Organists, famous in their own countries, and Internationally
(This section is by Bill Reid)

George Blackmore

Chatham, Kent, England. Died Feb 24th 1994
Theatre & Electric  Organs.
Resident organist: Capitol & Astoria Cinemas, Aberdeen, Scotland. 1950-1957.
Hammond Organ demonstrator U.K.
Representative for Conn, U.S.A.
Film music. Whistle Down The Wind & Charade.
Signature Tune: Cock O' The North. Composition 'The Highlander'.
Fellow of the Royal College of Organists.

Lost lower part of both legs and was fitted with artificial ones and  returned to play the organ

Bobby Pagan

Paisley, Scotland.
Theatre organs.
Residential organist: Palladium, Copenhagan, Capitol & Astoria cinemas, Aberdeen

Earnest Broadbent

Oldham, England Born 1910. Died 19th January 1994.
Theatre Pipe organs. Gaumont British cinema chain.
BBC and Blackpool Tower.
Resident organist at Regent Wurlitzer, Brighton.
Accompanist to Joseph Locke 1948-52.
Hammond organist at the Tower Lounge, Blackpool.
Resident organist at the Blackpool Tower Wurlitzer 1970-77
Signature Tune, For You.
Lost lower part of both legs but never returned to playing the organ

H. Robinson Cleaver

(1906-1987)
British Theater Organsist with many apperarances on Radio and recordings.

Charles Smart

Concert & Theatre pipe organs.
BBC Theatre Organ and recording artist.

Harold Smart

Hammond Organ
Son Of Charles Smart. Played Hammond in strict modern dance tempo and virtually with the same settings throughout, which became his own 'sound' and was very popular. He made numerous recordings, stage and radio appearances.

Sandy MacPherson (Web site)

Theatre organs
U. K. Cinema Chains. BBC theatre organs.

Arnold Loxam

Born Bradford, Yorkshire, Engalnd, 1916. 
Theatre organ and recording artist, which includes the Blakpool Tower Wurlitzer. 2006 celebrates Arnold's 90th birthday and 60 years as a theatre organist. See also: Happy Birthday, Arnold

Harry Farmer

Born 1912 in Wallsall, West Midnlands, England.  Died 1986. was a well known organist in Edmunton, Huntingdonshire, England. 

William Davies

(1921-2006)

William Arthur Davies, organist, pianist and composer: Born at Bolton, Lancashire, England on the 26th of June 1921. Died at Hastings, East Sussex, England of the  2nd of  March 2006.

An extremely versatile musician. Appeared on BBC musical programmes for many years. Produced many recordings and was a musical arranger, conductor  and composer of numerous tunes and film music.

Lucien Hetu

Canada.
Gulbransen.
Recording artist. Solo and with family

Ray Collignon (Update 8th March 2006)

Belgium organist. Strictly Hammond (Strict Tempo Medleys). Also was a band leader.

Klaus Wunderlich 

(1931- 1997) 

Famous German organist.  He played Hammond for many years, but then switched to Wersi.

Discology by Alan Ashton  www.organ.co.uk/ashton/   www.organfax.co.uk/ashton-online.html
New Double CD set available at http://www.organ.co.uk/

Cor Steyn
Dutch Hammond Organist. Radio and Television and numerous recordings. 

Bryan Rodwell

New CD available http://www.organ.co.uk/

Kieghley, Yorkshire, England. Died 1995. At home on pipes or electronic. Made his debut aged 10. Played for the ABC Cinema chain and featured at the Ritz, Hereford and, the Granada Clapham, London. He was a demonstrator for Hammond and made recordings on the Hammond 'Concorde' and was Product and Promotions Manager for Boosey & Hawkes.

Raymond Wallbank (Photo Added October 2005)

Played at the North Peir Wurlitzer, Blackpool for 31 years and ocassions at the Tower Wurlitzer. He is a Blackpool organist in the grand tradition of fellows' Earnest Broadbent, Horice Finch and Reginald Dixon.  

Horice Finch

He was the organist at the Empress Ballroom, Blackpool.  An injury to his hand forced him to take early retirement.  Made a number of 78rpm recordings and was billed as Blackpool's 'Ace' organist.

John Woodhouse

Organist in Vienna, Austria.

George Seivewright

Show and cinema organist, Aberdeen, Scotland. Had his own band. 

Juan Torres

He was the most famous Mexican organist and performed internationally.  He made early recordings on the Hammond B-3 and later recorded on the Hammond X-66.

http://www.hammondx66.com/ingles/eframes.htm

With thanks to Alan Ashton for corrections to information and typos.

Wilbur Kentwell (1914-1981)

An Australian organist.

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If you have any information, pictures, criticism or comments, please email me at Reidcrcwdr@aol.com

I would like this site to be a good reference for the electronic organ, both vintage and modern.  Specific information on styles, stoplists, voicing and other useful information would be greatly appreciated.

N.B. Details of your favourite organists and photographs are welcome but please respect full copyright.

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