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Denis Preston (Sidney Denis Prechner) was born on 16 November, 1916 in Stoke Newington, London, England, is a British record producer, radio presenter and music critic. Discover Denis Preston's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 62 years old?

Popular As Sidney Denis Prechner
Occupation Record producer, critic
Age 62 years old
Zodiac Sign Scorpio
Born 16 November, 1916
Birthday 16 November
Birthplace Stoke Newington, London, England
Date of death 21 October, 1979
Died Place Hove, Sussex, England
Nationality London, England

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 16 November. He is a member of famous record producer with the age 62 years old group.

Denis Preston Height, Weight & Measurements

At 62 years old, Denis Preston height not available right now. We will update Denis Preston's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
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Dating & Relationship status

He is currently single. He is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, He has no children.

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Denis Preston Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Denis Preston worth at the age of 62 years old? Denis Preston’s income source is mostly from being a successful record producer. He is from London, England. We have estimated Denis Preston's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
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Source of Income record producer

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Timeline

1916

Sidney Denis Preston (né Prechner, 16 November 1916 – 21 October 1979) was a British record producer, recording studio owner, radio presenter and music critic.

He was born Sidney Denis Prechner on 16 November 1916 in Stoke Newington, London, the son of Louis Prechner and Sarah née Hobsbaum.

1940

He was particularly influential in the British jazz and associated skiffle scenes from the 1940s to the 1960s.

Preston worked independently; he was not contracted to a particular record label and would often risk cutting a record before pitching for a deal.

He has been described as "Europe's first independent record producer", and as "probably the most important figure to emerge from the British jazz business".

Neil Ardley described him as "a rare Diaghilev like figure" who steered many of the key figures of the British jazz scene into the studio when nobody else would record them.

From 1940, Denis Preston was a regular presenter of shows on BBC Radio, including Radio Rhythm Club and later Radio Blackbirds, on which he championed black American jazz performers such as Duke Ellington.

1945

After the end of the Second World War, in July 1945, he organised concerts featuring black musicians such as Freddy Grant, and also edited the influential Jazz Music magazine.

1946

He changed his surname to Preston by deed poll in 1946.

His cousin was the historian (and jazz critic) Eric Hobsbawm.

1948

He visited New York in 1948 for Decca Records, and while there heard Trinidadian musicians play calypso music.

1950

In January 1950, he supervised recordings made by calypso musicians Lord Kitchener and Lord Beginner at the Abbey Road Studios in London; the recordings were issued on the Parlophone label.

Inspired by the example of Norman Granz to set up as an independent producer, he supervised recordings issued on the independent Melodisc label, including Lord Kitchener's "London Is the Place for Me"; recordings by Roaring Lion; early recordings by Humphrey Lyttelton with Freddy Grant as the Grant-Lyttelton Paseo Jazz Band; and pianist Mike McKenzie.

He also produced recordings by pianist George Shearing and blues musicians Big Bill Broonzy and Josh White.

1952

In 1952, he produced recordings in London by American singer Marie Bryant, including Sam Manning's risqué calypso "Don't Touch Me Tomato", for the Lyragon label, an offshoot of Polygon Records.

Preston continued to edit and occasionally present World of Jazz on BBC radio.

1953

He set up Lansdowne Productions in 1953.

The following year, he also founded Record Supervision Ltd, a production company which licensed recordings to major labels.

1954

He also produced some of Lonnie Donegan's early skiffle recordings, including "Rock Island Line", recorded in July 1954 and first released on Chris Barber's album New Orleans Joys in January 1955 before becoming a top ten hit in the UK later that year.

1955

In 1955, he accepted a licensing deal with Pye Records and produced records for Chris Barber, Acker Bilk, Alex Welsh, Frank Holder, Sandy Brown and Al Fairweather, Terry Lightfoot, and Kenny Baker.

1956

In 1956, he established Lansdowne Studios (and associated label Lansdowne Records) in Holland Park, west London.

The same year he produced Humphrey Lyttelton's record "Bad Penny Blues" with the recording engineer Joe Meek.

1958

In 1958, immediately after the Notting Hill race riots, Preston was active in the anti-racism movement.

With musician and critic Fred Dallas, and musicians Johnny Dankworth, Cleo Laine, Winifred Atwell, George Melly and others, he helped set up the Stars Campaign for Interracial Friendship (SCIF).

The organisation linked with activist Claudia Jones to arrange several events and clubs in the area on a non-racial and anti-fascist basis.

1960

When Meek left Lansdowne in 1960, he took inspiration from Preston's independent approach and expanded on this by also producing in his own recording studio.

During the early 1960s, Preston worked with EMI on their Columbia label.

1961

He produced Acker Bilk's international hit "Stranger on the Shore" in 1961.

1963

Preston was quoted in 1963: "I was a great admirer of those involved in traditional jazz. It was very alive and active. Colyer and Barber seemed to be ploughing a lonely furrow, united against the world.... But with every successive would-be hit, another spark has died."

Preston's production branched out from traditional jazz into folk, modern jazz and guitar-based genres, working with artists such as Jack Elliot, Roger Whittaker, Wout Steenhuis, Shawn Phillips, Joe Harriott and Stan Tracey, as well as African and Indian-inspired artists Amancio D'Silva and Kofi Ghanaba.

Among his jazz production successes were Stan Tracey's "Under Milk Wood" Suite, and the Indo-Jazz Fusions albums by John Mayer and Joe Harriott.

1967

He put together the Lansdowne String Quartet, which recorded John Mayer's Shanta Quintet with jazz sitar player Diwan Motihar, and accompanied saxophonist Tony Coe on Tony's Basement (1967).

1979

Preston died in Hove, Sussex, in 1979.

His Sunday Times obituary described him as "probably the most important figure to emerge from the British jazz business".