Biography of Edward G. White

Born London, UK, 1910
Died. 1994 
British composer of light music.

Edward White, largely self-taught, nevertheless became a violinist in a trio and various dance bands, also playing on saxophone and clarinet. After service in the RAF in World War II, he ran a ballroom orchestra at the Grand Spa Hotel in Bristol. In time he became known as a composer and arranger of music, and started his own music company, Musicus Ltd. He is remembered especially for his The Runaway Rocking-Horse (1946) and Puffin' Billy (1956), the latter being the signature tune for the long-running BBC Light Programme's 'Children's Favourites' (also known as "Uncle Mac's Children's Favourites" after Derek "Hello Children Everywhere!" McCulloch who frequently introduced this Saturday morning request programme that aired from 1952 to 1966). Many of his other compositions, Idle Jack (1953), Paris Interlude (1952), Cabana, Caprice for Strings (which also had parts for wind instruments), The Clockwork Clown, Fairy on the Fiddles, Tour de France, White Wedding, Roundabout, Majestic Scene, and Yodelling Strings, were also popular in their time.

Puffin' Billy in particular, is a theme tune that has developed iconic quality. Perhaps due to its extremely long run (fourteen years, including almost all of the 1950s) as the signature of the 'Children's Favourites' radio request programme, it has become associated with that historical period, and is frequently used in other media as a signifier of '1950s Middle England'. Puffin' Billy was also used as the signature tune for 'Captain Kangaroo' and is only known as such to a large audience of television viewers.

Compositions:
Telegoon Toon 02:01 (1963) (Signature tune for "The Telegoons" TV puppet series, 26 episodes)  
Zip Along  (1959?) Played by the Grosvenor Studio Orchestra, conducted by Dolf van der Linden. One side of 10" 78RPM, BBC Recorded Programmes Library recording, FMxxx, recorded on The Synchro Recorded Music Library Ltd. label, 30 Old Compton Street, London, W1. Made in England. (Other side is Bright and Breezy by Peter Dennis) Light orchestral piece
Puffin' Billy  03:40 (aka "Captain Kangaroo" theme) (1954) Played by Melodi Light Orchestra string orchestra. Available on British Light Music Classics Hyperion CD CDA66868, or The Great British Experience: 50 Original Light Music Classics CD EMI xxxxxx, or When We Were Very Young CD K-Tel, or Transports Of Delight (Vintage Songs Of Trains And Boats And Planes... CD Living Era
Idle Jack (1953)
Paris Interlude (1952) Light orchestral piece
Tour de France 02:19
The Runaway Rocking-Horse (1946) Light orchestral piece. Also available as piano solo sheet music (2/- J.R. Lafleur & Son Ltd.)
Cabana
Caprice for Strings (Available on Twilight Memories: Vintage British Light Music, CD Muze Inc.)
The Clockwork Clown
Fairy on the Fiddles
White Wedding
Roundabout
Majestic Scene
Yodelling Strings

Captain Kangaroo (children, starring Bob Keeshan)

    [Bob Keeshan played the original "Clarabelle, the Clown"
     on the "Howdy Doody" TV Show]

    (CBS Mornings, 1954 - 1984)
    (PBS Mornings, 1984 - 1987)

    [aka: "Captain Kangaroo Theme"]

     Composer: Edward G. White (ASCAP)
     1978 Publisher: Chappell & Co., Inc. (ASCAP)
     1998 Publisher: Jim Long Companies, Inc. (ASCAP)
                     of Dallas, TX
     Copyright Date:
     Recordings:
          78rpm single: by the Melodi Light Orchestra
                        conducted by Ole Jensen
                        Chappell CHAP 433

          CD - from the Chappell Recorded Music Library
               CHAP 119 CD "Children"
               [available through the Robert Farnon Society]

          CD - "Television's Greatest Hits (Vol. 1) (1986)
                TeeVee Toons Records TVT 1100 CD

    [according to Steve Gelfand, in his book "Television Theme 
     Recordings", Edward White's name was added to the credits
     to resolve a dispute over the similarity of this melody with 
     Theme 1: "Puffin' Billy".]

     Composers: Robert L. "Bob" Brush (ASCAP), and
                Edward G. White (ASCAP)

     1978 Publishers: Tobago Music Company (ASCAP),
                      Chappell & Co., Inc. (ASCAP), and
                      Paper Pills Music, Inc. (ASCAP),

     1998 Publishers: Tobago Music Company (ASCAP)
                      of Larchmont, NY;
                      Chappell & Co., Inc. (ASCAP)
                      c/o Warner-Chappell Music Inc.
                      of Los Angeles, CA;
                      Paper Pills Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
                      c/o Mietus Copyright Management
                      of Union, NJ
     Copyright Date: 
     Recordings:
          LP: "Good Morning, Captain"
               with Bob Keeshan as Captain Kangaroo
               and the original cast
               Chelsea CHS-700 (1975)

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