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9 TREBLES Featured Boy Sopranos | All Trebles | Boy Altos | Soloist Recordings | Chorister of the Year | 78 RPM | Pop Singles

  Master Leslie Day    (b. 30 December 1917) Boy Soprano Soloist 
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Master Leslie Day Born Leonard Yeomans, he became a chorister at St. Barnabas', Hackney from where he was discovered and put on the stage of the Pavilion Theatre, London [March-June 1933] with the stage name of Master Leslie Day. His manager appears to have been Lilly Denville. According to a review, audiences clamoured nightly for encores. Aged fourteen or fifteen, Leslie Day made four records and later appeared in two films, Television Follies English, in 1933 - in which he sang several songs including Love's Old Sweet Song, and Musical Medley Mancunian, in 1935 as a young baritone. So far, just "Musical Medley" has been located but this gives a 'flashback' clip from "Television Follies" showing Day singing 'Loch Lomand'.

Leslie Day's remarkable story will be told in a major feature by Stephen R. Beet in the near future.

"The Era" (London) refers to the singer Leslie Day at the London Pavilion as "a boy whose pure tones of song are a joy to hear" (29 March 1933), and a "boy of superb voice" (3 May 1933). The same journal also notes that he was unable to appear in a concert at the Prince of Wales Theatre on 24 September 1933 as his voice had broken (27 Sept. 1933).


During World War II, Leonard Yeomans was a sonar operator searching for U-boats and Japanese submarines. He served in all of the theatres of war and also in other theatres entertaining the troops.

He was also a singer and a member of ENSA (entertainment group) and performed at ports all over the globe under the guise of Les Day.
SRB & BJP
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Leslie Day found!
The Better Land

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Featured Recordings Compact | Full
Master Leslie Day - Toselli's Serenade - Come Back / Wood: A Brown Bird Singing
Toselli's Serenade - Come Back / Wood: A Brown Bird Singing (Columbia (Dark Blue Label) DB.1147 (10-inch), 78 RPM) August 1933
Featuring Master Leslie Day  
A: Come Back (incipit: Like a golden dream in my heart, ever smiling.) (serenade: Engl. wds R.H. Elkin, 1923 - music Enrico Toselli (1883-1926): "Serenata", 1900) (matrix CA13738-1)
B: A Brown Bird Singing (incipit: All through the night there's a little brown bird singing.) (song, 1922: wds Royden Barrie (pseud. of Harry Rodney Bennett, 1890-1948) - music Haydn Wood (1882-1959)) (CA13741-1)
Both rec. 22 June 1933 with orch. accomp. & harp or piano.
Original disc deleted March 1942. The two songs are now on Amphion CDs "The Better Land" vols. 4 & 5 resp.

This disc was priced at 2/6 and a review in The Talking Machine and Wireless Trade News (London, Aug. 1933, p. 152) commented on the "clear, if rather reedy tone".
  Side A -   Come Back (Toselli's Serenade)  
  Side B -   A Brown Bird Singing (Wood)  
Master Leslie Day - Marshall: I hear you calling me / Geehl: For you alone
Marshall: I hear you calling me / Geehl: For you alone (Columbia DB.1122 (10-inch), 78 RPM) June 1933
Featuring Master Leslie Day  
A: I hear you calling me (incipit: I hear you calling me; you called me when the moon had veiled her light.) (song, 1908: wds Harold Harford (pseud. of Harold Lake) - music Charles Marshall (1857-1927)) (matrix CA13614-1)
B: For you alone (incipit: Take thou this rose, this little tender rose.) (song, 1909: wds P.J. O'Reilly (c.1876-1924) - music Henry Ernest Geehl (1881-1961)) (CA13617-1)
Both rec. 28 Apl 1933, with piano accomp.
Original disc deleted Jan. 1939. Both pieces are included on Amphion CD "The Better Land" vol. 1.

In "The Gramophone" (July 1933, p. 61) the reviewer C.M. Crabtree commented: "[Day] has apparently gone from church choir to music-hall at the age of fourteen. He seems to have a very good voice and a strong sense of style, and to have had some very good training, though not without acquiring a slight tendency to force his voice in modern fashion and some hints of certain bad habits."
  Side A -   I hear you calling me (Marshall)  
  Side B -   For you alone (Geehl)  
no cover
"Decca Juvenile Stars Have A Party" (Decca F.3261 (10-inch), 78 RPM) December 1932
Featuring Master (Arthur) Iwan Davies   Master Leslie Day  
Exact content not known. Artists are: Mary Hagan ("child comedienne"), Iwan Davies (boy soprano) (in Part 1), Wilfred Worden (piano), "Little Leslie Day" (boy soprano) (in Part 2), Louis Cabrelli (accordian) and the Terry Juveniles. Music composed or arranged by H. Hudson.
(matrices GB5086-87)
Both sides rec. 30 Oct. 1932.

Mary Hagan, 12 years old, was said in Decca publicity (June 1932) to support her unemployed ex-boxer father, invalid mother and little sister, with pennies earned by singing in the streets of Newcastle. She was discovered and brought to London by the boxing trainer Ted Broadribb and sang at boxing matches in the Albert Hall before being introduced to Horace Sheldon, musical director of the Victoria Palace, who secured her engagements to appear in the London music halls.
  Side A -   "Decca Juvenile Stars Have A Party" (Part 1)  
  Side B -   "Decca Juvenile Stars Have A Party" (Part 2)  
Other Recordings Compact | Full
Master Leslie Day - The Better Land Volume 5 - Great Boy Sopranos Recorded 1927-1957
The Better Land Volume 5 - Great Boy Sopranos Recorded 1927-1957 (Amphion PHI CD 189, CD) October 2003
Featuring The Better Land Series   Derek Barsham   John Bonner   Alan Bradbrook   Master John Brookman   Thomas Criddle   Master Leslie Day   Beverley Jones   Raymond Kinsey   Cyril Lewis   Ernest Lough   Michael Morley   Billy Neely   Robert Duncan Peel   Kenneth Purves   Robert Regent   Trevor Schofield  
* denotes recordings published for the first time
  1.   Rejoice Greatly (Messiah, Handel)   Master Raymond Kinsey
  2.   Mighty like a rose ( Nevin-Staton)   Master Michael Morley
  3.   If I can help somebody (Androzzo)   Master Michael Morley
  4.   Hark! Hark! the lark (Schubert)   Master Ernest Lough
  5.   There is a green hill far away (Mrs C.F. Alexander-Gounod)   Master John Bonner
  6.   On Wings of Song (England-Mendelssohn)   Master Thomas Criddle
  7.   Should he upbraid? (Shakespeare-Sir Henry Bishop)   Master John Bonner
  8.   Angels Serenade (La Seranata)   Master John Bonner
  9.   Birdsong at Eventide (Coates)   Master Michael Morley
10.   Y Deryn Pur -The Dove (arr. Somervell-Williams)   Master Cyril Lewis
11.   A song of long ago (D.Furber-A.E. Adams)   Master Trevor Schofield
12.   Nearer my God to Thee (Carey)   Master John Bookman
13.   A brown bird singing (Barrie-Haydn Wood)   Master Leslie Day
14.   Lullaby (Brahms)   Master Michael Morley
15.   O for the wings of a dove (Mendelssohn)   Master Kenneth Purves
16.   Father in Heaven* (Largo-Handel)   Master Robert Regent
17.   Hallelujah (Exsultate Jubilate-Mozart)   Master Billy Neely
18.   Abide with Me (Liddle)   Master Derek Barsham
19.   Angels Ever bright (Handel)   Master Robert Duncan Peel
20.   With Verdure Clad (The Creation-Haydn)   Master Raymond Kinsey
21.   Oh for a closer walk with God (Foster)   Master Raymond Kinsey
22.   Beekeeper's Introit * (arr. G. Dixon)   Master Alan Bradbrook (Private Recording 1957)
23.   A Song of Peace*   Master Beverley Jones
Email   Purchase from the producer, Stephen Beet You can order the Better Land CDs directly from producer Stephen Beet for £10.00 plus post and packing. £55 for the set of 6 CD's (which includes, as a special offer, Stephen R. Beet's book "The Better land - in search of the lost boy sopranos" E-mail for postage quotes: StephenRBeet@gmail.com PayPal address: beetstphn@aol.com Please make cheques payable to "Stephen Beet".
Master Leslie Day - The Better Land Volume 4 - Great Boy Sopranos Recorded 1927-1954
The Better Land Volume 4 - Great Boy Sopranos Recorded 1927-1954 (Amphion PHI CD 168, CD) July 2001
Featuring The Better Land Series   Derek Barsham   John Bonner   Master John Brookman   Master Leslie Day   Robert Harris   Beverley Jones   Raymond Kinsey   Harold Langston   Ernest Lough   Brian Moody   Billy Neely   Graham Payn   Robert Regent   Trevor Schofield  
* denotes recordings published for the first time. This volume will shortly deleted and replaced by the double CD volume The Better Land Volumes 3 & 4. Hurry to order now while stocks last
  1.   Come Back (Toselli's Serenade. Words R.H. Elkin) (L)   Master Leslie Day 1933
  2.   Abide with me (Lyte-Liddle) (L)   Master John Bonner 1929
  3.   Five Eyes* (Gibbs-Cecil Armstrong) (L)   Master Billy Neely 1949
  4.   The Fairy Tree* (Vincent O'Brien)   Master Billy Neely 1949
  5.   I will sing of Thy Great Mercies O Lord* (Mendelssohn)   Master Harold Langston 1929
  6.   Pierrot at the dance (Lockton-Drummond)   Master Trevor Schofield 1929
  7.   One night of love (Kahn-Schertzinger) (L)   Master Robert Harris 1933
  8.   Hark! Hark! the Lark* (Schubert)   Master Brian Moody 1944
  9.   Slumber dear maid (Handel)   Master John Bonner 1929
10.   My heart ever faithful (Bach) (L)   Master Raymond Kinsey 1933
11.   The Old Church Bells* (H.M.Farrar)   Master Robert Harris 1934
12.   Love's old sweet song (Bingham-Molloy) (L)   Master Robert Harris 1933
13.   The Trout* (Schubert)   Master Brian Moody 1944
14.   Nursery Scene, Boris Godounov (Moussorgsky)   Master Derek Barsham
Recorded 30 Apl. 1947 (AR11093 & 11094), with Gladys Palmer, contralto, Norman Lumsden, bass & London Symphony Orchestra cond. Stanford Robinson. Issued June 1947 on Decca K.1601. ["Better Land" the two parts separately in vols. 3 & 4]
15.   Hear my prayer* (Mendelssohn) (L)   Master Billy Neely 1950
16.   Star of Bethlehem (Adams)   Master John Brookman 1934
17.   A Brown Bird Singing (Barrie-Haydn Wood) (L)   Master Robert Regent
18.   I know that my Redeemer Liveth (Handel) (L)   Master Ernest Lough 1927
19.   Hear ye, Israel (part1)* (Mendenssohn) (L)   Master Ernest Lough 1927
20.   Kitty my love will ya marry me?* (Trad. - arr. Hughes)   Master Billy Neely live 1950
21.   Birdsongs at Eventide* (Barrie-Coates) (L)   Master Graham Payn 'Live' 1932
22.   Let the bright Seraphim (Handel) (L)   Master Raymond Kinsey
23.   Angels guard thee (Reilly-Godard) (L)   Master John Bonner 1929
24.   A song of wisdom* (Charles V. Stanford) (L)   Master Beverly Jones 1954
Email   Available from the producer at £10 plus postage, or £55 plus postage for the set of 6 CD's (which includes as a special offer Stephen R. Beet's book "The Better Land - in search of the lost boy sopranos" Contact StephenRBeet@gmail.com Paypal: beetstphn@aol.com
Master Leslie Day - The Better Land - Great Boy Sopranos Recorded 1914-1944
The Better Land - Great Boy Sopranos Recorded 1914-1944 (Amphion PHI CD 158, CD) 1999
Featuring The Better Land Series   Denis Barthel   John Bonner   Master Gordon Carter   Master (Arthur) Iwan Davies   Master Leslie Day   Frederick (John) Firth   Robert Harris   Aled Jones   Derrick Jones   Walter Lawrence   Trevor Schofield   Morris Stevens   Thomas Tweedy   Denis Wright  
The celebrated series of CD albums featuring the boy sopranos of the past. This volume is now deleted but replaced by the double CD volume The Better Land Volumes 1 & 2. See above.
  1.   The Better Land (Hemans-Cowen) (L)   Denis Wright
  2.   I Hear You Calling Me (Harford-Marshall) (L)   Leslie Day
  3.   He was Despised (Handel) (L)   Denis Barthel
  4.   Who is Sylvia? (Schubert ­ arr. Geehl)   Robert Harris
  5.   O Lord Whose Mercies Numberless (Handel) (L)   Frederick Firth
  6.   Somewhere a Voice is Calling(Newton & Tate)   John Bonner
  7.   God Shall Wipe Away all Tears(Sullivan) (L)   Morris Stevens
  8.   O For the Wings of a Dove (Mendelssohn) (L)   Gordon Carter
  9.   Serenade (Schubert)   Frederick Firth
10.   Smilin' Through (Arthur A. Penn) (L)   Derrick Jones
11.   Spring Morning (Carey)   Walter Lawrence
12.   If there were dreams to sell (Ireland) (L)   Frederick Firth
13.   Christopher Robin is saying his prayers (Milne- Fraser-Simson) (L)   Denis Wright
14.   By an Old Abbey Door (Towers, Leon, Nicholls)   Thomas Tweedy
15.   Goodnight Said the Cuckoo (P.B. Harding)   Trevor Schofield
16.   O Little Town of Bethlehem (H. Walford Davies) (L)   Denis Barthel
17.   The Last Rose of Summer (Thomas Moore) (L)   Denis Wright
18.   My Heart Ever Faithful (Bach) (L)   Frederick Firth
19.   Nymphs & Shepherds (Purcell)   John Bonner
20.   Market Square (Fraser-Simpson) (L)   Denis Wright
21.   The Holy City (Adams Weatherley) (L)   Iwan Davies
22.   For you alone (P.J.O'Reilly-Henry Geehl) (L)   Leslie Day
Email   Purchase from Stephen Beet Individual CD's £10 each plus postage. The Better Land set of 6 CD's is available from StephenRBeet@gmail.com Price £55 plus postage. Included in this offer is a FREE copy of "The Better Land - In search of the Lost Boy Sopranos" (retail value £10) Paypal address: beetstphn@aol.com
Books Compact | Full
Master Leslie Day - Better Land, The: In Search of the Lost Boy Sopranos
Better Land, The: In Search of the Lost Boy Sopranos (Rectory Press , Book) April 2005
Featuring The Better Land Series   Temple Church Choir   Clifford Adams   Derek Barsham   Denis Barthel   John Bonner   Richard Bonsall   Alan Bradbrook   Master John Brookman   Richard Brown   Master Gordon Carter   Master (Arthur) Iwan Davies   Master Leslie Day   Robin Fairhurst   Frederick (John) Firth   Michael Ginn   John Gwilym Griffith(s)   Robert Harris   Michael Hartnett   Aled Jones   Beverley Jones   Raymond Kinsey   Harold Langston   Ernest Lough   Robin Lough   Thomas Meddings   Brian Moody   Billy Neely   Graham Payn   Robert Duncan Peel   Kenneth Purves   The Choir of the Queen's Chapel of the Savoy   Steffani and his Silver Songsters   Thomas Tweedy   Denis Wright  
By Stephen Beet. Features much newly-discovered material, telling the often very human stories of the boys behind the voices, at the height of their singing careers and in their later lives. Copiously illustrated with many previously-unpublished photographs and manuscript samples, with a Foreword by Peter Purves.

As well as chapters on Iwan Davies, Derek Barsham, and Denis Wright, amongst others there are also chapters under the following headings: The Temple Boys, The Manchester Boys, The Music Hall Boys, The Fleeting Boys, and The Broadcast Boys.

This book is available directly from the author: Contact StephenRBeet@gmail.com Price £10 plus postage

This book is available for the cost of postage and packing only if the set of six The Better Land CD albums is ordered.
Email   Stephen Beet The book costs £10 plus postage. Cheque or PayPal.
This page last modified on Saturday, June 04, 2011
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