Mortimer, Harry (1902-1992), was one of the greatest figures in brass band music in the United Kingdom during the 1900’s. He distinguished himself as a virtuoso trumpeter early in his career. Later, he formed his own bands, the All Star Brass Band and Men o’ Brass. Mortimer conducted several championship brass bands in the United Kingdom and was brass and military bands supervisor for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) from 1942 to 1964.
Henry Mortimer was born on April 10, 1902, in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. His father, Fred Mortimer, and his younger brother Fred also were important figures in British brass band music. Mortimer learned to play the trumpet at the age of 8 and studied at the Royal Manchester College of Music. Mortimer was a trumpeter in the Halle Orchestra from 1926 to 1930, the Liverpool Symphony Orchestra from 1930 to 1934, and the BBC Northern Orchestra from 1935 to 1942. He died on Jan. 23, 1992.
