Nattering Around - download
Rhapsody in Blue - download
Canzonetta - download
Concerto For Clarinet - download
On the Sunny Side of the Street - download
Click on the song title to listen, or on "download" to download the file. All the above are about 3Mb downloads
Early post-war residencies at Butlin's and other seaside locations were quickly succeeded by a chance relationship which turned him into a household name. Canadian, Bernard Braden, later to be accompanied by his wife Barbara Kelly, brought a new slant to radio during the late. Forties and chose Nat Temple's band to provide the necessary balance for his sarcastic but friendly humour. It was a successful partnership.
photo - Nat, Freda and his daughters.
Breakfast with Braden began on Saturday morning, 21st January 1950, initially putting Bernard I Braden alongside his dumb girl friend, Pearl Carr ("Sing, Pearl"), second singer stooge Benny Lee and naive third stooge, bandleader Nat Temple ("Play, Nat!"). On 19th September the same year came the advent of the late evening Bedtime with Braden followed by various sequels including Between Time; Bathtime; and Bedlam with Braden. The usually straight BBC announcer was Ronald Fletcher who, together with Nat, (just like Wallace Greenslade in the contemporary Goon Show), was drawn into the script which added to the ingenuity and enjoyment.
Nat's clever portrayal of a bumbling musician was quickly picked up by other radio producers who used him in similar vein. Good Evening Each starred comedians Beryl Reid and Ken Platt with Nat as the manager of a dance hall while Michael Bentine's Round the Bend was self-explanatory. Nat also appeared in Third Division, an unusual experimentary early comedy show on the Third Programme, in Emery at Large with Dick Emery, and In All Directions starring Peter Ustinov and Peter Jones.
On television he was ideal for children and the perfect foil for Eamonn Andrews in Crackerjack where boys and girls enthusiastically competed in various quiz games, culminating in a final round called "Double or Drop" when the contestants were piled high with prizes until they let something fall on the floor. Other programmes (continued) for younger viewers included Jack-in-the-Box and Telebox.
Other television programmes included Nuts in May with Frankie Howerd, The Time of Your Life with Noel Edmonds, The Russell Harty Show, Tune Times With Temple, A Jolly Good Time, Dance Music Through the Ages and Starstruck. Tempting though full-time radio and television might have been, however, Nat was also keen to get out and about. In addition to his duties as the resident house band for Decca records he was often to be found on the road playing at University balls and top London hotels. He even found time to do more summer seasons at Butlin's. Christmas parties at Windsor Castle were given in front of the Queen, Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother while other private functions ranged from Lord Grade and Viscount Norwich to Tesco and Marks and Spencer! He was official music adviser to the latter for more than 25 years.
photo - Nat and Freda celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.
What was it that made Nat so professionally well respected by so many people?
Firstly, his outstanding and
undeniable natural ability as clarinettist, being the first Englishman to
publicly perform the difficult introductory glissando to Gershwin's Rhapsody in
Blue. Polished solo performances at both the Royal Albert and Royal Festival
Halls also gave clear indication as to why his fellow musicians voted him top
of a poll conducted by the Melody Maker. Secondly, Nat's even temperament meant
he was easy to work with and a natural foil for comedians and other famous
stars, including Eartha Kitt, George Shearing, Larry Grayson, Fred Perry, Joyce
Grenfell, Matt Momo, Kenneth Home, Mel Torme and Paul Daniels. There was never
a danger of Nat stealing the limelight because he was not that kind of person,
but he could be relied upon to brighten it for everybody else which they much
appreciated. His career spanned more than 70 years and was recognised many
times with international honours. In 1993, aged 80, he was awarded the Gold Badge of Merit for services to music by the British Academy of Song-Writers, Composers and Authors (BASCA). Two years later he was nominated for an Emmy in New York for the music he composed for two poignant television programmes called Igor, Child of Chernobyl and Igor, the Boy Who Dared to Dream. He was also awarded the Freedom of the City of London.
Nat Temple, a great entertainer and musician, was married to Freda for over 62 years; sadly Freda died in June 2005. He stopped playing live around 2003 and lived at home, near Woking, Surrey. He had 4 daughters and 6 grandchildren.
Nat Temple died peacefully at home on 30th May 2008.
Announcements:
Telegraph Announcement
The Stage Announcement
Obituraries:
Telegraph Obituary
Guardian Obituary
Times Obituary
and comments from the Times
Independent Obituary
The Stage Obituary
Radio Tribute by Malcolm Laycock, Radio 2, 22nd June 2008 (.mp3 file, about 6Mb).
Memorial Service
The Service
Tribute by Bryn Williams
Tribute by Mandy Dyer (ne. Temple)
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