Henry Bidgood (1898 – 1957), known as "Harry", was an English composer, dance band leader and musical director for for numerous films, including several starring George Formby. Born in London, he was taught the piano at an early age by his father who was a composer. As soon as he left school he went on to the Variety stage as a solo pianist, and also played at cinemas in the 'silent' days. He was an Army drummer during World War One, after which he was pianist at the Old Vic, until he formed the dance-band combination with which he spent three-and-a-half years at the Piccadilly Hotel. During the mid to late 1920s Harry Bidgood led the in-house studio band for Vocalion Records in England (its former parent, the American Vocalion label, was acquired by Brunswick in 1925). In 1927 Vocalion de