Bert Ambrose Blue Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

Bert Ambrose was a renowned British dance band leader who helped define the sound of British dance music in the 1920s and 1930s. Born Benjamin Baruch Ambrose in 1896 in Warsaw, Poland, he moved to London as a child. Ambrose began his musical career playing violin in various orchestras before forming his own band in the early 1920s.

Ambrose’s band, initially known as Bert Ambrose and His Embassy Club Orchestra, became one of the most popular dance bands in London during the interwar years. They had long residencies at prestigious venues like the Embassy Club and the May Fair Hotel on Stratton Street, where Ambrose lived and performed from 1927 to 1940 as commemorated by this blue plaque.

Known for his innovative arrangements and smooth, sophisticated style, Ambrose helped popularize dance music in Britain. His orchestra featured some of the top musicians of the day and made numerous recordings. They had a long-running BBC radio program, “Ambrose and His Orchestra,” which brought their music to a wider audience. Some of their most famous recordings include “Night Ride” and “When Day Is Done.”

During World War II, Ambrose led the Royal Air Force Dance Orchestra, entertaining troops and raising morale. After the war, he reformed his band and continued performing and recording into the 1950s, although big band music’s popularity gradually waned in the post-war years. Bert Ambrose passed away in 1971 at the age of 74, leaving behind a legacy as one of the giants of British dance music. His orchestra’s recordings remain beloved by fans of vintage dance band music to this day.