Margaret Humphrey, a piano teacher in Newport near Cardiff (Wales, Great Britain) had many pupils. One day, in the early nineteen twenties, a small, blind boy was presented to her. He came from a deprived background. Margaret immediately recognized his talent, took him under her wing and gave him lessons for free.
The young boy's name was Alec Templeton.

Benny Goodman and His Orchestra play Bach Goes To Town. Alec Templeton is soloist in Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with Andre Kostelanetz conducting.

Some music lovers know the name Alec Templeton as of the composer of "Bach Goes To Town". And if their knowledge goes a bit further they also may recall "Mozart Matriculates" and even "Scarlatti Stoops to Conga". Templeton was known as the radio and TV celebrity who in the nineteen forties and fifties regularly appeared on shows hosted by Bing Crosby, and who later had his own show called "It's Alec Templeton Time" (6/3 - 8/26/1955).

The more serious collector, while consulting a record catalog for references of specific recordings, may have seen the entry under Gershwin of blind Alec Templeton's recording of "Rhapsody in Blue" with Andre Kostelanetz for Columbia in the nineteen forties. The recording was issued on two 12" shellac discs (CX-196; C-DX1045/6) and on vinyl (ML-4455) and was listed in Columbia's catalog next to the famous recording of Oscar Levant with the Philadelphia Orchestra and conductor Eugene Ormandy.

The recording by George Gershwin himself with Paul Whiteman and his orchestra on one Victor 12" disc (V-35822) was the abridged version.

Although Levant mastered both the "Rhapsody" and the "Concerto in F" with insight and skill as hardly anybody else did, Templeton - being a talented improviser also - had a good rhythmic feeling for Gershwin's syncopated music, while his Rhapsody in Blue clearly shows that his technical skill was somewhat limited.

Alec Templeton at the time of his NBC radio broadcasts for Alka Seltzer. Postcard image editied by R.A.B. (From the SoundFountain Archive)

Templeton's radio and TV fame was a good reason for Don Gabor to have a recording made of the improviser which was released on Remington R-199-158 - Alec Templeton plays improvisations on Offenbach and Strauss. Alec Templeton himself wrote the liner notes for this recording.

In the season of 1951-1952 Alec Templeton concertized with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra with success. Laszlo Halasz and Don Gabor had good relations with the orchestra and its conductor Thor Johnson. Several recordings for the Remington label were scheduled with this orchestra, recordings to be supervised by Don Gabor and recording director Laszlo Halasz (former director of the New York City Opera Company). The recording engineer was Robert Blake. Gershwin's Concerto in F was the work to be recorded with Templeton in Cincinnati's Music Hall.

Gershwin's Concerto in F on Remington R-199-184. Cover by Curt John Witt.

Alec Templeton was a popular artist and known by many Americans who had heard his radio shows or were watching his tv appearences. There was a market for a recording by legendary Alec Templeton although his skills could not beat the technique of Oscar Levant. Despite the fact that he is not a virtuoso and does not play the demanding and at times highly complex piano style impeccably, Templeton's is an outstanding interpretation. The treatment of the rhythmic sections are very original, his phrasing is beautiful, and the accentuations well chosen; the blues in the second movement (Andante con moto) is soulful, foreboding the dramatic, expressive lamentation at the end of the movement.

The critics were very positive about the performance of Templeton and Johnson's conducting which is to be preferred to the sentimental accompaniment of Andre Kostelanetz on Columbia. Johnson lifts the score to a more serious level. Also the sound quality of the recording of R-199-184 was praised.

Warren De Motte evaluated the performance in The Long Playing Record Guide: "Templeton-Johnson enjoy their musical romp and are well recorded."
Dutch critic Ralph N. Degens mentioned Templeton's somewhat restricted technique, but praised the outstanding musicality of Templeton and Johnson and wrote: "...his interpretation as well as the orchestral part are very compelling." And he also referred to Robert Blake's successful sound recording: "The sound transmitted by this record has a flabbergasting clarity and naturalness; especially the sound of the piano is a surprise." That review was written in 1955.
As with the recording of the Prokofiev concerto played by Jorge Bolet and the same orchestra, here too the grand piano was most certainly a Baldwin.

Alec Templeton around 1953.
(Picture taken from R-199-158. Edited by R.A.B.)

Alec Andrew Templeton was born on July 4th, 1909 in Cardiff (Wales, UK) and was blessed with absolute pitch. At the age of four, he composed his first piano composition and earned his first money when playing at a children's concert. He began his musical studies at an early age in his hometown and as a teenager auditioned for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and played for them until 1935. Meanwhile he studied at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music, both in London. He held degrees for both institutions. At eighteen he composed "Trio for flute, oboe and piano" for which he was complimented by composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. On Counterpoint/Esoteric 5533 Alec Templeton plays his "Trio" together with Julius Baker (flute) and Albert Goltzer (oboe) and on side two The Phoenix Quartet plays Templeton's "Quartet Pastorale" which is his Quartet No. 2. The Trio was recorded by Robert E. Blake Jr., Don Gabor's recording engineer.
One trait of Templeton was his English humor. That is why his compositions have such witty names as "You and I On Our Lanai", a Hawaiian song, or - on the more serious side - one can but smile at the title "Pocketsize Sonata" for clarinet and piano. (He wrote a No. 1 and a No.2).
Templeton's compositions are available as sheet music and can be found on the web, and are also appreciated by music students who are constantly searching for uncommon repertory.

Jack Hylton and His Orchestra.The Hylton Orchestra was the first to broadcast to America. He took his vocalists and arrangers to the States, formed an American Orchestra and played at the Drake Hotel, Chicago and also for Commercial Radio. Image from the cover of Joy Records D 267.

Jack Hylton, British bandleader, who with his jazz orchestra had played in the Paris Opera, brought Alec Templeton to the United States when Hylton was to broadcast a series of radio programs for the Standard Oil Company. The liner notes of R-199-158 state that "Templeton soon established himself as an incomparable and sincere artist."
In addition to his imaginative creativity when 'modernizing' the classical masters, Alec Templeton composed serious works for piano, for orchestra, string quartet, and for voice. Templeton: "Good music need not be ponderous to be good. It can be everything from Bach to jazz." His style is close to the idiom of British folk songs.

Alec Templeton and his wife Julie lived for many years in Greenfield (Connecticut). In the house was a large collection of musical boxes which made music by means of perforated steel discs. Chimes were hanging from trees in their garden and, when moved by the wind, made music. Even their limousine had a license plate 'MUSIC'. Several records were issued with the sound of Alec Templeton's mechanical music boxes and chimes.

Dr. John Bertalot, Cathedral Organist Emeritus (USA), told me that in 1949, Margaret Humphrey celebrated her jubilee as a music teacher. Alec traveled to South Wales (Great Britain) to give a recital in her honor. Alec Templeton also invited her to spend a holiday in America as a thank you. Because of personal circumstances, Margaret Humphrey was unable to make the visit, but of course she appreciated the generous invitation very much.

It was in Connecticut where Alec Templeton died, only 52 years of age, on March 28th, 1963.

Rudolf A. Bruil, page first published fall 2001