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| AUSTRALIA'S
MAESTRO OF THE THEATRE ORGAN and occasionally,
the piano, WILBUR
KENTWELL, 1914-1981, ex-Parramatta High School
student. Wilbur's many albums include the Echoes
of Hollywood series Columbia, MGM, RKO,
Paramount. |
|
WILBUR KENTWELL
1914 - 1981
AUSTRALIA'S
MAESTRO OF THE THEATRE ORGAN
Page updated 17th June, 2009.
A page on the Collecting Books and
Magazines web site based in
Australia.
Wilbur died on the night of 8th February, 1981.
This page attempts to document some aspects of
his life, and his record releases over the 1947
to 1981 period.
Recordings -
Just a start, as details are difficult to find.
Thanks to John Nichols for recent
6/2009 additions.
Album
Covers
Biographical details appear
directly below.
? = Details to be confirmed. Wanted Can
anyone help?
|
Biographical
details (ref notes in brackets
refer to record cover).
* Wilbur was born 29th January,
1914, at Castle Hill, NSW. (DPW.1 ref)
* Studied the piano under Miss Lillian Harvey.
* Had a pivot-tooth? ( Bes McDonald ref)
* Wilbur began studying the organ at age 8, began
playing the pipe organ at his Castle Hill, NSW,
parish at age 12.
* Attended Parramatta High School 1927-32 (?),
may have repeated first year in 1928 (Bes
McDonald ref).
* First played the Wurlitzer organ at Sydney's
Prince Edward Theatre at age 14. (?)
* Organist at the New Lambton Theatre, Newcastle,
at the outbreak of WW2.
* During WW2, Sergeant Kentwell served as a Film
Projectionist in the A.I.F.
* After the war played theatre organs at the
Vogue, Double Bay and the Trocadero, with Abe
Romain's orchestra. (DPW.1 ref)
* Musical Director at Sydney radio station 2GB,
also worked at 2CH on the Humphrey Bishop Show.
Worked with, among others, Larry Adler, Joe E
Brown, Anne Ziegler, Webster Booth and George
Formby.
* Worked on the Jack Davey Show. Note there is a
mention of Wilbur in 'Davey's Back!', an article
in the AUSTRALASIAN
POST dated 11 November, 1954.
* Composed atmospheric music for radio plays and
serials. (7564 ref)
* Musical Director of television station TVQ
(QTQ) in Brisbane, appointed August, 1959. (31664
ref)
* Played (? organ or piano) at the Regal
Restaurant in Brisbane.
* People who worked with Wilbur apart from those
mentioned elsewhere on this page, gleaned from
album covers, include the following. John
Stevenson and Don Savage (TVQ), Howell Whitehouse
(The Organ Centre, Brisbane), Alan Watson
(O'Donnell-Griffen, Brisbane), Ron Wills, John
Taylor, David Woodley-Page (RCA ?), Reg Robinson
(on string bass), Cyril Bevan and Alan Geddes (on
drums), Johnny Edgecombe (on guitar), Ken Hannam
(Diaphon).
* First solo artist in Australia to make a
Microgrove recording and use the multiple track
technique (7564 ref).
* Met Richard Rodgers in New York on April 1st,
1971, during a tour of the USA and the United
Kingdom.
* Wife, Fay, and daughter, Carole Ann (DPW.1 ref,
then living at Elizabeth Bay).Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Phil Paterson of
the Central Coast Swing Music Society who very
kindly supplied me with information and a pile of
photocopied album covers back in 1991, Mrs Bes
Macdonald who came up with the Parramatta High
first form school photograph from 1928 and Stephen
Fleay for his recent information, two fine photos
and recordings.
Recordings
This list is just the start and may contain
errors. Corrections welcome.
ALBUM TITLES in
bold text will be found
illustrated below.
DUPLICATIONS became apparent during the overhaul
of this page. These will be sorted, eventually.
|
| |
| Column 1 - record size inches |
Column 2 - speed |
Column 3 - company, catalogue ref,
title and other details |
| 10 |
78 |
Parlophone A7813* - The Continental
/ These Foolish Things |
| 10 |
78 |
Parlophone
A7823* - Louise / Sleepy Time Gal |
| 10 |
? |
Evergreens
of Rogers and Hart |
| 10 |
? |
A
Two-Piano Recital of Medleys |
| 10 |
33 |
Columbia 330s-7559 A
Little Bit of Heaven, Ten Songs of
Ireland, sung by Darryl Stewart. |
| 12 |
33 |
Camden
VCL1- 0004 - Wilbur Kentwell at the Conn
Theatre Organ (1973) see RCA cams
145 |
| 12 |
33 |
Camden VCL1-0040 - On a
Clear Day (1974) |
| 12 |
33 |
RCA VAL 1
0093 - Wilbur Kentwell at the Conn Theatre Organ
plays Night and Day The Music of Cole Porter
(1975) |
| 12 |
33 |
Columbia
330sx7562 Salute to Al Jolson |
| 12 |
33 |
Columbia 330sx7563 Organ Grinder's
Swing |
| 12 |
33 |
Columbia
330sx7564 Get Rhythm in Your Feet |
| 12 |
33 |
Columbia 330sx7567 Wilbur
Kentwell Plays Astaire and Rogers |
| 12 |
33 |
Columbia
330sx7576 Echoes of Hollywood Vol.1 20th Century
Fox (reish.330ex9389), WRI 7059 |
| 12 |
33 |
Columbia
330sx7577 Echoes of Hollywood Vol.2 MGM |
| 12 |
33 |
Columbia 330sx7578 Echoes of
Hollywood Vol.3 Paramount Pictures |
| 12 |
33 |
Columbia
330sx7580 Echoes of Hollywood Vol.5 RKO,
with Reg Robinson, WRI PLE/830 |
| 12 |
33 |
Columbia
330sx7619 Go West Young Man (with Neil Williams) |
| 12 |
33 |
Columbia 330sx7621 Smoke
Gets in Your Eyes (Jerome Kern) |
| 12 |
33 |
Columbia
330sx7624 Spring is Here (Rogers
and Hart) |
| 12 |
33 |
RCA
cams145 Wilbur Kentwell At the Conn
Theatre Organ |
| 12 |
33 |
RCA
cams153 It Had to be You |
| 12 |
33 |
RCA
cams166 Organ Contrasts Wilbur Kentwell
(1970 ?) |
| 12 |
33 |
RCA cams 185 I'll Walk
with God |
| 12 |
33 |
RCA vcl 1
3334 (Camden) You're My Everything |
| 12 |
33 |
Festival
fl.31644 Stay as Sweet as You Are (Harry
Revel and Mack Gordon) |
| 12 |
33 |
mfp
mfpa.8043 Wilbur Kentwell Plays Film Hits
at the Hammond Organ, with Cyril Bevan
(drums) |
| 12 |
33 |
Diaphon
dpw.1 Richard Rogers Album |
| 10 |
33 |
Diaphon
dpr.2 Gershwin Album V.1 |
| 10 |
33 |
Diaphon
dpr.3 Gershwin Album V.2 |
| 10 |
33 |
Diaphon
dpr.5 Showboat / Lovely to Look At |
| 10 |
33 |
Columbia
330s.7550 Wilbur Kentwell's Party No.1 |
| 10 |
33 |
Columbia
330s.7551 Wilbur Kentwell's Party No.2 |
| 10 |
33 |
Columbia 330s.7552 Care to
Dance? with Glenn Marks |
| 10 |
33 |
Columbia
330s.7556 Under the Southern Cross |
| 10 |
33 |
Columbia 330s.7557 Relax
and Listen with Glenn Marks |
| 10 |
33 |
Columbia
330s.7561 May I have the Pleasure (piano) |
| 7 |
33 |
Columbia
sego.7226 To Mother with Love |
| 12 |
33 |
RCA val
1.0.332 Wilbur Kentwell At the Console of the
Christie Organ (1981) Kelvin Gr HS, Brisbane |
| 12 |
33 |
RCA Victor SL101957 With
Grateful Admiration |
Notes
The above table is not yet
in date order; grouped by company and reference.
* WK on Hammond organ, piano and ? Al
Vincent on drums and vibrophone, Bruce
Higginbotham string bass. |
 |
<< Wilbur,
Parramatta High School, Sydney, 1st year, 1928 Wilbur Kentwell and Eric
Wynne on Double Bass, possibly on
Channel 9's Brisbane Tonight Show, 1960s.
>>
** Note below
|
 |
| Comments ** From
Frances Wynne, 2006:
I have been going through all my family
photo's and scanning them to the computer.
Amongst them I found the attached photo of Wilbur
Kentwell and my father Eric Wynne on Double Bass
(although the bass can't be seen). The photo
appears to be taken while they were playing in
the band on Channel 9's Brisbane Tonight Show. I
can't remember the year that the show was running
but sometime in the 60's I think. ... I have a
vague recollection that it was Wilbur Kentwell
who played the organ at the Regents Theatre in
Brisbane possibly in the 1940's or early 1950's.
... Eric Wynne was a well known bass player in
Brisbane during the 50's and 60's and was the
bass player with bands that supported various
overseas entertainers. Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley
Bassey, Johnny Ray, Tommy Hopper to name a few.
... Eric died in December 1976 from cancer.
Many thanks for your recollections and the
photo, Frances.
From
Stephen Fleay, 2007
Hi John; delighted to see your page about
Wilbur Kentwell... I met him on a number of
occasions in the early sixties.....one time at
QTQ channel 9, and several times when he visited
the Palm Beach Hotel (Gold Coast) and played my
Lowrey Holiday Organ.
Recordings were made, and some have survived
reasonably well.....Will attach an almost
complete version of "I've got Rhythm"
which has been run thru the restoration programme
Adobe Audition.
I do not believe Wilbur played theatre organs in
Brisbane in the 40's and 50's. He was most
prominent as Organist for the (Sydney based)Jack
Davey radio shows during the 1950's....and
certainly did perform on Sydney theatre
organs......some info on this in the Australian
Theatre Organ web sites.
Your page has given added impetus to restore
these Lowrey Organ recordings......Wilbur also
sings some "oldies"....with reaction
from a lively late night audience at the Palm
Beach Hotel. I'll also scan a cuppla photos for
you.....to be continued.
Best regards,
Stephen
Thanks for the MP3 recordings, Stephen, and
the two great photos. Details under the first
photo.
|
 |
| Milmerran,
Queensland circa 1964. Wilbur had friends in show
Carol's Varieties. (I was organist for this show
in '63 and '64). Wilbur played for an ANZAC
service outside and also posed for a picture with
myself and a Lowrey Organ banner. As Wilbur was a
Hammond exponent at the time, it was good for
Lowrey Organs. I ended up with a Hammond, and
have the large Hammond Elegante in the house. It
was acquired in Europe and sadly there are no
qualified people in Indonesia to service it. -
Stephen. |
 |
From Ade Gregg, 2008
Hi, Just saw your fab page on Mr. Kentwell;
filled in a bit of history for me, let me say. I
used to know a fellow who recorded him in
Newcastle and I restored his 10 inch LP
"Australia" by again Mr Kentwell;
interested? / I have also transfered a heap of
Wilbur's 78's which you do not have on your list
(at least 2 or more!) / I'm an audio Enginner and
would love to help in any way to bring back the
sound of Mr Kentwell in any way possible. / In
fact I've started a blog and have a 78 restored
The Continental (I know its a popular disc!) the
next one will be the Annie get your gun and the
Jolson Medelys.
Thanks, Ade Gregg
Oh BTW my page is at http://www.ade42.blogspot.com From
Wilfred Høsteland (Bergen, Norway) 2008 willand@c2i.net
Sorry I
can't help, but hopefully someone reading this
will contact you.
|
| Album covers |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 10-inch, Showboat Selections |
12-inch, Wilbur Kentwell At the Conn
Theatre Organ |
10-inch, A Little Bit of Heaven. |
12-inch, With Grateful Admiration |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 12-inch, You're My Everything |
12-inch, Echoes of Hollywood,
original release |
12-inch, It Had to be You |
12-inch,
Wilbur Kentwell Plays
Film Hits at the Hammond Organ |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 12-inch, Stay as Sweet as You Are |
12-inch, Organ Contrasts
Wilbur Kentwell |
12-inch, Wilbur
Kentwell at the
Conn Theatre Organ |
12-inch, Richard Rogers Album |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 12-inch, Organ Grinder's Swing |
12-inch, Echoes of Hollywood,
Encore series re-release |
12-inch, Wilbur Kentwell Plays
Astaire and Rogers |
12-inch, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes |
 |
 |
 |
MORE TO COME ... |
| 12-inch, Get Rhythm
in Your Feet |
12-inch, Spring is Here |
Echoes of Hollywood, RKO,
WRI re-release |
|
Links,
external
http://members.mpx.com.au/~encore/chap18.html
Wilbur and Jack Davey (Graeme Pearce
gumatthepearces.com )
http://faxmentis.org/html/notables2.html
Parramatta High notable ex-students
http://libapp.sl.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/spydus/ENQ/PM/FULL1?139820,I
Alan Jones and organist Wilbur Kentwell
on "Hour of Song" radio program at the
2UW Theatre
http://www.doctormacro.info/Movie%20Summaries/S/Soundies.htm
Doctor Macro's 'Soundies' which includes
a download of 'Beyond the Blue Horizon',
performed by the talented and lively group, The
Three Suns, of whom Artie Dunn on organ bears a
similarity to Wilbur.
http://www.tosa.net.au/
Theatre Organ Society of Australia
Wanted
April, 2008 - Can anyone
help Wilfred?
I'm looking for records by Wilbur Kentwell. I
have just found 2 where he plays the Hammond,-
and have primarly interess for more of his
Hammond-records. Do you have any idea where I can
find them ? I found the named two at GEMM Vinyl
and Ebay,- but even he made many records, it
seems very difficult to find more. / [later ...]
I'm also
working on a wide electronic organ guide, and
Stephen Fleay named the Australian Bourne organ.
I should like to know more about this organ - its
system, production-time, - and perhaps a picture.
Do you know something here - or perhaps where I
could write? In advance thanks for any help!
Wilfred Høsteland, (Bergen, Norway) willand@c2i.net
Anyone
with information on Wilbur can contact me at opsbooks@aol.com
You'll have to cut and paste
the address into a blank e-mail as I no longer
run hot links which attract spam.
You
can also write to me: John at FRM, PO Box 781,
Katoomba NSW 2780
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