Percival Mackey & His Orchestra - I'd Rather Charleston

British bandleader and pianist Percival Mackey (1894 - 1950), originally a dentist, made his first records for Vocalion. Sadly neglected today, Mackey worked in many media, although he very seldom broadcast, or had a West End hotel residency. He specialized in theatre work. During his career he was the musical director for many West End shows, and was one of the first to employ jazz and dance band musicians in those shows' pit orchestras. Al Bowlly’s association with Percival Mackey came in April 1929, not long after his arrival in England and whilst still a member of Fred Elizalde’s band at the Savoy Hotel. Al featured on just two songs, Early in 1934 Mackey became an impresario as well as a bandleader, He did much work for films: he scored, conducted or arranged for 87 of them between 1931 and 1946 although they were mostly shorts rather than features. This brilliant record was made in 1926. The dancer in the film fragment is Monti Ryan.