I first discovered Jack Hylton when I arrived at Lancaster University as an undergraduate, in the Jack Hylton Music Rooms. When I said I was interested in jazz, I was told that Hylton was himself a jazz musician and had been the leader of a band.

In my second year of study, my interest increased, I became aware of the Jack Hylton Archive at Lancaster University and was informed that despite it being a very substantial and informative archive (perhaps the only one of it's kind for dance music), it was stored in a small cupboard, in boxes, in a residential block of the University. It became clear to me, when I discovered that no books had been written on the man, that the possibilities for research were vast and I began to express an interest in some kind of study on Hylton. It was only when I started that I realised the scale of the project, realising not only how successful Hylton had been and how little had been published on him, but quite how much material was in the archive. The most difficult task would not be how to gather the evidence, but how to narrow it down to an appropriate size.

It came as something of a surprise to find people who were fanatical about Hylton's music, almost sixty years after his last recording and it was equally surprising, and refreshing, to come across so many people who were willing to talk to me, and willing to help with old newspaper articles, lost publications, recordings, pictures and anecdotal evidence.The study and therefore the website began to take shape simply as an overview of Jack Hylton covering his life and music. I also wanted to describe something abouth the man and his private life.

Many people have generously given their time to make this what it is. Immense thanks must go to Professor Denis McCaldin, from the Music Department at Lancaster University, who has been encouraging me on this for around five years, since I originally had the idea; his help, ideas and constant encouragement have not diminished since then. Stella Birchall is equally thanked, not least in her capacity as my first link Professor McCaldin. Jack Hylton's son Jack Jnr. has also been an invaluable help, available at any time and more than willing to answer the most banal of questions regarding his father. He's a constant encouragement. Through him, I contacted Lady Beverley McKay and Jackie Ramos, both of whom are thanked for their reminiscences.

Peter Wallace, despite working in Brazil, suggested a number of possible leads on the net, almost all of which were helpful. Chris Hayes, a former Melody Maker journalist was gracious in his reply, despite being very ill. Through him, I contacted Alasdair Fenton, to whom I owe a huge debt. Alasdair is perhaps my biggest source of information, and surely the world expert on Hylton. Thanks must also go to the late Billy Munn (who remembered 1931 vividly), Avril Dankworth (for her kind words and the article written by her late husband Les Carew), Marion Freyther (who very kindly translated everything I asked, free of charge), Steve Race OBE (for enthusiasm and the contact of Avril Dankworth), Malcolm Drew (for his information on Hylton's early career, and photograph), Dr. Stephen Walsh, at the University of Wales, Cardiff (for his ideas on Stravinsky and Mavra), Ken Jones (the former archivist at Loughton Library in Essex, who was always ready to inform me of any new Hylton material arriving at the National Jazz Archive), and to Brian Rust and Pam Logan, who both answered my queries kindly and swiftly. As an addition since I started the website, Dennis Pereyra must be thanked for the work he put into the discography and the music archive, an integral part of the site. Thanks Dennis!

If you're interested in what books were used in the making of all this nonsense, click here.