HARRY KAHN is perhaps musically best remembered as the pianist and arranger for the Joe Loss Orchestra in the early and mid-1930s. He played with other bands after the war and was still active as professional musician performing before live audiences at the age of 91.

Harry Kahn was born in Stepney, East London... the neighborhood known as the East End, in 1908. The oldest of five children, he was the son of fairly wealthy Jewish emigrés from Eastern Europe. His father was a tailor with a factory making quite upscale (for the time) garments, his mother, interestingly enough, had been schooled at a convent in Rumania. Two of his brother, David and Alfred "Alfie" Kahn also became professional musicians, the remaining brother, Max, took up the tailor's trade. The other Kahn sibling was his sister, Rose. 

Harry Kahn received his primary education at the Myrdle Street School in Stepney, and continued his education at the Central Foundation Boys School, a school for 11-18 year olds situated in the London Borough of Islington, which is where the brighter students went. A good scholar, he received prizes in all subjects and got his High School Certificate with honors. Although he excelled at mathematics and economics, his first love was music.

One of Harry Kahn's schoolmates was Joe Loss and they began their first band when both were boys aged around 14 or15 for extra pocket money. 

After working with Joe Loss he organized his own 14-piece orchestra which worked on the Queen Mary and also played a number of venues in the United States. When England went to war with Germany in 1939, Harry Kahn soon answered his nation's call. He was with the Royal Engineers during the early part of World War II. He was stationed at Halifax, Yorkshire (Northern England), where his primary responsibility was leading the military band. He received a medical discharge due to ulcers from eating Army food in 1944 and returned to his musical career.

Harry Kahn played with Ray Martin on Danny Kaye's 1948 tour of the United Kingdom, and later with Sid Phillips. He was also the pianist for Bob Hope during Hope's 1953 journey to England. By 1957 Harry Kahn was once again leading his own orchestra which included brothers Alfie Kahn on tenor saxophone and David Kahn on trumpet. He was well-known in that world of musicians, the British musical press taking note of his comings and goings. Among the notable venues at which he performed included Windsor Castle, for the Queen and royal family. 

Harry Kahn also appeared in several musical shorts with the Joe Loss Orchestra and in 1968 he appeared in the movie "Carry On Up The Khyber". Harry Kahn played at the cocktail bar at the Montcalm Hotel from 1979 to 1982 and was still playing at a hotel in London in 2000, at the grand old age of 91. Harry Kahn passed away at Hampstead in North London during the month of January, 2006 at the age of 97, survived by his sister Rose and daughter Julie. 

When not performing, Harry Kahn's hobbies included growing roses and archaeology. He was a fine mathematician and sometimes wondered what would have happened if he had chosen that as a profession instead of music. A childhood friend was the biologist and mathematician Jacob Bronowski, best remembered as the presenter and writer of the BBC television documentary series, The Ascent of Man. They had met during their years at the Central Foundation Boys School. Another friend was record label executive and music publisher Dick James, part-owner of Northern Songs which published the Beatles' music. 

His daughter, Julie wrote in 2008 

"It's a shame he wasn't a pushier sort of personality because a friend of his, Dick James, went on to start a successful record label - DJM. My mother was always trying to make my dad get involved more, after all many of his contemporaries went on to become multi-millionaires but my dad just wanted to play music."

"He died about 2.5 years ago at the grand old age of 97 and was still playing the piano in a London hotel up to the age of 91. Good genes you see."

To which I'll add, a life well lived.

Phil Cohen
July 31, 2008 

The Kahn Family

Left: Harry Kahn and his mother, circa 1912. 
Right: Harry Kahn is standing behind his parents and siblings- mid 1920s

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The San Diego
Dance Band
1925

Harry Kahn at far left

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Harry Kahn is fifth from the right. The Syd Seymour Band appeared in 1930 British made film 'Just For A Song', and in the 1936 film 'Happy Days Are Here Again'.

The Joe Loss Orchestra with Harry Kahn on piano was the backup band for Roy Fox and his Kit Kat Orchestra

ATHLETIC GROUP PLANS WASHINGTON PARTY

A George Washington birthday party and dance will be held on Friday night by the Victor Athletic Association at Camden Convention Hall. The affair will start at 8.30 o'clock and an attendance of more than 3000 is expected.

Harry Kahn and his 14-piece orchestra will furnish the music and a floor show of four acts has been arranged by Roland R. Hitchens, athletic director of the local industry. The entertainment will include Jack and Jessie Gibson, trick cyclists; Bud Carlett and Company, formerly with the Barnum and Bailey circus; Lou Hoffman, comedy juggler, and The Three Jacks, musical comedy stars.

The affair is one of the many held by the Victor Athletic Association, whose membership is more than 5000.

Watch The Video
on
You Tube

Let's Dance
Joe Loss Orchestra
Harry Kahn on piano
1937

Click Here to Download the Video File 

Enagement
Photo
of
Harry and Dobbie Kahn

In 1952 Harry Kahn was once again working at the Astor Club, this time with Sid Phillips. Sid's 1952 orchestra lineup is as follows:

Leader/Arranger/Clarinet:    Sid Phillips
Saxes:    George Bayton, Cyril Glover
Trumpet:    Cyril Ellls
Trombone:    Bob Lloyd
Piano:    Harry Kahn
Bass:    Ralph Phillips
Drums:    Michael Nicholson
Vocals:    Denny Dennis 

Sid Phillips was a popular bandleader before World War II. In 1945, Sid was de-mobilized and formed his Dixieland Jazz band which became Princess Margaret's favorite, and on several occasions in the 1950s, played the annual Windsor Castle Christmas Ball at her request. The band made frequent broadcasts on the BBC networks, and throughout Great Britain, he became known as "England's King of the Clarinet", while making about 200 records for HMV.

1950s

The Kahn Brothers
play for Stanley Barnet
at
the Dreamland Ballroom
Margate, U.K.

1950s - The Harry Kahn Orchestra
Harry Kahn, conducting
Brother David Kahn on trumpet, to the right of the singer.
Brother Alfie Kahn on tenor saxophone, second from right.

Watch The Video
on
You Tube

"Carry On Up The Khyber"
Harry Kahn on piano
1968

Click Here to Download the Video File 

Publicity Still Photo
from
"Carry On Up The Khyber"
Harry Kahn on piano
1968

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Harry Kahn
at the Cocktail Bar of the Montcalm Hotel, 1979-1982

Harry Kahn
at the
Cocktail Bar
of the
Montcalm Hotel
1979-1982

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The Harry Kahn Family
Dobbie and Harry Kahn with their daughter Julie

Thanks to Harry Kahn's daughter Julie, for her help in creating this page