His first broadcast as an arranger, for the BBC Revue Orchestra, aired in 1944. After a brief stint as a violinist with his father's band, by the late 1940s he was performing by himself and working as a staff arranger with Philips Records. Encouraged by his parents, who realised he was exceptionally musical, John studied the violin with the virtuoso teacher Alfredo Campoli and went on to take lessons in counterpoint and harmony at the London College of Music.
Life and career īorn in London on 12 October 1924, he was one of five children of Maria (née Rossi) and Frank Gregori, who was the leader of a dance band that played at the Italian restaurant Quaglino's. John Gregory ( né Gregori, 12 October 1924 – 23 April 2020) was a British bandleader who also recorded as Nino Rico and as Chaquito.
