|
Jimmy Mesene
(Messini) 1908-69
- Guitarist, Singer and Composer
Nat
Gonella and His Georgians with Jimmy Mesene - 1937 Film 'Variety Parade'
 Jimmy
Mesene (Messini) was born in Cardiff on March 6th, 1908. His family were of
Greek descent and his father John was running a business in Cardiff as a ship
chandler. Jimmy was sent to Greece to learn the shipping business at the age of
fifteen but in the Great Depression his father's business failed and Jimmy,
already a superb guitarist became a professional musician. Jimmy attended
University in the UK and Taunton University is the most frequently mentioned but
sources seem split as to whether he studied languages (he was rumoured to be
able to speak seven languages) or engineering. Jimmy married his first wife,
Emily Isobel Gilbert on March 29th, 1934. They already had a son, named James
who had been born on March 13th, 1933. The marriage failed in the early 1940s
and on July 20th, 1943 Jimmy married Hilda Martin. Jimmy's condition is listed
as 'the divorced husband of Emily Mesene' and his occupation as 'band leader and
composer'.
 A
talented guitarist, singer, composer and bon viveur Jimmy Mesene played
most notably with Nat Gonella’s Georgians but also sang with other
bands: Percy Chandler and his Band, Joe Loss and his Band, Teddy Joyce
and his Orchestra, George Glover and his Orchestra, The Organ Dance
Band. Jimmy's song writing
credits are difficult to trace due to the sheer number of pen names he used.
It is suspected that this may have been a device to withhold royalties from his
first wife although she herself denied this and reckoned the pen names were
to avoid the tax man. Jimmy was with the band from January 1935 to July
1939.
Recording for Parlophone
The Radio Stars
 He formed a popular duo with Al Bowlly in the early 1940s billed
as “The Radio Stars with Two Guitars” and recorded various solo tracks
where, unfortunately, little documented information remains as to who
was accompanying him. Nat Gonella in a later interview ventured the
opinion: "1940 was not a good year to launch a new act, neither Al nor
Jimmy was a smart enough operator to get their act booked into the
number one theatres. But they managed to put together a short provincial
tour of lesser variety theatres, NAAFI Canteens and Palais". The
musical press thought this could be a top line act for vocally they were
good, although they still needed improved stagecraft.
Jimmy and Al Bowlly c1940
with Gibson Archtop Acoustic - Al with Tenor Guitar
These three pictures were
taken during rehearsals at Al Bowlly's last recording session. The Radio Stars
with Two Guitars (Jimmy Mesene and Al) are pictured on the right and below with
pianist and arranger Pat Dodd. The recording took place at HMV studios at St.
Johns Wood on 2 April 1941. The titles recorded were, (at HMV's request), Irving
Berlin's "When That Man is Dead and Gone" - referring to Hitler, and "Nicky the
Greek (has Gone)".
When That Man is
Dead and Gone
 They were said to
be too static and that on occasions Jimmy saved the act from becoming
slightly boring. The duo made four records for HMV, probably on the back
of Bowlly's contract with EMI.
The
recordings identify some of the problems. Jimmy's style was rather
florid compared with Al's and they didn't always blend well and although
Al and Jimmy appeared to have a great time, their rather loose approach
to harmony comes across as unrehearsed.
The act finished when Al Bowlly was killed by a bomb blast on April 17th, 1941.
Jimmy's career was then in decline. The stories as to his excessive
drinking are widely told, many suggesting that it reached a level where
people no longer wanted to work with him as he was too unreliable.
in 1943 Jimmy Mesene
and his Quintet were resident at The Bristol Grill in Cork Street, London W1.
Jimmy and his second wife Hilda left the UK on September 27th, 1947 arriving in
Port Arthur, Texas on October 19th. Jimmy's son James remained in the UK and in
1949 migrated to Australia with his mother and new step father. James was now
sixteen. There is evidence that Jimmy and Hilda initially stayed with Perry
Como but because of work permit problems, they moved on to Canada where they
settled in Quebec. What Jimmy did to earn a living in Canada is unknown.
Jimmy Mesene c1943
Jimmy died in Montreal on the 28th August 1969. His wife Hilda died three years
later. Hilda's family have confirmed that Jimmy and Hilda did not have any
children of their own. Therefore, James Messini is the sole direct descendant of
Jimmy.
The
Masked Tenor
 This
period Caricature of Jimmy was done in 1932 and has the signature D Roberts
(32). At this time Jimmy was with Percival Mackey's orchestra in Leicester
Square, central London. He had already recorded with Percy Chandler and in 1933
joined Joe Loss.
The
wording in the two scrolls in the picture sounds like song titles - "Must it end
this way" and "That's my way of loving you" - but Jimmy does not appear to have
recorded them - perhaps he wrote them! Clearly he was known for whistling
as well as his powerful tenor singing and playing the Guitar
Note the Cutaway Guitar which may have been a Selmer Maccaferri Modele Jazz
subject to the artists licence with detail.
Jimmy Mesene Medley
Who is The Masked Tenor,
you might ask? Well, it is British vocalist and guitarist Jimmy Mesene. Jimmy
Mesene began life as the son of a wealthy British shipper, but when the Great
Depression took away the family fortune he fell back on his skills as a singer
and guitarist. During the 1930s he played with many big name bands, including
Joe Loss, Nat Gonella and Teddy Joyce. He also made some solo vocal recordings
under various pseudonyms, with The Masked Tenor being one of them. He also wrote
songs under a number of false names. In the 1940's he performed with Al Bowlly
as the "Radio Stars with Two Guitars".
| 
PAUL
VERNON CHESTER
