Ralph Trewhela

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Ralph Trewhela (1911-1983). Composer, lyricist, broadcaster, playwright and copyright specialist.


Biography

He married Evelyn Levison. Their daughter is author Beverley Naidoo.

Career

Composed light music, notabaly some popular songs during the 2nd World War (e.g. "So Long Sarie" and also "There's a Boy up North" which was recorded by Vera Lynn).

His book Song Safari - A Journey through Light Music In South Africa (published by The Limelight Press, 1980) traces the history of South African light music.

Later worked for Gallo Records as administrator and a specialist on international copyright.

He was a board member of SAMRO for several years.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Wrote and composed a number of musical shows including Happy Landings (19**), Eldorado (Brooke Theatre, 1960), * He worked with Anthony Farmer and Adam Leslie as composer on Sextet (1957), Ever Since Eve (1958), and I Spy (1959).

His musical comedy Eldorado produced by the Wits Choral Society, 1978; presented by Brian Brooke with Elsa Fouché and Thora Phillips, 1960, Brooke Theatre.

Ever Since Eve, music and lyrics by RT, book by Anthony Farmer and Ken Hooper, presented by Anthony Farmer in association with Howard Hooper (Pty) Ltd (1958 and 1959)

His musical Aladdin and the Magic Lamp performed by the Johannesburg Civic Marionette Theatre, July 1974, directed by Bess Finney.

I Spy first presented at the Library Theatre Johannesburg 13 May 1959.

He composed music for the 1951 film The Pennywhistle Blues (also known as The Magic Garden).

He is also credited with writing additional lyrics for King Kong: An All-African Jazz Opera.

He collaborated on several series of children's programmes with his wife Evelyn Levison, including Gulliver's Travels, Aesop's Fables and the radio programme Tales of the Bushveld.

Awards, etc

Sources

Tucker, 1997.

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

IMDb [1].

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045021/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt

http://www.tyndale.me.uk/king-kong-1961.htm

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/41615597/samro-notes

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