Ray Noble & His Orchestra.

Raymond Stanley Noble (17 December 1903 – 3 April 1978) was an English jazz and big band musician, who was a bandleader, composer and arranger, as well as a radio host, television and film comedian and actor; he also performed in the United States.

He is best known for his signature tunes, "The Very Thought of You" and "Cherokee".

Noble wrote both lyrics and music for many popular songs during the British dance band era, known as the "Golden Age of British music", notably for his longtime friend and associate Al Bowlly.

Noble studied at the Royal Academy of Music and in 1927 won a competition for the best British dance band orchestrator that was advertised in Melody Maker.

In 1929, he became leader of the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, a His Master's Voice studio band that featured members of many of the top hotel orchestras of the day.

Noble recorded prolifically during this time and US Victor released several of His Master's Voice recordings, including "Butterflies in the Rain", "Mademoiselle", "My Hat's on the Side of My Head" and "The Very Thought of You".

Noble moved to New York City in 1934. The Bowlly/Noble recordings with the British New Mayfair Dance Orchestra on His Master's Voice had achieved popularity in the United States and Noble had successes there.

Recording 'Mr Whittington' at Abbey Road, January 1934.

Mr. Whittington is a British musical with a book by Clifford Grey, Greatrex Newman and Douglas Furber and music by Johnny Green, Jack Waller and Joseph Tunbridge with additional lyrics provided by Edward Heyman. It was based on the traditional story of Dick Whittington, designed as a vehicle for the entertainer Jack Buchanan.

After premiering at the Alhambra Theatre, Glasgow in November 1933, it then transferred to London's West End where it ran for 300 performances between 1 February and 20 October 1934 initially at the London Hippodrome before transferring to the Adelphi Theatre.

On 11th and 12th January 1934, Ray Noble and his Orchestra atended Abbey Road Studios in London where several recordings of the music for Mr Whittington were made in both mono, and using the newly completed Blulein Binaural Recorder/Cutter. 

As well as Buchanan the original cast also included Elsie Randolph, Alfred Drayton, Fred Emney, William Kendall, Laurence Naismith and Kathleen Gibson.

Ray Noble

Mr Whittington recorded at Abbey Road.

Mr Whittington starring Jack Buchanan.