Lowering The Tone & Raising The Roof

Raymond Gubbay's autobiography, "Lowering the Tone," chronicles his fifty-year career as a well-connected impresario in British music and entertainment, exploring his family's musical legacy and his journey in the performing arts. With appearances from renowned artists, the book offers insights into iconic performances and the behind-the-scenes business of musical venues.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 20 May 2021
Publisher: Quiller Publishing Ltd

In this captivating autobiography, Raymond Gubbay takes readers on a remarkable journey through his fifty-year career as one of the most seasoned and influential impresarios in British music and entertainment. With a lineage steeped in history and talent, he traces the musical legacy of his family, growing up in a liberal Jewish household in 1950s post-war London amidst the challenges he encountered as he embarked on his musical journey after a series of failed attempts at corporate conformity.

Beginning his career at the esteemed Royal Albert Hall, Gubbay's introduction to the entertainment industry was guided by the late Victor Hochhauser, Britain's foremost promoter of Russian ballet and classical music. Passionate and enigmatic, this memoir delves deep into the vibrant world of 1960s performing arts, recounting the stress and excitement that accompanied Gubbay's role in marshaling three coach loads of Russian performers across the country during a time of conflicting traditions, theatrical decline, and Soviet tensions. This was just the beginning of an extraordinary career.

Setting up on his own, Gubbay began with a small group of performers touring to modest venues around the country, building a brand and style that resonated with the times. As he progressed, he collaborated with some of the most prestigious classical and popular artists of our time, including Yehudi Menuhin, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Luciano Pavarotti, the English National Ballet, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, and Andrew Lloyd-Webber. Gubbay has been a witness and active participant in promoting and producing some of the most iconic performances of opera, ballet, and classical music ever staged in some of the largest music venues in Britain, including the Royal Festival Hall, Symphony Hall Birmingham, and, most notably, the Royal Albert Hall.

Through his memoir, Gubbay shares personal anecdotes, behind-the-scenes insights, and the stories behind some of the most memorable performances in the history of British music and entertainment. He reflects on the evolution of the industry, the challenges he faced, and the relationships he built with artists and colleagues. This is a must-read for anyone with an interest in the performing arts, music, or the history of British culture.

Weight: 610g
Dimension: 166 x 242 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781846893520