About the Orchestra
The Piccadilly Dance Orchestra was founded by Michael Law in 1988. In October of that year the orchestra met for the first time to record two songs, Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town and Two Sleepy People, which were issued privately as the two sides of the orchestra's first ever release, a vinyl single.
The orchestra's first female vocalist was Janice Day, whose sweet tones contributed much to its original success. Our manager at the time, Rod Smith, took a copy of the single to PRT records (formerly PYE records), who liked it and reissued the single in time for Christmas 1988, then recorded our first album, Let Yourself Go, which was released in April 1989 on CD, cassette and vinyl LP record. In 1993 the orchestra began a series of recordings for John Yap's TER/JAY records at the world famous Abbey Road studios, with four CD's released to date.
In 1992, our manager Alan Bennett-Law joined the orchestra with the aim of matching the standard of administration, technology and customer service to the already high standards of the music. With Alan's backing and encouragement, Michael and the orchestra have gone from strength to strength, playing for many top events and parties, as well as developing musical programmes for concert performances. Of late, Alan has taken more of a back seat in order to pursue a career in counselling and education, but remains co-owner of the PDO and advises on marketing and business projects.
The PDO's performance highlights have included many years playing for dancing for the Henley Festival, Earl Spencer's 30th Birthday Party (where Princess Diana asked the orchestra to play In The Mood - twice!), special BAFTA awards parties for Julie Andrews and Sean Connery, the first ever Proms In the Park and a residency at The Ritz Hotel in Piccadilly. Michael Law achieved a lifelong ambition when the twelve-piece version of orchestra began a series of Saturday night dinner dances at the cradle of British Dance Band music, the Savoy Hotel (Stompin' At The Savoy) in October 1997, which continued until December 2003. Other clients include Sir John Paul Getty (60th and 70th birthdays parties and a ball at Clarence House where Dame Margaret Thatcher led the dancing), Sir Terence Conran (70th birthday party), Earl Spencer's ball to celebrate 500 years of Althorp House and many corporate events.
The orchestra have been seen on television for Wogan, Daytime Live, Pebble Mill, Play It Again and Lorraine Live. BBC live radio broadcasts include: for Radio 2 (Sheridan Morley's Radio 2 Arts Programme) and the VE Day celebrations from Hyde Park), Radio 3 (a live lunchtime concert from the Wigmore Hall) and Radio 4 (a special edition of Ned Sherrin's Loose Ends to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the BBC).
Future plans include further recordings and concert tours, as well as the establishment of an education project to introduce younger people to the great music of the 1920s to 40s.
DON'T MISS...........!
SPONSORED BY CHILD AND CHILD October 23rd 2008
GALA CELEBRATION of
THE ORCHESTRA'S 20th ANNIVERSARY
at LONDON'S CADOGAN HALL
Join us for a very special night with the enlarged 13 piece PDO, singers Angie Mills, Tara Bungard, Tracey Stewart-Fry and Nova Skipp and the PDO's founder, singer and pianist Michael Law.
Tickets: 020 7730 4500 http://www.cadoganhall.com