Elsie Carlisle

Elsie Carlisle was beyond a doubt the most popular radio performer in England in the '30s. Proof is even available in the form of her nickname, "Radio Sweetheart Number One." She was a slightly small, unassuming performer who in some ways crystalized the idea of the blonde flapper, an image also utilized by American big band vocalists such asAnnette Hanshaw and Ruth Etting. Comparisons to other singers can be made only on the basis of appearance, however. In terms of singing, Carlisle had her own way with material such as romantic songs and light comedy. Her reputation was complex as well, as she also developed a part of her style devoted to material bordering on the obscene, and also felt hounded by innuendo and gossip concerning her personal life during some stages of her career. She was associated with the top bandleaders in the UK, and with some of the classiest song material as well. Carlisle was one of the vocalists with the Ambrose Orchestra, which for more than two decades was considered one of the finest dance bands in the nation. Bandleader Bert Ambrose regarded Carlisle as one of his best singers, and found her one of the most difficult to replace as well. Decca chose the group as one of its first signings after setting up a British branch, and Carlisle was practically chained to the microphone stand for the prolific recording activity that ensued. She was also associated with bandleaders such as Paul Whiteman and Jack Harris. Harris was a partner of Ambrose, and their orchestras would switch off at the fashionable London club Ciro's during the late '30s. In the early '50s, Carlisle's association with bandleader Jack Hylton seemed to be about more than charts and arrangments; they reportedly had an affair, and for years there was speculation that Carlisle...