Tolchard Evans

September 20, 1901 (age 76)

West Kilburn, London

The family later moved to Willesden, where Evans lived for the rest of his life. In 1924, he left to work as a pianist for silent films and dance bands, before establishing his own band at the Queen"s Hotel, Westcliff-on-Sea, later moving to the Palace Hotel, Southend, where he stayed through most of the 1930s. With lyricists Stanley Damerell and Robert Hargreaves, he formed the Cecil Lennox song publishing company, which published one of their most successful collaborations, "Lady of Spain" (co-credited to "Erell Reaves", a pseudonym for Damerell and Hargreaves), in 1931. Using an unfamiliar paso doble rhythm, it was turned down by several bands before being made successful by Jack Payne. At one time, four of his songs were being used by major London dance bands as signature tunes. He was often featured on British Broadcasting Corporation radio, notably with his "Tuneful Twenties" series from 1949 on. In 1951, his career was boosted when Perry Como"s version of "If" sold over a million copies. Evans spent some time in the United States, and the following year Eddie Fisher"s recording of "Lady of Spain" also became a best-seller. His own recording of "The Singing Piano" (1959) was used as a signature tune at Butlins holiday camps. He also appeared on British television He died in London in 1978, aged 76.

Tolchard Evans

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composer songwriter

Background

He was born in West Kilburn, London, the son of Edmund George Evans and his wife Maud, née Tolchard.

Education

He started playing piano at the age of six, and studied orchestration and conducting with a view to becoming a classical musician, but in 1919 joined the staff of the Lawrence Wright popular music publishing company.

Career

The family later moved to Willesden, where Evans lived for the rest of his life. In 1924, he left to work as a pianist for silent films and dance bands, before establishing his own band at the Queen"s Hotel, Westcliff-on-Sea, later moving to the Palace Hotel, Southend, where he stayed through most of the 1930s. With lyricists Stanley Damerell and Robert Hargreaves, he formed the Cecil Lennox song publishing company, which published one of their most successful collaborations, "Lady of Spain" (co-credited to "Erell Reaves", a pseudonym for Damerell and Hargreaves), in 1931.

Using an unfamiliar paso doble rhythm, it was turned down by several bands before being made successful by Jack Payne.

At one time, four of his songs were being used by major London dance bands as signature tunes. He was often featured on British Broadcasting Corporation radio, notably with his "Tuneful Twenties" series from 1949 on.

In 1951, his career was boosted when Perry Como"s version of "If" sold over a million copies. Evans spent some time in the United States, and the following year Eddie Fisher"s recording of "Lady of Spain" also became a best-seller.

His own recording of "The Singing Piano" (1959) was used as a signature tune at Butlins holiday camps.

He also appeared on British television He died in London in 1978, aged 76.

Achievements

He also achieved success as a songwriter, with his song "Barcelona" (1926) becoming an international hit. His songs also continued to be successful in Britain, with "Ev"rywhere" winning an Ivor Novello Award in 1955, and David Whitfield having United Kingdom hits with "My September Love" (1956) and "I"ll Find You" (1957). In 1973 he won an Ivor Novello Award for outstanding services to British music

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Tolchard Evans

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Ivor Novello award