HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Dorothy Squires

Source: BBC

Born on 25 March 1915 in Wales, pop vocalist Dorothy Squires was sixteen and working in a tin plate factory when she began to sing in a club in Pontyberem. In 1936 she joined the band of Billy Reid, also the year she began recording. Web Fantastic has her first session to issue on December 6, 1936 [Dec 3 per 45 Worlds], for 'When the Poppies Bloom Again' (Decca F6224), that uncredited with Billy Reid and His Accordeon Band, issued the same year per 45 Worlds.

'When the Poppies Bloom Again' Dorothy Squires

Squires' 1st recording to issue

3 or 6 Dec 1936 Decca F6224

See the compilation 'The Voice of the Broken Hearted'

Billy Reid and His Accordion Band

Composition: Leo Towers / Elton Box / Desmond Cox / Don Pelosi / Paddy Roberts 1936

'Moonlight on the Waterfall' Dorothy Squires

Sometime 1936

See the compilation 'The Voice of the Broken Hearted'

Billy Reid and His Accordion Band

Composition: Jimmy Kennedy / Hugh Williams (Wilhelm Grosz)

'Kiss Me Goodnight' Dorothy Squires

From the film 'Saturday Night Revue' released 4 May 1938

See the compilation 'The Voice of the Broken Hearted'

Billy Reid and His Accordion Band

Composition: Jimmy Kennedy / Hugh Williams (Wilhelm Grosz)

IMDb Wikipedia

'Coming Home' Dorothy Squires

May 1945 Parlophone F2076

See the compilation 'The Voice of the Broken Hearted' or 'Dreams of Yesterday'

Billy Reid and His Orchestra

Composition: Billy Reid

'Dreams of Yesterday' Dorothy Squires

May 1945 Parlophone F2076

See the compilation 'The Voice of the Broken Hearted' or 'Dreams of Yesterday'

Billy Reid and His Orchestra

Composition: Heatherton

After World War II Squires worked for the BBC on the 'Variety Bandbox' radio show. Her single, 'I'm Walking Behind You', was a strong performer in June of 1953, rising to #12 on the UK's NME (New Musical Express). Squires lived in the United States some years upon marrying her second husband, actor Roger Moore of James Bond fame, in 1953 (separated 1961, divorced 1969). A duet with Russ Conway, 'Say It with Flowers', performed well in the summer of 1961.

'So Tired' Dorothy Squires

Sometime 1948 Matrix: 20902-1 Columbia DB2455

See the compilation 'The Voice of the Broken Hearted'

Composition: Russ Morgan / Jack Stuart

'Precious Love' Dorothy Squires

Sometime 1954 London 45-1490

Composition: More / Dunstall

'Someone to Love' Dorothy Squires

Sometime 1956 Pye Nixa N15075

Beryl Stott Chorus w the Tony Osborne Orchestra

Composition: Curtis Lemarque

'Say It With Flowers' Dorothy Squires

Sometime 1961 Matrix: 7XCA 25611-IN Columbia DB 4665

Composition: Squires

'Goodbye' Dorothy Squires

Sometime 1965 Decca F12159

Composition: Eden Arrangement: Mike Leander

'We'll Gather Lilacs' Dorothy Squires

Sometime 1968 See the album 'Say It With Flowers'

Composition: Ivor Novello 1945 Arrangement: Nicky Welsh

'Till' Dorothy Squires

Sometime 1969 Matrix: C 14550 A-1 President PT 281

Tenor Saxophone: Johnnie Gray

Music: Charles Danvers Lyrics: Carl Sigman

Squires' single, 'My Way', reached #10 on the UK Singles Chart in 1970. Squires led something of a tempestuous life, in and out of court so many times (30 cases since 1971) for various reasons, including lawsuits, that she was banned from initiating legal actions without permission of England's High Court. In 1974 she lost a mansion to fire, saving but her dog and correspondences (such as with Roger Moore). The house into which she moved next, to the Thames, flooded three weeks later. Squires published her memoir, 'Rain Rain Go Away', in 1977. She lost her home to bankruptcy in 1988.