In the "What are you Listening to Now" thread, Frank recently posted a video of Petula Clark singing her hit single "Downtown" from some time in the mid-Sixties.
I remember this tune well as I have a clear memory of thumbing through my father's LP collection and finding the album on which the tune was recorded.
More importantly, though, Petula "Pet" Clark has a very special history for me as I uncovered her name and her activities when she was a young girl living in London during WWII.
Many of you may know that I wrote a book about the history of the 298th Army Band, the unit that I was assigned to for not quite 9 years of my 20 years spent on active duty. This band was stationed in West Berlin from 1945 until its deactivation in 1994, but the predecessor of that band, and indeed the band that was requested to be sent to Berlin in WWII's aftermath, became the 298th.
Slightly confusing, perhaps, but this Army band got its start in the Lousiana Army National Guard as the 156th Infantry Regiment Band, but through subterfuge and a very stubborn commander, found its way to London as the London Base Command Band and then, just before its assignment to Berlin, it was redesignated as the 298th Infantry Band and the 300th Infantry Band (the unit had been split in two on paper as each band was authorized only 28 musicians -- not the 56 that it had).
Petula Clark was but a young girl living in London, but was already becoming well known as a fine singer. She performed with the 298th on several occasions. Here's an excerpt out of my book, which may be of interest:
In February 1945, the band supported a “Celebrity Cavalcade†at the Royal Albert Hall. This was a fund raiser and the program featured many distinguished artists and bands, including 12-year-old Petula Clark, who grew up to become a star known for many popular songs in the 1960s. Glaviano wrote that after this very lengthy show, which went into the early hours of the morning, Petula and her father missed the last subway train back home and were stranded. Mr. Rosato agreed to transport the young girl and her father home on the band’s bus. While on the late-night trip to the girl’s home, a trip that took about an hour, the young girl sang on the bus accompanied by a few acoustic instruments. On later occasions, Petula made a few rehearsals with the band and performed on several occasions as well, as often as her father could accompany her. The entire family became close to the band.
