THE star guest at the latest live concert of the 1935 Mighty Compton Cinema Organ is renowned throughout for being a master musician.
Len Rawle MBE maybe unfamiliar to some but such is his reputation once 69 busloads of students arrived for one of his events in Buffalo in the U.S.
It saw him introduce 2,500 eager youngsters to the organ for the very first time.
This Sunday, April 3, Len is in Hampton in Arden at Fentham Hall in Marsh Lane for a concert at 2.30pm and it’s sure to be one of the hottest tickets in the region.
With a family name that is synonymous with the very heart of the organ scene in the UK, Len has the benefit of a family steeped in the tradition of theatre organ preservation.
Master musician Len Rawle MBE.More than 40 theatre organs have passed through the Rawles’ saving’ handsand he still maintains the Wurlitzers at Kilburn and Woking and headed up a £40,000 project which raised the long-entombed Granada Tooting Wurlitzer in South London.
Born in Tonypandy, South Wales, Len’s classical training started when he was just four years old and came from the London College of Music in Cardiff.
Later his studies transferred to London where he also came into contact with many leading organists.
He was also fortunate in having the UK’s first residence Wurlitzer, from the Granada Wandsworth Road, London in the family home! Eventually he purchased the famous 4 manual Wurlitzer of the Empire Theatre, Leicester Square, which became the centrepiece of his own, self-built home.
Described by many, as the finest sounding residence Wurlitzer in the World, he has recorded, broadcast and televised this Wurlitzer many times.
Two particular highlights were appearing on the very first ‘The Organist Entertains’ Programme (plus many subsequent ones) and also in the much celebrated and often repeated Sir John Betjamin BBC TV documentary ‘Metroland’.
Admission for the concert this Sunday is just £10, including interval refreshments, doors open and parking is free.
The series continues throughout 2022 on the first Sunday afternoon of each month (but please note change from June 5 to May 29).
Next at the console – on Sunday May 1 – will be Chris Powell.
For more information click: www.facebook.com/COSMidlandsCompton, www.cinema-organs.org.uk or call 01564 794778.
