George Edward Heath, known as Ted Heath, was a prominent British bandleader and musician born on March 30, 1902, in Wandsworth, London, England. He passed away on November 18, 1969, in Virginia Water, Surrey, England. Heath is celebrated for leading what is considered Britain's greatest post-war big band, recording over 100 albums that sold more than 20 million copies. His band was the most successful in Britain during the 1950s and continued as a ghost band until 2000.

Heath began his musical journey playing the tenor horn at age six, influenced by his father, Bert, a trumpeter. He later switched to trombone and gained experience playing with various bands in the 1920s and 1930s, including the Southern Syncopated Orchestra and Bert Ambrose's orchestra. During the 1940s, he played with Geraldo's orchestra and formed his own band in 1944, which became a fixture on the BBC and at the London Palladium.

Heath's band was known for its precision and versatility, emulating American bandleaders like Tommy Dorsey. The band's success extended to the United States, with a notable performance at Carnegie Hall in 1956. Despite retiring in the mid-1960s due to a heart condition, Heath's influence persisted through continued recordings and performances by his band. His legacy is celebrated by the Ted Heath Musical Appreciation Society, which boasts a global membership.