Tommy Kinsman was born in Liverpool in 1901. In his youth he learned to play the banjo, subsequently taking up the clarinet and the saxophone, upon which he became an accomplished performer. He began his bandleading career in 1928, directing what was initially called the London Frivolities Band in Weston-super-Mare. For a while he played at the Florida Club, graduating to the famous Ciro's club before taking up residency at the Ritz Hotel in 1932. By the mid-thirties he was playing at the exclusive Fischer's Restaurant in Bond Street, performing for a discerning clientele. During the first ten years of the band's existence over 250 'sides' were cut for the record labels Sterno, Piccadilly, Metropole, Phonochord, Edison Bell, Winner and Octacros, for which Tommy Kinsman later became Musical Director. In addition, he recorded under pseudonyms such as The Bond Street Swingers and Eddie Harding and his Night Club Boys on the Piccadilly and Metropole labels.

During these early years the band personnel numbered between eight and twelve players. Regular broadcasting commenced on Radio Luxembourg in 1936 and Tommy Kinsman was well satisfied with his 'high society' following, avoiding the press, seeking no publicity and, therefore, not receiving any! Some of his early recordings were reissued in 1990 on a long-playing record on the Harlequin label and amongst the personnel was violinist/saxophonist Freddie Ballerini, whose own sextet often broadcast during the sixties.

Despite the large number of commercial records made before the Second World War, Tommy Kinsman is best remembered for his post war broadcasts with his dance orchestra, playing 'strict tempo' ballroom music. He played regularly on 'Music While You Work' for over 20 years, chalking up 138 programmes in the series, and very entertaining they were too! The band consisted of a full saxophone section plus brass and rhythm (the guitar and violin which he included before the war were dispensed with in later years). A memorable feature was the orchestra's two-piano team who played 'a Ia Victor Silvester' in a style sometimes known in the music business as 'bubble and squeak' — the second pianist being required to play an improvised 'filigree' of notes around the main melody played by the first pianist, rather in the manner of a clarinet player in a traditional jazz band.

Tommy Kinsman continued to make records after the war and, during the fifties and sixties, made more than 40 long-playing records for Oriole, Wing and Fontana. Very occasionally, a string section was used for certain tracks, as was an accordion where appropriate, but the basic sound was the same as the broadcasts: brash, bouncy and tuneful. In common with other bands, Tommy Kinsman's style had changed since the thirties and now had great appeal to London's high society, and his band become known as the 'Deb's Delight Band'. He was the doyen of dance band leaders, having fans amongst European Royalty. One of his biggest fans was the late Queen Mother!

Unlike many bands, Tommy Kinsman and his Dance Orchestra never had 'palais' residences, preferring to do gigs in London and elsewhere. They could be at Windsor Castle one day and a working-men's club the next. That they existed for about 50 years could well be attributed to the fact that Kinsman was an unassuming man who, despite his high standing in society, was quite happy to play for anyone who wanted his services; apparently he even played in people’s houses. (I wish I’d known!)

Tommy Kinsman's post-war orchestra had 14 musicians and, during the sixties, played only in the longer afternoon editions of MWYW, which ended in 1966. The lower budget allocation for the remaining morning shows didn't allow for the use of many large bands, however, after some persuasion, Tommy Kinsman managed to secure one more broadcast before the series ended. Although the band carried on for many years after broadcasting ceased, I recall reading in the seventies that they were struggling to get work. Modern trends had meant that most of their 'society' work had dried up and they were mainly doing working-men's clubs. At that time their drummer (whose bass drum bore the autographs of monarchs of many lands) had been in the band for 22 years!

Finally, Tommy Kinsman went into the business of providing bands for cruise liners. Of course, he made sure of always fronting one himself, thus enabling him to combine work with pleasure! He also took the opportunity of playing for private parties on the Continent. In 1982, at the age of 81, Tommy decided to retire to Marbella. Sadly, he suffered a heart attack on 1st February 1984 and after a further attack on 15th March was rushed to a clinic in Malaga, where he died. He was cremated in Madrid and his ashes were scattered in the gardens of Golders Green Crematorium, as had been those of his first wife.

Listen to 'Music While You Work' played by Tommy Kinsman and his Dance Orchestra
as broadcast on 5th. October 1960.

Music While You Work at 3.45 p.m. on 5th October 1960
Played by Tommy Kinsman and his Dance Orchestra