Composer/songwriter, music director.
Born and raised in Launceston, Will Dyson worked in the town surveyor's office before joining Alfred Dampier's company in 1903. He worked as music director with Clarke, Meynell and Gunn's Fatal Wedding company, Albert Goldie's Pantomime Company, and James Brennan's National Orchestra (four years). He also contributed new music to a revival of Fred Weierter's 1907 children's pantomime Robinson Crusoe. Produced by Albert Goldie, and staged in Dyson's home town in early 1910 the show was re-worked for an company comprising adult principals and a juvenile support cast. Notable performers included Slade Murray, Carden Wilson and Pearl Helmrich. Dyson contributed a largely new musical score for the production.
In 1913 Dyson left Australia for South Africa and the United Kingdom. After completing his London engagements he travelled to the USA on the advice of his brother James, who was then playing with Weber and Fields at New York's Broadway Theatre. Not long after making his professional debut in New York on the same bill as his brother, Dyson secured a position as a songwriter/arranger with New York publisher Kalmar and Puck. He later returned to the theatre industry as a music director and independent songwriter. One of his biggest engagements was with Lee Shubert.
In 1934 Dyson worked with on a revival of Robinson Crusoe for a season in Toronto (Canada). The following year he came back to Australia to direct the music for London Palladium's Melbourne season of The Crazy Show. This was F. W. Thring's first production at the Princess Theatre.
Hal Dyson continued his career well into the 1940s. Arguably his greatest success was the international hit, 'Let it Rain.' He also wrote the song, 'We'll March Along the Road Together' in 1941 especially for Australian troops serving in the war. Among the top-line artists to sing his songs were Eddie Cantor, Bessie McCoy Davies and Rube Welch.
[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]
