Bob Wallis & His Storeyville Jazzmen

Born on 3 June 1934 in Bridlington, Yorkshire, England, and passing away on 10 January 1991, Wallis assembled his debut group in his hometown during 1950 and sustained it until 1957. He subsequently appeared with Papa Bue’s Viking Jazz Band in 1956, Diz Disley’s Jazz Band the next year, and Acker Bilk’s Band for a brief spell in 1958. Launching his own Storyville Jazzmen in 1958, the ensemble gained wide favor amid the traditional jazz wave of the late 1950s. His trumpet work and vocals carried a forceful imprint of Henry ‘Red’ Allen. Two modest UK chart entries followed: “I’m Shy Mary Ellen I’m Shy” reached number 44 in 1961, and “Come Along Please” climbed to number 33 in 1962. Evolving tastes ended the Storyville Jazzmen, yet Wallis performed with assorted groups that included Monty Sunshine’s. He later settled in Switzerland and remained active there throughout the 1980s.