User:AndyBarlow75

Charles Barlow [1]

Charles Whyatt Barlow (born 29th July 1913) was a musician, band leader and songwriter from Blackpool UK.

Affectionally known as 'Charlie' he was the bandleader in the world famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom, during a lengthy career of over 46 years.

During his impressive musical career, he has produced over 14 dance LP albums, to which thousands of professional and amateur ballroom dancers will have danced to. In addition to his Blackpool Tower residency, Charles along with his orchestra have travelled the world to play for dance competitions at famous venues including the Madison Square Garden and the Royal Albert Hall

Biography

Charles Barlow was born in Freckleton, Lancashire and one of thirteen children. His father was a local butcher, but at the time no other musicians in the family. Charles learnt to play the Trumpet, Clarinet and Saxophone and at the age of sixteen he began his musical career by deputisingin, and later joining as a full member the band at the Blackpool Tower ballroom. The next ten yers under the Bertini's Orchestra and Norman Newman in the Tower band gave Charles experience, not only of playing but of broadcasting and recording.

Charles spent 1939-1945 in the Royal Air Force in the dance band, then back to Blackpool and ther Tower band, now under the direction of Joe Kirkham. Later, when Freddie Platt had taken over the band, Charles was given his first chance as a bandleader with a small band in the Spanish Hall at the Winter Gardens. Charles then succeeded Freddie Platt in 1953 and took over the band in both the Tower and the Winter Gardens Ballrooms.

Charles married Anne in 1938, a girl dancer he met in the Tower. They both settled in Blackpool refusing offers to go to London or to join the circuit of touring dance bands popular at the time.

Charles and Anne had two sons, Raymond and Philip. Raymond became a successful profesional guitarist working with Charles' orchestra, the Northern Dance Orchestra and in the 1990's Freddie & the Dreamers. Philip also became a musician as a professional drummer, also working for his father and other bands including The Five Penny Piece in the 1970's.

Charles retired from the Blackpool Tower Company in 1979, but continued touring with his orchestra overseas and around the UK, playing for the worlds best professional and amateur dance championships and his many recordings used whenever there are dancers to dance.

Charles unfortunatley passed away peacefully in December 1993 after suffering a long illness, he has two sons Raymond and Philip,two grandsons Andrew and Philip Jnr and two great grandsons Harry and Theo.

To this day his music is still enjoyed by many ballroom dancers around the world, who enjoy the authentic 'big band' sound.

Recordings

1969 - Strict Tempo Championship - Ballroom Dancing (LP Album)

1970 - Time for Dancing (LP Album)

1972 - BYU at Blackpool (LP Album)

1972 - Strict Tempo Memories of Blackpool (LP Album)

1974 - Thanks for the Memory (LP Album)

1975 - Thanks for the Memories (LP Album)

1976 - British Championship Dances (LP Album)

1976 - Dancing to Freedom (LP Album)

1977 - Isnt She Lovely (LP Album)

1978 - The Nearness of You (LP Album)

1979 - Come Closer to me (LP Album)

1982 - Dance On & On (LP Album)

1984 - Memories (LP Album)

1986 - Golden Years (LP Album)

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