This British bandleader was the brother of the significantly more famous Bert Firman. Unlike Bert Firman, Sid (whose full name actually was Sidney), is largely forgotten today, although he was equally skillful as his brother. Sidney Firman's Radio Dance Band was formed in 1926. It was the first dance band created by the BBC for broadcasting on a regular basis. The band made a number of records for the Columbia company during 1926-28, under the name London Radio Dance Band. When the Sid Firman band first broadcast it consisted only of piano, drums, banjo, trombone, altosax, clarinet and violin. After a few weeks a tenor sax, a sousaphone and Bert Hargest on trumpet were added. Guest singers included Elsie Carlisle and Peter Bernard, and they also featured Eddie Sheldon and Sidney Nesbitt as vocalist. As well as their own evening broadcasts the band also provided music for radio revues and broadcast from the National Radio Exhibition at Olympia. Public appearances included a performance at the Cinematograph Garden Party in 1926, as well as a ten week engagement at the Olympia Dance Hall. Interesting to know is that the band recorded Duke Ellington's It Don't Mean A Thing in 1933; the only other British band recording that title in 1933 was Jack Hylton who was involved with Duke's tour that year. As for this sensational recording, it was made in 1927.
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