Uploaded April 2014 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Music Fast Facts : There are 6 versions of Franz Schubert's "Die Forelle" ("The Trout"), simply because when friends asked him for copies of the song, he wrote out new copies to the best he could remember at the time. ▼▼▼
FRANK CHACKSFIELD
Frank Chacksfield was a popular English conductor in the easy listening style. From the 1950s onwards, Chacksfield was one of Britain's most famous orchestra leaders, and his fame spread around the world. Early in his career he was fortunate to have several big sellers in the United States, which firmly established his reputation worldwide. During his recording career with Decca alone, it is estimated that he sold 20 million copies.
Chacksfield learned to play the piano as a boy and became the deputy organist for the local church. Although his parents discouraged his pursuit of music as a career, he persevered. In the late 1930s, when he was in his mid 20s, he was leading small musical bands in the UK.
At the beginning of World War II he joined the Royal Corps of Signals. Just as he was assigned a post overseas he became ill. While he was recovering he was allowed to make a BBC broadcast. The broadcast led to his being posted to the Army's entertainment section, ENSA, at Salisbury. He was assigned to ENSA, and after the war he became a regular performer on the BBC.
After the war, Chacksfield supported Charlie Chester's comedy group, Stand Easy. The connection with Chester led to Chacksfield's first recording, as the accompanist for Frederick Ferrari, one of Chester's lead singers. During this time, he conducted orchestras for Henry Hall and Geraldo. In 1953, he formed an orchestra he called 'The Tunesmiths' and won a recording contract with Parlophone. Within two years, he expanded the group from a traditional big band into an orchestra with strings and released a series of 'mood music' albums. His sound was similar to Mantovani and Melachrino.
Chacksfield had two big U.S. hits in 1953, "Ebb Tide" and, from the score of Limelight, "Terry's Theme". A third single that year, "Golden Violins" appeared in the Cash Box chart (Billboard only ranked to 20 positions at that time). Chacksfield was also responsible for the musical arrangement of the first UK entry into the Eurovision Song Contest 1957; "All" by Patricia Bredin. Because the BBC's musical director Eric Robinson insisted on accompanying Bredin to the contest in Frankfurt, Chacksfield did not get the chance to perform as a conductor on this international stage. Radio and television commitments frequently found him in hire during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1965/66 he co-hosted a series with French conductor Roger Roger, each playing their own (and other artists') discs. During 1972 Chacksfield took a 40-piece orchestra to Japan, performing 15 shows in 12 cities in 16 days - in addition to a television recording and two radio shows.
DID YOU KNOW ?
Frank Chacksfield continued to record music well into the 1990s.
His final album was a collection of film themes and was titled "Thanks for the Memories".
MHO
Up tempo happy mood piece with the Frank Chacksfield Orchestra "at full speed". The instrumentation is far more extensive than one may suspect after first hearing.
Obviously the Chacksfield strings play the main part, but you may also discover some piano intermezzi in the background.
The kind of music that will bring "sunshine" whenever it rains ;-)
Enjoy.
Music Fast Facts : There are 6 versions of Franz Schubert's "Die Forelle" ("The Trout"), simply because when friends asked him for copies of the song, he wrote out new copies to the best he could remember at the time. ▼▼▼
FRANK CHACKSFIELD
Frank Chacksfield was a popular English conductor in the easy listening style. From the 1950s onwards, Chacksfield was one of Britain's most famous orchestra leaders, and his fame spread around the world. Early in his career he was fortunate to have several big sellers in the United States, which firmly established his reputation worldwide. During his recording career with Decca alone, it is estimated that he sold 20 million copies.
Chacksfield learned to play the piano as a boy and became the deputy organist for the local church. Although his parents discouraged his pursuit of music as a career, he persevered. In the late 1930s, when he was in his mid 20s, he was leading small musical bands in the UK.
At the beginning of World War II he joined the Royal Corps of Signals. Just as he was assigned a post overseas he became ill. While he was recovering he was allowed to make a BBC broadcast. The broadcast led to his being posted to the Army's entertainment section, ENSA, at Salisbury. He was assigned to ENSA, and after the war he became a regular performer on the BBC.
After the war, Chacksfield supported Charlie Chester's comedy group, Stand Easy. The connection with Chester led to Chacksfield's first recording, as the accompanist for Frederick Ferrari, one of Chester's lead singers. During this time, he conducted orchestras for Henry Hall and Geraldo. In 1953, he formed an orchestra he called 'The Tunesmiths' and won a recording contract with Parlophone. Within two years, he expanded the group from a traditional big band into an orchestra with strings and released a series of 'mood music' albums. His sound was similar to Mantovani and Melachrino.
Chacksfield had two big U.S. hits in 1953, "Ebb Tide" and, from the score of Limelight, "Terry's Theme". A third single that year, "Golden Violins" appeared in the Cash Box chart (Billboard only ranked to 20 positions at that time). Chacksfield was also responsible for the musical arrangement of the first UK entry into the Eurovision Song Contest 1957; "All" by Patricia Bredin. Because the BBC's musical director Eric Robinson insisted on accompanying Bredin to the contest in Frankfurt, Chacksfield did not get the chance to perform as a conductor on this international stage. Radio and television commitments frequently found him in hire during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1965/66 he co-hosted a series with French conductor Roger Roger, each playing their own (and other artists') discs. During 1972 Chacksfield took a 40-piece orchestra to Japan, performing 15 shows in 12 cities in 16 days - in addition to a television recording and two radio shows.
DID YOU KNOW ?
Frank Chacksfield continued to record music well into the 1990s.
His final album was a collection of film themes and was titled "Thanks for the Memories".
MHO
Up tempo happy mood piece with the Frank Chacksfield Orchestra "at full speed". The instrumentation is far more extensive than one may suspect after first hearing.
Obviously the Chacksfield strings play the main part, but you may also discover some piano intermezzi in the background.
The kind of music that will bring "sunshine" whenever it rains ;-)
Enjoy.
