PAUL VERNON CHESTER

Manouche Maestro

Len Fillis (Milford) - Guitarist

Born in 1903, Leonard Milford grew up in Cape Town, South Africa. In 1923 he moved to London with his pianist Edgar Adeler and worked with Jack Hylton's "Kit-Cat" Band which featured ted heath on Trombone, and Fred Elizalde at the Savoy Hotel playing plectrum banjo along with Adrian Rollini on Bass Sax.  He later changed to tenor and worked in both Britain and Australia.   He is credited with writing nearly a 100 compositions and played what were described as  muted "Hot" single-string choruses.

Although much of Len Fillis' recorded work consists of quiet rhythm support, and fairly unremarkable pseudo-Hawaiian music, many of his records feature moments of brilliance and virtuosity. Some very fine small-group rhythmic performances can be found on the Columbia label featuring Len Fillis performing with some of the best professional musicians working in London at the time. These groups could play the dance band tunes and the waltzes as required, accompany the popular singers of the day, and play a bit of jazz if they were allowed. Len Fillis also recorded several solo recordings featuring his playing of the banjo, ukulele, tenor guitar, steel guitar, spanish guitar. often accompanied by Sid Bright on piano.

Fillis really deserves more recognition. All during the 1920's and '30's, Len Fillis was a much in demand guitarist, who played with many of the wonderful British bands of the era. However, he did lead on many records. (Discographers have found at least 600 records on which he may be heard, - usually playing a fine rhythm guitar.)  In addition, Fillis often recorded under such pseudonyms as Linn Milford And His Hawaiian Singers (1929), Linn Milford and his Hawaiian Players" (1929) and Ferrachini's Hawaiian Band (1930). Among the players with Len Fillis and with Linn Milford at times was guitarist/vocalist Al Bowlly.

Len Fillis playing hawaiian lap style guitar on a raised dais for sound recording in a Decca Studio note the Box Mike and adjacent Maccaferri D Hole Guitar at the ready.  Len also recorded as the Gilt Edged Four and with -

AL STARITA AND THE PICCADILLY DANCE BAND

KIT KISSON

PERCIVAL MACKEY'S BAND

VAN PHILLIPS AND HIS BAND

LEN FILLIS'S ENTERTAINERS

LEN FILLIS NOVELTY QUARTET

THE HONOLULU SERENADERS

THE FOUR BRIGHT SPARKS

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Last modified: 13/09/2011