Group    From 1918  To 1922

Southern Syncopated Orchestra

Categories: Music / songs

Countries: Caribbean Islands, Ghana, USA

Jazz band. Founded by Will Marion Cook, the all-black band included performers from many areas including the U.S.A., the Caribbean and Ghana. They became extremely popular throughout Europe and performed for the future Edward VIII at Buckingham Palace. On October 9th 1921, whilst sailing from Glasgow to Dublin on the S.S. Rowan, the boat collided with a steamer. Another ship answering their distress call also collided in the fog, causing the Rowan to sink in about a minute. Reports vary, but eight or nine musicians died in the tragedy. Within a year the orchestra had broken up.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Southern Syncopated Orchestra

Commemorated ati

Frank Bates

Frank Bates, 1889 - 1921, vocalist and lead singer with pioneering jazz ensem...

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Pete Robinson

Pete Robinson, 1888 - 1921, drummer and leading member of the Southern Syncop...

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Other Subjects

Dame Bridget D'Oyly Carte DBE

Dame Bridget D'Oyly Carte DBE

Theatre manager. Born Suffolk Street, Pall Mall. Grand-daughter of Richard D'Oyly Carte. Became her father's heir at the age of 24 on the death of her brother in a motoring accident. She took an a...

Person, Commerce, Music / songs, Theatre

1 memorial
Damon Albarn

Damon Albarn

Musician, singer, songwriter, composer and record producer. Born Whitechapel, son of artist Keith Albarn (1939 - ). Co-founder of the band Blur and the virtual group Gorillaz.

Person, Music / songs, Seriously Famous

1 memorial
Sir Adrian Boult

Sir Adrian Boult

Conductor. Born Adrian Cedric Boult in Chester. He studied in London and Leipzig, and conducted for the Royal Opera House. He became conductor of the City of Birmingham Orchestra in 1924, and was a...

Person, Music / songs, Germany

1 memorial
Horace (Ruddy Ranks) Burke

Horace (Ruddy Ranks) Burke

Horace Alexander Burke, aka Ruddy Ranks. From the Just Giving page: "By trade he was a Reggae musician playing several instruments but was mainly a keyboard player. He has been in a couple of band...

Person, Music / songs

1 memorial
The Ealing Club

The Ealing Club

It originally opened in January 1959 as the 'Ealing Jazz Club', changing its name when it became London's first regular rhythm and blues venue. It was here that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were ...

Place, Music / songs

1 memorial