Winifred Atwell (February 27, 1914 - February 28, 1983) was a pianist who e… Read Full Bio ↴Winifred Atwell (February 27, 1914 - February 28, 1983) was a pianist who enjoyed great popularity in Britain in the 1950s with a series of boogie woogie and ragtime hits.
Atwell was born in Tunapuna in Trinidad and Tobago. Her family owned a pharmacy, and she trained as a druggist, and was expected to join the family business, Winifred, however played the piano since a young age, and achieved considerable popularity locally.
She left Trinidad in the early 40's, she travelled to the United States to study with Alexander Borovsky and in 1946 moved to London, where she had gained a place at the Royal Academy of Music. To support her studies, she played rags at London clubs and theatres particularly the London Palladium and Prince of Wales Theatre.
She gained huge popularity in the UK with her Honky Tonk style of playing that people closest to her disliked, but this became her ticket to unrivalled success. She earned only a few pounds a week initially, but suddenly it shot up to over $50,000. By 1950 her popularity had spread nationally and internationally, she signed a record contract with Decca in 1951, millions of copies of her sheet music were sold she also went on to record her best-known "hits", such as Let's Have a Ding-Dong, Poor People of Paris (which reached number one in the charts), Britannia Rag and Black and White Rag. This last piece became famous again in the 1970s as the signature tune of the Pot Black snooker programme on BBC television. It was also at this time other West Indians were excelling abroad with Edric Connor and Cy Grant singing for the BCC Radio and Rudolph Dunbar becoming the first black conductor to appear at the Royal Albert Hall.
Atwell also performed numerous concerts, including Royal Variety Performances and television appearances. A typical concert would start with classical music played on a grand piano, followed by popular music on a honky tonk piano, which she lovingly referred to as 'my other piano'. It had been bought for £2 10s. at a Battersea junk shop in the late 1940s.
In 1955 she arrived in Australia and was greeted with international celebrity. However, her popularity started to wane at the end of the decade, and attempts to combine more contemporary music, such as Rock 'n' Roll hits, with her own honky tonk style were unsuccessful, however she still continued to perform at clubs and gave the odd concert performance every so often.
Winifred often returned to her Trinidad, and on one occasion she bought a house in St. Augustine a home she adored and later renamed Winvilla which was later turned into the Pan Pipers Music School by one of her students Miss Louise McIntosh. In 1971 she and her husband the former British comedian and her manager Lew Levisohn settled in Sydney. Her career there spanned about 25 years. In 1983 following a fire that destroyed her Narrabeen apartment, she suffered a heart attack and died while staying with friends in Seaforth.
Atwell was born in Tunapuna in Trinidad and Tobago. Her family owned a pharmacy, and she trained as a druggist, and was expected to join the family business, Winifred, however played the piano since a young age, and achieved considerable popularity locally.
She left Trinidad in the early 40's, she travelled to the United States to study with Alexander Borovsky and in 1946 moved to London, where she had gained a place at the Royal Academy of Music. To support her studies, she played rags at London clubs and theatres particularly the London Palladium and Prince of Wales Theatre.
She gained huge popularity in the UK with her Honky Tonk style of playing that people closest to her disliked, but this became her ticket to unrivalled success. She earned only a few pounds a week initially, but suddenly it shot up to over $50,000. By 1950 her popularity had spread nationally and internationally, she signed a record contract with Decca in 1951, millions of copies of her sheet music were sold she also went on to record her best-known "hits", such as Let's Have a Ding-Dong, Poor People of Paris (which reached number one in the charts), Britannia Rag and Black and White Rag. This last piece became famous again in the 1970s as the signature tune of the Pot Black snooker programme on BBC television. It was also at this time other West Indians were excelling abroad with Edric Connor and Cy Grant singing for the BCC Radio and Rudolph Dunbar becoming the first black conductor to appear at the Royal Albert Hall.
Atwell also performed numerous concerts, including Royal Variety Performances and television appearances. A typical concert would start with classical music played on a grand piano, followed by popular music on a honky tonk piano, which she lovingly referred to as 'my other piano'. It had been bought for £2 10s. at a Battersea junk shop in the late 1940s.
In 1955 she arrived in Australia and was greeted with international celebrity. However, her popularity started to wane at the end of the decade, and attempts to combine more contemporary music, such as Rock 'n' Roll hits, with her own honky tonk style were unsuccessful, however she still continued to perform at clubs and gave the odd concert performance every so often.
Winifred often returned to her Trinidad, and on one occasion she bought a house in St. Augustine a home she adored and later renamed Winvilla which was later turned into the Pan Pipers Music School by one of her students Miss Louise McIntosh. In 1971 she and her husband the former British comedian and her manager Lew Levisohn settled in Sydney. Her career there spanned about 25 years. In 1983 following a fire that destroyed her Narrabeen apartment, she suffered a heart attack and died while staying with friends in Seaforth.
Let's Have a Party
Winifred Atwell Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Let's Have a Party' by these artists:
Al-Beeno eyow yow yow shout of to flavs nu icon s.o.q come on let's…
B. Hinkley and J. Larson B. Thompson G. Keillor The Powdermilk Biscuit Band and The Guy's All-Star S Let's party 今日はこれから Let's party 何もかまわず Let's party これが終わるなり …
Backstreet Boys But all I want to know is a party year…
Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys (But all I want to know is where the party…
Billy-Leroy and the Jitters Yeah! Are you ready? Wake up, wake up She'll pull the trigg…
bless4 Let's have a party, a party tonight, We'll bring t…
Bob & The Monsters I said we're gonna have party All night long It's a high…
Chris Isaak I stay out late But I don't cry I did my best I…
Connie Francis Some people like to rock Some people like to roll But movin'…
Doctor Feelgood Some people like to rock Some people like to roll Their movi…
Dolly Dots Lead Vocals: Angela Groothuizen The whole day wait…
Dr. Feelgood Some people like to rock Some people like to roll Their movi…
E-40 I never stayed my ass home I always thought that…
Elvis Presley Some people like to rock Some people like to roll But movin′…
Eva Avila Wake all the neighbors, it's gonna get loud Pop all the…
Frank Virtue & The Virtues Bad lil bitch like riri Bad lil vibe like diva Selfish girl…
Frankie Yankovic Let's have a party, a party tonight, We'll bring the music…
Frankie Yankovic & Walter Ostanek Let′s have a party, a party tonight, We'll bring the music…
Hurriganes LET'S HAVE A PARTY I'm gonna tell you what I'm gonna…
J.B.O. Let's party 今日はこれから Let's party 何もかまわず Let's party これが終わるなり …
Jackson 5 Some people like to rock some people like to roll But…
Jackson Wanda Some people like to rock, some people like to roll But…
Johnny Reid Hello people From all around the world I hope you can hear…
Juno & Darrell I know, of a place We can kick back and relax Just…
Led Zeppelin Some people like to rock Some people like to roll But movin'…
Max & Ruby She just wanna go out and get high and lay…
Metronomy Tonight, I can tell You need, to get out Grab your money …
Mike Posner Let's have a party let's lose control Let's have a party…
Mud Some people like to rock Some people like to roll But moving…
Mud (1970's) Some people like to rock Some people like to roll But movi…
Robert Plant Some people like to roll But movin' and a groovin' Some pe…
S.W.I.N.E. Let's Party! Glitter on my face and my westwood chains Prett…
Slade Some people like to rock, some people like to roll But…
Strangers You Know Alright, Cheers mates! No, no, no. Cheers fuckers! I'm into …
T.V. Slim Some people like to rock some people like to roll But…
Teresa Brewer Let's have a party, a party tonight, We'll bring the music…
The 5.6.7.8's Some people like to rock some people like to roll But…
The Adicts We're sitting at home chewing a bone And we want to…
The Chaplin Band Let's have a party Let's have a party Let's have a party …
The Go Go's Some people like to rock Some people like to roll But movin'…
The Jackson 5 Some people like to rock some people like to roll But…
The Scabs One day I met Minnie Mouse She said baby, let's play…
The Wiggles Let's have a party, (Let's have a party) Dorothy's party, (…
Tommy Dorsey What's this, baby? I got an idea. What's this? Let's…
Tony Ashton and Friends I get nervous when the girls dress in their summer…
Too $hort and E-40 I never stayed my ass home I always thought that…
V.A. Some people like to rock some people like to roll But…
Various Artists Some people like to rock Some people like to roll But movin'…
W. JACKSON Some people like to rock, some people like to roll But…
Wanda Jay Let's Have A Party Wanda Jackson with instrumental backup by…
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@grahamfoster8056
It's now July 2020. I have just now, caught this amazing lady's playing of the piano. My daughter who has Usher Syndrome learnt to play the piano when she was 5 years old. Her hearing loss aspect allowed her to feel the notes through the heightened reverberations of the pedals and suppressed sound of the piano. I used to come home and after a stressful day and ask her to play something on the piano, moments later my mood changed and her interpretation of music from the past slowly melted me into calmness. Music soothes the troubled minds whatever you are going through in life. My daughter now is 40, music is timeless.
@chrissmith8526
I discovered her through an older friend who grew up in Brixton where I spent some of my youth she’s wonderful I love finding gems like this
@davejohn1588
That was so cool. Her playing reminded me of my Grandad. From the early 30s until his death in the late 60s, Grandad used to play the piano in local pubs and clubs. He used to play for us grandchildren too. I discovered much later in my life that my favourite tune was originally by Whispering Jack Smith - Miss Annabelle Lee. Grandad was so fun. 😊
@LeeAshby
Wonderful Music. My Dear Dad played The Piano . With no Music. A Gift. Had his own Dance Band. . My Dad Died in 1963.
@debbiebrett6689
My uncle also used to play this type of music, with no music. He and my father had a dance band with him on piano and my father on drums. When I grew up I also started playing this type of music by ear and the three of us used to take it in turns on piano and drums, Such fun. My father and uncle are long dead and I am 66.
@osocool1too
When i was a kid in the 1950s, the local cinema used to play her music before the movie and at the interval. Listening to this takes me back 65 plus years.
@trevorwratten3170
This lovely lady used to live in the house I owned when appearing at Eastbourne Hipperdrome
@tonylyntooley5108
Beautiful Music, so glad to hear such talented playing
@sunshinefield7513
How come I never heard of this woman before? Sheer brilliance in playing!
@GirGir183
Or is it just that she's learned to play ragtime piano?