Robert Wallis (3 June 1934 – 10 January 1991) was a
British jazz musician, who had a handful of chart success in the early 1960s,
during the UK traditional jazz boom.
Wallis was born in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire,
where his father became harbour master. At an early age Wallis joined the local
Salvation Army band with his friend, Keith Avison, who was to play trombone
with Wallis for a number of years. By the age of twenty, Wallis discovered jazz
and set up his own band in Bridlington, which also played in Hull. His
influence as a trumpeter was Henry Red Allen. Wallis played predominately with
the Storyville Jazz Band, although earlier and later in his career he played
with other bands.
He went to Denmark for a short spell, and recorded a
couple of records there as the vocalist with the 'Washboard Beaters'. Once
relocated to the UK, he went to London and played for a short time with Ken
Colyer's Omega Brass, as well 
as joining Acker Bilk. These bands were recording
mainly for the specialist 77 Records label.
as joining Acker Bilk. These bands were recording
mainly for the specialist 77 Records label.
Wallis joined up with Hugh Rainey's All Stars (Ginger
Baker was their drummer at the time) and shortly afterwards the band changed
its name to The Storyville Jazz Band, fronted by Wallis. In 1959 the band
recorded an album for Top Rank Records, Everybody Loves Saturday Night. It
peaked at No. 20 in the UK Albums Chart in June 1960. Two singles followed, and
then the band moved to Pye Records, where they made three albums and a number
of singles.
Those singles included "I'm Shy Mary Ellen, I'm Shy"
(1961) and "Come Along Please" (1962), which made No. 44 and No. 33
respectively in the UK Singles Chart.Wallis' Band also appeared in two films,
It's Trad, Dad! and Two Left Feet. At this time the band 
was made up of Wallis
on trumpet, Keith 'Avo' Avison (trombone), Doug Richford (clarinet), Pete
Gresham (piano), Hugh Rainey (banjo and later guitar), Brian 'Drag' Kirby
(bass) and Kenny Buckner (drums). For the third album, The Wallis Collection, Al Gay
replaced Richford and, following an illness, Buckner left to be replaced by
Alan Poston.
was made up of Wallis
on trumpet, Keith 'Avo' Avison (trombone), Doug Richford (clarinet), Pete
Gresham (piano), Hugh Rainey (banjo and later guitar), Brian 'Drag' Kirby
(bass) and Kenny Buckner (drums).
In 1963, Wallis and his band, who had been television
regulars, as well as having a summer season at the London Palladium, broke up.
Wallis played with one or two other bands before moving to the Continent where
he spent most of his remaining years, still playing with reconstituted versions
of the Storyville Jazzmen (variously billed as 
Storyville Jazz Band).
Occasionally these bands included former colleagues, such as Avison and
Gresham. Poston was still playing with the band when it made its final
recordings in the mid 1980s. Clarinettist Forrie Cairns was also with the band
for much of this time.
Storyville Jazz Band).
Occasionally these bands included former colleagues, such as Avison and
Gresham. Poston was still playing with the band when it made its final
recordings in the mid 1980s. Clarinettist Forrie Cairns was also with the band
for much of this time.
In January 1963, the British music magazine, NME reported
that the biggest trad jazz event to be staged in Britain had taken place at
Alexandra Palace. The event included George Melly, Diz Disley, Acker Bilk,
Chris Barber, Kenny Ball, Ken Colyer, Monty Sunshine, Alex Welsh, Bruce Turner,
Mick Mulligan and Wallis.
Ultimately Bob settled in Zurich with a residency at the
Casa Bar, where he finally found his spiritual home, much appreciated by
residents and visitors alike. He continued to make records for European labels
such as Storyville, WAM and Pebe, but the chart appearances were long gone.
Nevertheless the band remained true to the Wallis ideals, with a driving style
that owed much to his energy and fine sense of humour. Phil Kent, who was the
bass-player with Bobs band during their residency in Zurich, is one of the few
remaining members of the Storyville 
Jazzmen. He is still playing bass, and
lives in Lydeard St Lawrence, near Taunton, Somerset.
Jazzmen. He is still playing bass, and
lives in Lydeard St Lawrence, near Taunton, Somerset.
When it became clear in 1990 that his ill health was not
going to improve, he returned to England with his wife, Joyce, where he died in
hospital in 1991. His long battle with illness was over but his records attest
to the fact that Wallis was one of the great British jazzmen of his time. His
son, Jay, carries on the family tradition of playing trumpet.
(Info edited from Wikipedia & AllAboutJazz)
