DESCRIPTION:
Another fascinating, rare and raggy side - providing an insight into the glamorous interior of Ciro's Club during World War One. Ciro's Club Coon Orchestra played for the elite of society until the club was shut down for peddling illegal alcohol.

The sound was reportedly so novel that writers at the time had trouble discerning what instruments were being played on these records. The band also played at the Grafton Galleries on Grafton Street, following their performances at Ciro's - this caused a lot of complaints to police about the noise. In November 1916, Inspector Lummus of the Met. Police reported that on several dates in June and July, music, dancing and singing could be heard from the Grafton Galleries between 1230 and 4am. "Ragtime dances and loud singing by a nigger troupe could be heard in the neighbouring street on these days", he wrote. "On three occasions I saw the band leave the Galleries between four and five am, and recognised it as the same band which I had seen leave Ciro's Club on other nights. One morning, the members of the band, who are very dark skinned were evidently under the influence of drink, and were shouting away in Albemarle Street, but as I approached them they went quietly away".

Dan Kildaire, the band's pianist, met a rather savage end. In 1920 he spiralled into depression and drink. He began assaulting his wife, then on June 21, 1920, he entered the bar of his wife's pub and shot his wife, her sister and himself dead in a fit of rage.

CIRO'S CLUB COON ORCHESTRA

Vance Lowry, bj / Ferdie Allen, banjoline / Dan Kildare, p / S. Edwards, sb / Harry Pollard, d / Seth Jones, v,

London, March, 1917