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

Thomas Britton

Thomas Britton

Held weekly concerts over his coal merchant's shop in Jerusalem Passage, from 1678. Important composers such as Pepusch and, it is also rumoured, Handel, paid visits to his musical evenings.Popular...

Person, Music / songs

1 memorial
La Gioconda / Giaconda

La Gioconda / Giaconda

Back in the 1960s this was the place where would-be future pop icons hung out.  We've found references to: Marc Bolan, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, Donovan, Small Faces, Elton John, Jimi Hendrix,...

Group, Community / Clubs, Food & Drink, Music / songs

1 memorial
Michael William Balfe

Michael William Balfe

Musical composer. Born Dublin (in a street which is now named after him). Wrote English-language operas the most successful being 'The Bohemian Girl'. In 1864 moved from Seymour Street to Hertfords...

Person, Music / songs, Ireland

1 memorial
Leslie Hutchinson

Leslie Hutchinson

Singer and pianist who performed under the name of 'Hutch'. Born Leslie Arthur Julien Hutchinson in Gouyave, Grenada.  He moved to New York with the intention of studying medicine, but started sing...

Person, Music / songs, Race Issues, Caribbean Islands, USA

1 memorial
J. Witty

J. Witty

Student of Trinity College of Music, killed in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces, Music / songs

War dead, WW1
1 memorial