American born, British bandleader Roy Fox (1901-1982) began performing at 16 with Abe Lyman's orchestra at the Sunset Inn in Santa Monica. He formed his first band in 1920. In 1925 Fox began making records and broadcasting live from the Biltmore Hotel with Art Hickman under the direction of Earl Burtnett. After fulfilling his obligations in Florida Fox formed a small ensemble in New York and played the Avalon and Beaux Arts clubs. In 1927, Fox settled into a 15-month schedule of nightly radio broadcasts from Hollywood's Ambassador Hotel with Arnheim's Cocoanut Grove Orchestra, followed by more live broadcasts with his own band from the Montmartre Café. After an invitation to play in London his band opened there on September 29, 1930. When it came time to return to the U.S., Fox's band went back but he remained in London, forming a new ensemble for making records. An engagement at the Monseigneur Restaurant in Piccadilly began in May 1931, but for health reasons he had to quit. Once recovered, Fox took his new orchestra into the Café Anglais and the Kit Kat Club, as well as over the Channel to Brussels and onto the stage of the London Palladium to give Royal Command Performances for the Kings and Queens of Belgium and Great Britain, respectively. In 1933 and 1934 Fox made his first feature films. After touring the U.K. and Europe, new health problems caused him to break up his band in August 1938. Moving to Australia, Fox led the Jay Whidden Orchestra for a little while, then toured the U.S. with a series of small ensembles. Returning to England during Winter of 1946-1947, Fox led an orchestra on the Isle of Man and at the Potomac Club in London. In 1952 he scaled back his bandleading activities and opened a booking agency. His last working group was a small combo. This superb recording was made in 1932. Wonderful vocal by Al Bowlly.
