Joe Loss

Life

Joe Loss was the youngest of four children, born in Spitalfields, London, to Russian Jewish parents Israel and Ada Loss, who were first cousins. His father worked as a cabinet-maker and ran an office furnishing business. Loss attended the Jews' Free School, Trinity College of Music, and the London College of Music. He began violin lessons at seven and later performed on violin at Blackpool's Tower Ballroom and with Oscar Rabin.

He started leading bands in the early 1930s, first at the Astoria Ballroom, then moving into variety work at the Kit-Cat Club. In 1934, he headlined at the Holborn Empire, but returned to the Astoria Ballroom that same year to lead a twelve-piece band. Vera Lynn made her first radio broadcast with the Joe Loss Orchestra in 1935. Through broadcasting, recording, and annual tours alongside his residency, the band gained widespread popularity. During the 1950s and early 1960s, Loss was the resident band leader at the Hammersmith Palais. His orchestra's signature tune, "In the Mood," was often requested three or more times a night.

Loss was surprised by Eamonn Andrews for the television show This Is Your Life twice: first in May 1963 at the Hammersmith Palais, and again in October 1980 at London's Portman Hotel during a party celebrating his 50 years in show business. A favourite of the British royal family, his orchestra played at Royal Variety Performances and at royal family Christmas parties, earning him both the OBE and the LVO, the latter a personal honour from the Queen. His daughter Jennifer chairs the Jewish Music Institute in London and was married to car designer Robert Jankel. Loss died on 6 June 1990 and is buried at Bushey Jewish Cemetery in Hertfordshire.

Joe Loss Orchestra

The Joe Loss Orchestra was one of the most successful acts of the big band era in the 1940s, with hits including "In the Mood". In 1961, they had a hit with "Wheels—Cha Cha", a version of the String-A-Longs' hit "Wheels". Other hits included David Rose's "The Stripper" in 1958, "Sucu Sucu", "Must Be Madison", "The Theme from Maigret" and "March of the Mods (The Finnjenka Dance)" of 1964. In April 1951, vocalist Elizabeth Batey fell and broke her jaw; Loss quickly replaced her with Rose Brennan, whom he had heard on radio in Ireland.

Brennan stayed with Loss for fifteen years, writing many songs under the name Marella. Co-vocalists from 1955 were Ross MacManus and Larry Gretton. The orchestra continues under Todd Miller, who was a vocalist with the band for 19 years before Loss' death. In 1990 Loss entrusted leadership to Sam Watmough and Miller. The orchestra celebrated its 85th anniversary in 2015.