Go Man Go (radio show)

Go Man Go, featuring David Ede and the Rabin Band, was one of British radio’s flagship lunchtime pop music shows during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Background and evolution

At that time, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which was responsible for all radio broadcasting in the country, had three big-band music shows on weekday lunchtimes: Make Way for Music featuring the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra (originally conducted by Alyn Ainsworth and later by Bernard Herrmann); Parade of the Pops featuring Bob Miller and the Millermen; and Go Man Go featuring David Ede and the Rabin Band. Make Way for Music was broadcast from the north of England without a studio audience, and the latter two were broadcast live from the BBC studio at the Paris Theatre in London’s Lower Regent Street in front of an audience.

The Rabin Band evolved from a highly popular British dance band in the 1940s known as the Oscar Rabin Band, directed by bass saxophonist Oscar Rabin. Following Oscar’s death in 1959, the band became known as David Ede and the Rabin Band under the musical direction of one of the band’s saxophonists, David Ede.

By the late 1950s, rock and roll, particularly on records from USA, had begun to take a firm hold on the popular music scene in Britain, and the BBC began to adjust its programming to accommodate the new trends. However, the powerful and protective Musicians Union had a strict policy that only a designated proportion of music broadcast on radio could be in the form of gramophone records and that the remainder must be provided by musicians performing live (or recorded) in the BBC studios.

Dance-halls were a popular form of entertainment at the time and the Rabin Band, which was the resident band at the Wimbledon Palais in London, was playing this music six nights a week. The band was invited to appear in a weekly one-hour radio show on the BBC Light Programme performing the pop music of the day.

Programme format

Go Man Go would consist typically of the band’s renditions of songs and music from the current pop charts together with set pieces showcasing the impeccable jazz and swing credentials of the musicians. Each week would see the appearance of at least one guest artist or group either currently in or well known in the popular music charts. Listener requests and dedications were encouraged (‘on a postcard only please’) and the show was linked by a resident compere. Several comperes were used throughout the show’s long run, including such personalities as jazz guitarist Diz Disley, Pick of the Pops compere Alan Freeman, and BBC staff announcer Don Moss.

Band personnel

At a minimum the band would perform on the show with three trumpets, one trombone, five saxes, piano, bass, guitar and drums plus one male and one female vocalist. In the show’s heyday in 1962 and 1963 a typical line up would include Ian Hamer, Tony Mabbett and Derek Healey on trumpet; Charlie Messenger on trombone; Cecil Pressling, David Ede, Gene Cotterill, Johnny Evans, Bill Suett, and ‘Rocking’ Rex Morris on saxes; Arthur Greenslade on piano; Laurie Steele on guitar; Andy White on drums; and Ron Prentice on bass. Female vocals were provided at various times by Lorie Mann, Barbara Kay, Marion Williams, and Kay Garner. Male vocalists included Ray Pilgrim (who was on the show for more than three years), Colin Day, Johnny Towers and Bobby Sansom. Johnny Towers originally appeared on the show under the name of Johnny Sherman but adopted the stage name Towers to avoid confusion with American rock singer Bobby Sherman.

Most of the musicians were session men. Trombonist Charlie Messenger also managed to maintain a parallel career as a member of the band of H.M. Life Guards performing on horseback at ceremonial occasions. But apart from inevitable deputizing when a musician had a gig elsewhere, the band’s line up on Go Man Go was the same as that at its nightly performances at the Wimbledon Palais and later at the Orchid Ballroom in Purley in south London, and remained relatively static from week to week.

When the style of music demanded, the band would split into smaller groups: Arthur Greenslade (on piano) and the G-Men; Laurie Steele (guitar) and the Steele Men; the Rabin Stompers (for Dixieland jazz). Backing vocals came from within the band, particularly David Ede and saxophonist Johnny Evans, performing as “The Travellers”, a pun on the show’s title. Baritone saxophonist Bill Suett took on the comedy and novelty pieces.

Produced by the BBC’s Terry Henebery, the show ran for well over four years. Its 200th performance aired on 4 January 1963 and was the first edition compered by Alan Freeman (who took over from the long-running Diz Disley).

Death of David Ede

David Ede drowned in a boating accident off Blackpool on 25 June 1965.^[1]

References and sources

Information on specific shows is available in archive copies of Radio Times, BBC Magazines Ltd, London (1958-1963).