CD BROADCAST 010

Harry Bidgood recorded both under his own name, and a variety of other names such as Harry Bidgood's Broadcasters (ca. 1925-27), Don Porto and His Novelty Accordions (ca.'33), Rossini's Accordions (ca. 1935), Primo Scala and His Banjo Band, and Primo Scala and His Accordion Band (both ca. 1939 up --perhaps his best known band). Among the famous vocalists who appeared with him are Vera Lynn, Cavan O'Malley, Sam Costa and Donald Peers. Bidgood's career began when he became the pianist with the De Groot Orchestra then resident at London's famed Piccadilly Hotel. In time, he became the Musical Director for Vocalion Records, and in 1932, for Crystalate Records. Over his career, he recorded 100s of tunes with his conventional dance band and 100s more with his Banjo and Accordion bands. Curiously, he is probably best remembered by his pseudonym of "Primo Scala" than by his own English birthname. (He contrived the name from Italy's boxing champion 'Primo Carnera' and a then famous Irish Sweepstakes winner - Signor Emilio Scala.) He used this name when fronting his 'Accordion Orchestra'. When he died, he was probably better known as 'Primo Scala' than as 'Harry Bidgood'.

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