South Yorkshire Times, March 4th, 1944
B.B.C. Audition for Young Mexborough Pianist
A 19-year-old Mexborough pianist who has already achieved commendable success, Mr. George Ryder, of 48, Frederick Street, will have an audition at the Leeds studios of the B.B.C. next Tuesday.
A bricklayer at Manvers Main, Mr. Ryder uses his nimble fingers at night to play either classical music or the latest “hot” numbers. At his home he proudly displays three miniature cups, a wallet, and certificates which he obtained by winning The Central Yorkshire, South Lancashire, North Britain and finally, the All-Britain individual prizes for piano playing at dance band competitions.
He started playing over eight years ago, and his popularity as pianist with dance bands extends further than South Yorkshire where he is now accompanist for the New Regent Players at Goldthorpe Astoria. Two years ago, he was with Johnny Clay and his Clay Pigeons Band at a London night club.
For three years Mr. Ryder had a contract with Anglo-American Artists, the London West End theatrical agents who booked his engagements at night clubs and a tour of American Army camps in this country. While touring the camps he accompanied such famous “stars” as Teddy Brown, Flanagan and Allen and Bebe Daniels. Once programme he was taking part in was recorded by the B.B.C. and sent to America to be broadcast on the American Forces programme. In February, 1943 he was pianist when Johnny Clay’s band were in a show broadcast from a London theatre.
Georgie, as he is familiarly known, is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Ryder. His success is all the more remarkable taking into consideration his limited time for practising owing to pit work. He was a founder of the New Style Swingtette Band which has played throughout South Yorkshire, and the B.B.C. had arranged for him to take part in a broadcast from Rotherham Regent on April 19th, but this has been cancelled owing to the change in the Forces programme.
It is interesting to note that the pieces Georgie will play for next Tuesday’s audition will be his own arrangements of an intermezzo from the film “Escape to Happiness”, a concert piece of “Body and Soul”, jazz music in the “Boogie Woogie” number and “Stardust”.