.

Lew Stone primarily concentrated on his entertainments agency in the 1960s.

In 1937, Lew Stone married Ethel Joyce Newman at Marylebone Register Office.