1899 - 1969
Billy Cotton formed his own orchestra between the wars, eventually building it into a band that mixed comedy and light entertainment with tunes that catered for music hall-type audiences. This popular format was transferred successfully to radio in 1949 as The Billy Cotton Band Show and continued until 1968.
Cotton's opening call “Wakey Wakey” followed by the theme tune 'Somebody Stole My Gal', became a regular accompaniment to Sunday lunch for many radio listeners during this era.
Billy Cotton formed his own orchestra between the wars, eventually building it into a band that mixed comedy and light entertainment with tunes that catered for music hall-type audiences. This popular format was transferred successfully to radio in 1949 as The Billy Cotton Band Show and continued until 1968.
Cotton's opening call “Wakey Wakey” followed by the theme tune 'Somebody Stole My Gal', became a regular accompaniment to Sunday lunch for many radio listeners during this era.
Audio
Billy Cotton and Bud Flanagan
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Billy Cotton – Band Show opening
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