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Anthony John Kronenberg (27 August 1925 – 18 October 1999), known professionally as Tony Crombie,^[1] was an English jazz drummer, pianist, bandleader, and composer. He was regarded as one of the finest English jazz drummers and bandleaders, occasional but capable pianist and vibraphonist, and an energizing influence on the British jazz scene over six decades.^[2]

Career

In August 1956, Crombie set up a rock and roll band he called The Rockets,^[3][4] which included future Shadows bassist Jet Harris. The group was modelled after Bill Haley's Comets and Freddie Bell & the Bellboys. Crombie and his Rockets released several singles for Decca and Columbia, including "Teach You to Rock" produced by Norrie Paramor, which made the Top 30 in the UK Singles Chart in October 1956.^[1]

He is credited with introducing rock and roll music to Iceland, performing there in May 1957. By 1958 the Rockets had become a jazz group with Scott and Tubby Hayes. During the following year Crombie started Jazz Inc. with pianist Stan Tracey. In 1960, he composed the score for the film The Tell-Tale Heart and established residency at a hotel in Monte Carlo. In May 1960 he toured the UK with Conway Twitty, Freddy Cannon, Johnny Preston, and Wee Willie Harris.^[5]

Discography

• 
  Tony Crombie and His Orchestra – 30 October 1954 (Decca) with Dizzy Reece, Les Condon, Joe Temperley, Sammy Walker, Lennie Dawes, Harry South, Ashley Kozak, Tony Crombie. (Re-released as Modern Jazz at the Festival Hall, 1954)


• 
  Tony Crombie and His Orchestra – 18 November 1954 (Decca DFE6247) with Dizzy Reece, Les Condon, Joe Temperley, Sammy Walker, Lennie Dawes, Harry South, Ashley Kozak, Tony Crombie. "Perdido"/"Stop It"/"Love You Madly" (vocal Annie Ross) "All of Me" (vocal Bobby Breen).


• 
  Rockin' with the Rockets – 1958 (Columbia) – Tony Crombie and His Rockets (Red Morris, Jimmy Currie, Ashley Kozak, Red Mitchell, Clyde Ray)


• 
  Atmosphere – 1959 (Columbia) – Tony Crombie and His Men (Stan Roderick, Les Condon, Bob Burns, Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes, Norman Stenfalt, Lennie Bush)

With Victor Feldman

• 
  Suite Sixteen (Contemporary, 1955 [1958])

Selected filmography

• 
  Rock You Sinners (1957)


• 
  Identity Unknown (1960)


• 
  The Spider's Web (1960)


• 
  The Tell-Tale Heart (1960)

References