Ian Stewart (7)

Half-Scottish (father) half-American (mother) pianist and dance band leader. Born in December 1908 - Died on 30th July 1989. Not to be confused with the 1938-born pianist/keyboardist Ian Stewart (of The Rolling Stones fame). In 1934, he was invited by Carroll Gibbons to join the Savoy Hotel Orpheans as Deputy Leader & 2nd pianist. After her death in 1954, he took over the band regularly broadcasting from Savoy Hotel, London (from 1954 until his retirement in 1978), making his name synonymous with the hotel. As well as broadcasting, he made many records for Decca, Parlophone and Fontana.