Carroll Gibbons

Biography

Carroll Gibbons, the composer/bandleader/arranger, was originally from Clinton, Massachusetts. He had worked extensively on the London music scene since his arrival in 1924 with the brassless Boston Orchestra that played at the Hotel Savoy. Gibbons later became the co-leader of the Savoy Orpheans and the leader of the New Mayfair Orchestra (preceding the legendary Ray Noble) for the Gramophone Company, Ltd., makers of "His Master's Voice" records. Gibbons made some return trips to America, but ultimately settled in England and took exclusive leadership of the Savoy Hotel Orpheans, recording hundreds of popular songs between June, 1932 and his sudden death on May 10, 1954. As a composer, Gibbons' most popular songs were "A Garden in the Rain" (1928) and his radio signature "On The Air" (1932) which was appropriated by American band leaders Rudy Vallée (1933) and 'Lud Gluskin' (1936). Gibbons' piano novelties, such as "Bubbling Over" and "Moonbeam Dance" also achieved some success in Britain.