If you were to travel back in time for a night out in the mid-1950s, it is quite possible you would have spent the evening dancing to the music of Ivy Benson.

A talented and gifted musician, Ivy led her all-girl swing band through the war years and in the post-war decades, performing on the biggest stages, attracting fans and huge amounts of acclaim.

Ivy also became a highly familiar fixture in the Isle of Man during the busy summer seasons up until the early 1970s.

Her life story has been now told in a new book, ’Sax Appeal’, by Janet Tennant.

It follows Ivy through her life, from a young, precociously-talented player who was playing the working men’s clubs across the north of England from only nine years old, alongside her father Douglas ’Digger’ Benson, through to her forming her own all-girl group and paving the way for more women to be recognised in the entertainments industry on their skill and merit.

After playing with a series of male band leaders in pre-war London, Ivy formed her own female group and, with the outbreak of the war, they found themselves playing up and down the country, touring army bases and providing much-needed morale-boosting shows.

However, once the war finished, Ivy and her group faced a renewed wave of opposition and chauvinism from returning male band leaders, who complained about their success and exposure on the BBC.

’She decided to take the band back out on tour and also began to play summer seasons across the country, which is where the Isle of Man comes into it,’ said Janet.

’She played her first summer season here in 1954 and ended up playing for 18 consecutive years, up until 1972.

’She liked it and was incredibly popular. Indeed Ivy remains very well remembered and made a big contribution to the island during that time.

’She even got married over here, to an American GI and it was very much a glitzy society wedding. All her girls formed a guard of honour with their saxophones and it was a very big deal indeed.

’Ivy would also get involved with the everyday summer life here, hosting beauty competitions and talent shows. The comedians Little and Large got their first big break after winning one of her shows in the Isle of Man.

’A lot of people in the island still remember her as part of their summer lives growing up. She gave many opportunities to local girls and would get some great local singers up on stage and give them a go with the band.

’She would be so hard-working, and she would have her band playing three to four shows a day sometimes, including shows at old people’s homes and afternoon shows in a park, followed by big band concerts.

’Ivy definitely made a huge impression over here and is still very fondly remembered.’

Her hard-work and steely determination has led her to be called by many as one of the founders of ’girl power’.

’One of the things I am asked about is whether she was "girl power" or a feminist,’ said Janet.

’She was definitely a big personality and was very determined and very thorough with her music.

’She was a very astute business person who found a working business model, that of an all-girl jazz band, and stuck to it despite all the pressures she faced.

’I don’t think she started out that way, but she had to be very resourceful and often had to fight her corner in the face of the chauvinism she faced.

’Although she didn’t start out to be a feminist, I think she became something of figurehead for feminism.

’And above all, she was determined to show that her girls could play just as well as any band of men could, which they did.

’She was a toughie, no doubt about that, and one that was very determined, very hard-working, and remained very popular.’

l ’Sax Appeal’ is published by Rowman and Littlefield and is available from all booksellers.

by Mike Wade

Twitter:@iomnewspapers