Russ Conway

Russ Conway is still the most popular pianist in terms of UK pop history. Between 1957 and early 1963 he placed some 20 records in the charts including two number ones, "Side Saddle" and "Roulette" both in 1959. The former spent an incredible 30 weeks on the chart, and the latter 19 weeks.

Other major hits for the former Trevor Standford included "China Tea" (number 5), "Snow Coach" (number 7), "More and more party pops" (number 5) and "Toy Balloons" (number 7). In total Russ Conway spent 168 weeks on the charts, no mean archievement for a young pianist whose professional breaks had included playing the piano onstage for two great ladies of the entertainment world, the legendary Gracie Fields and Dorothy Squires.

Russ Conway was born as Trevor Herbert Stanford in the Bedminster district of Bristol on 2nd September 1925, the youngest son of a commercial traveller. At a very early age he demonstrated a natural talent for music and can never remembered a time when he couldn't play the piano. He can only recall having one piano lesson in his life, and played truant, preferring to spend the piano lesson money in the local cinema. After leaving school, he entered a Merchant Navy Training school and after this went to sea. Later he joined the Royal Navy. After the war, he tried a number of jobs, but he could not settle down so he rejoined the Royal Navy again.
However, he was discharged in 1948 because of a stomach complaint. Still having difficulties with life in civvy street Russ decided to re-join the Merchant Navy, which was to be the last time. In 1955 the old illness caught up with him again and his sea-going days were over.
One day, when he was back in London, he met an old friend who, remembering his piano playing talent, suggested that he stood in for a club pianist who was going on holiday. Russ took the job but was uncertain whether his style of playing would be suitable. A visitor that night was choreographer Irwin Davis. Irwin was so impressed with the Conway style and ability, that he offered him a job as his rehearsal pianist.Irwin asked Russ to write a new tune for a slot he had at the Radio Show at Earls Court which was to be televised by the BBC. Russ took up the challenge although he was apprehensive as he had never written anything original before. The tune, called "Primera", and was arranged by Arthur Wilkinson and conducted by the legendry Eric Robinson. Russ still considers this to be one of the all time highs of his career.

Through Irwin Davis, Russ later joined forces with Columbia Record Producer (or Artiste and Repertoire Manager as they were then called) Norman Newell, firstly as an audition pianist for other artists and later in a songwriting partnership. They wrote many successful songs which were recorded by various artistes of such as Joan Regan, Dennis Lotis, Lita Rosa and Gracie Fields, Russ also worked as a stage accompanist to them and others including Dorothy Squires and Adelaide Hall.

He also worked a while with the music publishing firm Chappell's as a song plugger, a job which at the time he disliked but which he admits gave him lots of experience and was to prove useful in his subsequent recording career. One day in 1955, a familiar face walked into his office. It was a new up and coming star, who had just recorded "The yellow rose of Texas", a song Russ was plugging. Russ recognised the face as Michael Milne, an old friend from his Royal Navy days but Michael Milne had changed his name to become singer Michael Holliday.
Early in 1957, Normal Newell was given a tune to record by Chappell's boss, Teddy Holmes. Norman wanted to record it with pianist Ken Morris. Ken wasn't available and Russ was asked to play the tune to demonstrate the sound. Teddy liked what he heard and the culmination was the start of what was to become one of the greatest solo instrumental acts ever. However, Newell was not happy with the name Terry Stanford as a stage name, and the name Russ Conway was born.Conway from Newell's early recording association with singer Steve Conway, and Russ from the Russ Henderson Trinidad Steel Band, an act Newell was currently involved with Steve Conway didn't make it, but Russ Conway did.
In November 1957 Russ had his first chart success when the medley "Party pops" reached number 24 in the charts. Later in 1958 the "party pops" medley was combined with a medley of Scottish tunes to from the EP called "Party pops".Winifred Atwell was busy recording and performing Rags and Boogies in the fifties, but in May 1959 Russ gave us a taste of ragtime, Russ Conway style, when the EP "Out of the Rag Bag" was released. Between 1957 and 1967 there were 35 EP's released by pianist Russ Conway, containing 172 tracks with 224 tunes !

During the Fifties and well into the Sixties Russ Conway was one of Britain’s biggest attractions, both live - he worked in variety throughout the country - and on record. He was a regular guest on Billy Cotton’s weekly TV variety show "The Wakey Wakey Tavern", and many others of the period.

Russ’ early hits had comprised party medleys like "Party pops" and "More party pops". Both of which made the top 30. It was however when he started recording his own songs that he became one of Britain biggest-selling recording artists of the pre-Beatles era.

Russ Conway’s recording career came to a premature halt when he tragically suffered a stroke during the Sixties. However with indomitable strength he fought back, and in recent years has once again become one of Britain best-loved variety attractions. He still makes the occasional record, most recently for his own label "Churchill Records", and does summer seasons and Sunday night concerts at all our top resorts: 1988 saw him working alongside another great favourite from the Fifties and Sixties, the popular singer Joan Regan. In 1990 the Russ Conway Cancer fund was launched following Russ's own battle with the disease. This charity provides much needed funds for several cancer relief and research organisations. On Russ's 65th birthday, with the help of many showbusiness friends, he staged a massive charity concert in Bristol, his birthtown. The concert was so successful that it is to become an annual event.

By William Gurden, Robert Gunn and Chris White.