Ken Mackintosh

Who was Ken Mackintosh?

Ken Mackintosh was an English saxophonist, composer and bandleader. Mackintosh was born in Liversedge, Yorkshire, and died in Mitcham, Surrey, England.

Mackintosh was one of Britain's most distinguished bandleaders of the 20th century, accompanying singers such as Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey and Matt Monro. He was born in Halifax Road, near Knowler Hill, in 1919 and devoted his life to music, after buying his first alto saxophone, at the age of 15. After a period in the Army he went to London and joined various big bands such as the Oscar Rabin Band. He then formed his own orchestra and toured extensively at home and abroad. The orchestra was featured on BBC Radio, almost every week, in the 1950s and early 1960s.

He also wrote his own music such as "The Creep". He had three entries in the UK Singles Chart between 1954 and 1960, with "The Creep" being his highest placed hit record, reaching #10 in January 1954. Among his fans was the Queen Mother, for whom he played twice at Windsor Castle. Towards the end of his life he was awarded Freedom of the City of London. He died in November 2005.