Robert Howell link with Bobby Howell a musician?

[groom]

Seeing another thread about stories that were told in your family, I've decided to visit this story that my grandmother used to tell us.

She claimed that she was related to a Bobby Howell a famous band leader. Searching the internet, I can't find much about anyone of this name.

I have found that my great grandfather, Thomas William Howell had a brother called Robert Alfred Howell born 6 Jan 1870 in Limehouse, Middlesex. On the 1891 census he is described as a professor or music and on the 1901 and 1911 as a piano tuner. He had a son called Robert Lewis Howell born 9th July 1899 Plaistow, Essex, who would have been my grandmother's cousin. I believe that I've found his second marriage to a Hilda E Shattock in 1943. If this is correct, I then found them returning from Durban on the 10 Jul 1953, travelling first class and with his occupation given as Musician. The address is the same as that given on his probate record.

What I really need is for someone to be able to link this Robert Howell with a Bobby Howell who was reasonably famous! Or did my grandmother just hear the name Bobby Howell and presume it was her cousin?

[loobylooayr]

Hi Groom -

Did you see this - http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bffaad2dba3844b5b2df400daa2caff9

Looby

[groom]

Hi Looby, thanks - yes, I saw that earlier this evening and I reckon that is the Bobby Howell my grandmother referred to, but unfortunately I can't find out the date that one was born or anything else about him to see if he was actually my grandmother's cousin. He was working in the right area, not too far from where the family lived.

[loobylooayr]

I wondered if the mention of the war and the abandoned plans to become a doctor would be a clue 

[Jool]

Groom, your grandmother was telling the truth!!!!

An article in The Stage 08 February 1962 states "Bobby Howell the band leader died January 31 1962 at Wallingford, age 62"   

I believe this matches with your Bobby's probate record.

[groom]

Thank you Jool, that was the link I was looking for!

I think I now need to send off for the marriage certificate for Robert Howell and Hilda E Shattock in 1943 and if that does show that Robert's father was Robert A Howell a piano tuner, that will prove it beyond doubt.

I'll also search the WW1 records and see if I can find anything there, that might save the cost of the marriage certificate.

Ought to have known I should have believed my grandmother  She told my father that he was related to the the presenter and broadcaster Raymond Baxter and I found out that was true - they shared great grandparents!

[Jool]

There are hundreds of articles mentioning where he is performing in the newspapers on FindMyPast, but nothing referring to his private life - apart from the mention of his death.  I have looked for a photo of him but unfortunately no luck.

Let us know what the marriage cert reveals when you get it.

[groom]

I will do - I'll order it tomorrow (or rather later today!) Just seen the time so I'm off to bed. Thanks again.

[groom]

Been doing a bit more research and he was quite famous in his day, his band played with Bob Hope and Billy Cotton as well as giving concerts.

Interesting that he died in Wallington, Surrey, not Wallingford as given in the newspaper. That was only a few miles from where my grandmother lived.