THE ORCHESTRA

The first ever rehearsal for the Pasadena Roof Orchestra was on November 3rd 1969.
John Arthy had placed an advertisement enquiring after dance band music. A lady in Manchester said she might be able to help. Later that day, a bakery van from John’s family business was travelling back down from Manchester to London somewhat overloaded, but safely transporting 2000 original arrangements from the 1920s and 1930s. The first tune on the huge pile of music, was Harry Warrens ‘Home in Pasadena’ the “roof” bit, came from the fact that in the 20s and 30s,  many hotels had roof gardens and of course, roof orchestras. The bandturned professional in 1975, which coincided with an astronomical almost overnight success in Germany. It has subsequently appeared around the world, the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, from Berlin to Hong Kong, via Helsinki Dublin Abu Dhabi, Istanbul all the way to the USA (five times).