Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Between_the_Cracks_Blackmore
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Between_the_Cracks_Blackmore
Welcome to "Between the Cracks" (or "the ones who got away"). Even though Community Keyboards has chatted with many organ and keyboard world celebrities, many more have avoided the probing questions of your host! With the kind permission of THE ESSEX ORGAN MUSEUM (http://www.essexorganmuseum.com/links-Interest.html) we present an A to Z of those who never made it, for whatever reason, to the programme.
George Blackmore was born in 1921 in Rochester, Kent. He commenced his musical studies as a chorister, attending the Cathedral Choir School. At the age of 12 he became the youngest ever to win the organ scholarship at King's School, Rochester. George developed an interest in the theatre organ and after playing the Compton at the Palace, Chatham he began occasional deputy work at the Compton in the Majestic, Rochester where he finally became organist in 1939 and made his first broadcast in 1941.
In 1946 he took up the post of organist at the Gaumont, Birmingham. However, the Rank Organisation who now ran Gaumont and Odeon theatres began to make cuts in the numbers of circuit organists and in February 1950 George found himself out of a job.
George spent seven years in Aberdeen as organist at the Astoria and the Capitol, broadcasting frequently and also acting as Musical Director for Donalds' other live entertainments. He also held the post of organist at St John's Episcopal Church.
Finally in 1957, concerned at the general downturn in cinema-going, George left to become editor and arranger at
Soon he returned to full-time organ playing, initially as demonstrator for manufacturers of electronic instruments (In 1968 he joined the Hammond Organ Co.) and then as one of Britons foremost freelance performers on both pipes and electronics, his concert tours taking him to the USA and Australia
His death in 1994 robbed the organ world of one of its most popular and talented figures.
George plays BUTTERFLIES IN THE RAIN on the Compton organ at the time in Arthur Russell Studios
View all episodes
By Ian WolstenholmeWelcome to "Between the Cracks" (or "the ones who got away"). Even though Community Keyboards has chatted with many organ and keyboard world celebrities, many more have avoided the probing questions of your host! With the kind permission of THE ESSEX ORGAN MUSEUM (http://www.essexorganmuseum.com/links-Interest.html) we present an A to Z of those who never made it, for whatever reason, to the programme.
George Blackmore was born in 1921 in Rochester, Kent. He commenced his musical studies as a chorister, attending the Cathedral Choir School. At the age of 12 he became the youngest ever to win the organ scholarship at King's School, Rochester. George developed an interest in the theatre organ and after playing the Compton at the Palace, Chatham he began occasional deputy work at the Compton in the Majestic, Rochester where he finally became organist in 1939 and made his first broadcast in 1941.
In 1946 he took up the post of organist at the Gaumont, Birmingham. However, the Rank Organisation who now ran Gaumont and Odeon theatres began to make cuts in the numbers of circuit organists and in February 1950 George found himself out of a job.
George spent seven years in Aberdeen as organist at the Astoria and the Capitol, broadcasting frequently and also acting as Musical Director for Donalds' other live entertainments. He also held the post of organist at St John's Episcopal Church.
Finally in 1957, concerned at the general downturn in cinema-going, George left to become editor and arranger at
Soon he returned to full-time organ playing, initially as demonstrator for manufacturers of electronic instruments (In 1968 he joined the Hammond Organ Co.) and then as one of Britons foremost freelance performers on both pipes and electronics, his concert tours taking him to the USA and Australia
His death in 1994 robbed the organ world of one of its most popular and talented figures.
George plays BUTTERFLIES IN THE RAIN on the Compton organ at the time in Arthur Russell Studios