Jones, Sidney

1869-

English contemporary composer and conductor; born at Leeds; son of a musician and director. Educated at Leeds and became a piano-teacher. Learned most of his music from his father, but took lessons in harmony from Sir Robert Stewart. After leading a military band he became conductor of a traveling company in 1881, toured through the provinces and in Australia, and on his return was engaged by the Gaiety Company, the Prince of Wales Theatre, and the Shaftesbury Theatre. His first attempt at composition was Linger Longer Lou, but his first important success was the music to A Gaiety Girl in 1893. This was followed by An Artist's Model; The Greek Slave; The Geisha, a Japanese operetta, produced at Daly's Theatre, London, with immediate success, and later at New York, Berlin and elsewhere; and San Toy, which was almost as popular. Later composed My Lady Molly. Became conductor of the Empire Theatre and has set to music for it the ballets, The Bugle Call and Cinderella. He belongs to the Eccentric Club.