Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 7 hours ago
Lloyd "Bill" Shakespeare and his band play "Kind O' Mean", a laid back, jazz-influenced side, released on an extremely rare Parlophone issue.
LLOYD SHAKESPEARE'S BAND
Lloyd "Bill" Shakespeare, trumpet, directing: Bert Bullimore - trumpet / F. J. Cruse - trombone / Jim Easton and A. Mitchell - alto sax / W. Everitt - tenor sax / F. Dexter - violin / W. Crawford - piano / C. Cohen - banjo / J. W. Mills - brass bass / W. Scott - drums
London, November, 1927
E-1703-2…….Kind O' Mean…….Parlophone E-5998
According to Brian Rust's "Jazz Records" discography, the band won a Melody Maker dance band contest held on October 28, 1927, and was given a test recording session for Parlophone within a few days.
Bill Shakespeare was a long term member of the Savoy Hotel Orpheans in the 1930s, and also did many freelance studio recordings, including sessions for Ray Noble at HMV. The band's lead alto player, Jim Easton, would go on to become a mainstay of the Roy Fox and Lew Stone bands in the 1930s. He also recorded freelance for Ray Noble at HMV.
The composer of "Kind O' Mean", pianist Harry S. Pepper, became a presenter in the early days of BBC Television, which started broadcasting in 1932. From 1938, he co-produced the radio comedy show "Band Waggon", starring Arthur Askey. Pepper worked for many years with actor and comedian Stanley Holloway. He was an early subject of the UK version of the television programme "This Is Your Life".
Lloyd "Bill" Shakespeare and his band play "Kind O' Mean", a laid back, jazz-influenced side, released on an extremely rare Parlophone issue.
LLOYD SHAKESPEARE'S BAND
Lloyd "Bill" Shakespeare, trumpet, directing: Bert Bullimore - trumpet / F. J. Cruse - trombone / Jim Easton and A. Mitchell - alto sax / W. Everitt - tenor sax / F. Dexter - violin / W. Crawford - piano / C. Cohen - banjo / J. W. Mills - brass bass / W. Scott - drums
London, November, 1927
E-1703-2…….Kind O' Mean…….Parlophone E-5998
According to Brian Rust's "Jazz Records" discography, the band won a Melody Maker dance band contest held on October 28, 1927, and was given a test recording session for Parlophone within a few days.
Bill Shakespeare was a long term member of the Savoy Hotel Orpheans in the 1930s, and also did many freelance studio recordings, including sessions for Ray Noble at HMV. The band's lead alto player, Jim Easton, would go on to become a mainstay of the Roy Fox and Lew Stone bands in the 1930s. He also recorded freelance for Ray Noble at HMV.
The composer of "Kind O' Mean", pianist Harry S. Pepper, became a presenter in the early days of BBC Television, which started broadcasting in 1932. From 1938, he co-produced the radio comedy show "Band Waggon", starring Arthur Askey. Pepper worked for many years with actor and comedian Stanley Holloway. He was an early subject of the UK version of the television programme "This Is Your Life".
