Bert Firman

Born Herbert Feuerman in London, England on February 3r,1906, young Bert wanted to become a doctor but was expected to study music because everyone in his immediate family, as well as cousins and uncles, were musicians. After early training on violin, he was granted a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music. At the age of 13 he played in a quintet providing incidental music at the Playhouse Theatre, and at 14 was a member of the orchestra at the Victoria Hotel. Bert's brother John (at that time pianist with the Savoy Havana Band) set him up with an audition which resulted...