JACK PAYNE’S BAND

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 122, 16 February 1935, Page 9

JACK PAYNE’S BAND

New Zealander’s Success NOTED CORNET PLAYER After eight years’ absence from New Zealand, during which he has been a member of sonje of the leading musical combinations in the world, Mr. T. A. Robertson, who won the cornet championship at the Dominion band contest in 1927, returned with his wife on the Rangitiki yesterday. He was a resident of Westport, where his father is a well-known racehorse owner. After winning the cornet championship, Mr. Robertson was offered a position in the orchestra in the Capital Theatre. Melbourne, and later was in a similar position at the State Theatre. He left for England in 1930. when he. joined the famous St, Hilda Colliery Band, which was world champion on five occasions. With this combination lie toured Canada in 1931, and decided to remain there. He accepted a position as first trumpet player in the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for two years, and also played in the National Broadcasting Company in New’ York, being on the broadcast programmes for 23 weeks. • When he returned to England iu 1933 he joined Jack Payne’s Band, the popular dance combination, with which he toured the Continent of Europe and the British Isles. He was finally with Teddy Joyce, the American showman, and left him to come back to New Zealand. He hopes to compete in the cornet championships at Timaru shortly. and has been practising for this event- on the voyage, but doubts whether he will be permitted to compete. There was always work for a good musician overseas, he said. He could have repeatedly obtained employment in America, for instance, but the fact that he spoke English seemed to tell against him, and the main demand there was for foreign musicians. As far as amusements went in the countries he had visited, there was no depression. and musicians were sure of steady employment.