Music Style Ragtime, '20s Crooners, Pop/Rock

Artist History Ian Whitcomb was born in Surrey, England, in 1941. His prep school was in Sussex, his public school in Dorset. After a short spell as an assistant film editor he became an undergraduate at Trinity College, Dublin. While ostensibly studying Modern History & Political Science he made some records which landed him the the American Top Ten. "You Turn Me On," his rock novelty song, reached Number 8 in July, 1965 - the year of his Finals. After two years of TV, touring and concertizing (and with a 2nd Class Honors degree under his belt). he was retired from the rock life and returned to England. There he turned his attention to early American and British popular music, especially Tin Pan Alley, Ragtime, and British Music Hall. Determined to carry this culture into the Age of Technology, he managed to have hundreds of his recordings released over the next 25 years on such record labels as United Artist, Argo, Warner Bros., Audiophile, Ace, First American, Sierra Briar, BBC Records, Meteor, Stomp Off, Pathe Marconi - as well as his own label, ITW Industries. He also produced Mae West's album, "Great Balls of Fire" (MGM) and several C&W singles for Warner Bros. He wrote special music for his original radio musical, "LotusLand," produced for National Public Radio in Pasadena. On television he was the original host for the long running BBC series, "The Old Gray Whistle Test," as well as presenting and producing segments for "Late Night Line-Up." His show "Under the Ragtime Moon" was Ireland's entry in the European TV variety contest. He has written and appeared in several documentaries, notably "The Friendly Invasion" (BBC), "L.A.--My Home Town" (BBC), "All You Need is Love" (London Weekend" and "They All Play Ragtime" (BBC). He produced the R&B segment film for "repercussions" (Channel Four TV) and a short film about B Westerns for BBC TV. As a guest he has made many appearances on "Today," "The Tonight Show," "Merv," "Mike Douglas," and "The Tom Snyder Show." His songs have been used in the films "Bugs Bunny, Superstar," "Cold Sassy Tree," Terror Night" and "Encino Man." For radio he has hosted his own shows in Los Angeles since the early eighties on KROQ, KCRW and KPCC. For "Books on Tape, Inc." he has read many books ranging from classic to modern, including all of his own works. As a voice-over talent he hosts in-flight entertainment programs for many international airlines via AEI. He is a cartoon voice for DIC animation ("Where On Earth Is Carmen San Diego?"); as a character actor he has starred in classic plays by Bernard Shaw, Noel Coward and William Shakespeare. He had a supporting role in "Contact," a Warner Bros. film starring Jody Foster. He has had 12 books published since 1972 and most are still in print. As a performer he is in demand at Ragtime and Jazz festivals around the U.S.A. He even appears at rock revival shows as the teen idol he once was ("Legends of Rock & Roll" at the Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, 1996). He also produces CDs for Rhino movie music in conjunction with Turner Entertainment ("Al Jolson at Warner Brothers," "Film Noir"). He lives in Altadena, California, near the San Gabriel foothills, with his wife Regina and her cat Simon. Ian's former dog, Inspector, was inherited from the late crooner, Rudy Vallee. His current dog, Rollo, is an affable giant, rescued as a stray puppy.

Instruments Vocals, piano, ukelele, studio band

Albums Comedy Songs

Location Altadena, California - USA

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