George Edward “Ted” Heath (March 30, 1902 – November 18, 1969) was a British musician and bandleader, widely regarded as the leader of Britain’s greatest post-war big band.
Born in Wandsworth, London, Heath began playing the tenor horn at six, encouraged by his father, a brass band leader, before switching to trombone. His professional career kicked off with the Jack Hylton Band after being spotted busking, followed by stints with Bert Ambrose and Sydney Lipton, where he honed his skills as Britain’s premier trombonist.
Inspired by Glenn Miller’s precision, Heath formed Ted Heath and His Music in 1944, launching with a BBC broadcast. The band, featuring a bold jazz-oriented lineup, became a household name in the 1950s, recording over 100 albums and selling 20 million records.
Heath won the New Musical Express Best Band poll annually from 1952 to 1961 and performed at Royal Command shows. His band toured globally, including a groundbreaking 1956 U.S. tour with Nat King Cole.
Heath died in 1969 at 67, but his band continued under Don Lusher until 2000, cementing his legacy as a swing music icon.
