Harold Geller and his Orchestra first appeared in 'Music While You Work' in 1946, initially as a nine-piece ensemble, led by the maestro on violin and broadcasting regularly until 1952. After a break from radio, Harold Geller returned in 1955 with a new style and instrumentation. The BBC encouraged all the orchestra leaders on their books to endeavour to create an individual style. The newly-formed orchestra (now consisting of 14 players) comprised strings, saxophone (doubling flute), accordion, piano, guitar, bass and drums — plus the distinctive sound of a mandoline, played by the well-known Hugo D'Alton. Harold Geller's Orchestra returned to 'Music While You Work' late in 1958 and played a total of 52 editions. They would undoubtedly have done more but for the fact that they were extensively used in other programmes, noteably 'Morning Music', for which they provided some 115 editions between 1961 and 1965. They had an attractive and quite sophisticated style and despite being officially classed as a dance orchestra, their instrumentation enabled them to include contemporary light music in their repertoire. During the sixties the orchestra was resident at the London's Kensington Palace Hotel. Harold's daughter Roslynn became quite well-known as a broadcasting and recording artist, playing the harp with her trio.

Harold Geller, who was born in Sydney, Australia, and came to this country as a child, was a prolific composer. Amongst his compositions are 'El Toreador', 'Kibbutzim', 'Street of Linden Trees', 'Dancers of El Paso' and, most famous of all, 'The Green Cockatoo'. He also wrote a mandoline concerto for Hugo D'Alton, which was broadcast by the BBC Concert Orchestra under Geller's direction in the long-running Sunday morning series, 'Melodies for You'. Radio work had completely dried up by the early seventies and Harold Geller emigrated to the United States a few years later.

He died in Las Vegas on 26th February 2005 aged 89.

Listen to Harold Geller and his Orchestra
playing 'Dusky Slant-eyed Maiden' by Brian Fahey
(60 second clip)

MUSIC WHILE YOU WORK at 10.31 a.m. on 19th December 1958
played by Harold Geller and his Orchestra