One the major musical figures in 1930’s was George Formby, an English actor, singer-songwriter and comedian who became known to a worldwide audience through his films of the 1930s and 1940s. On stage, screen and record he sang light, comical songs, usually playing the ukulele or banjolele, and became the United Kingdom’s highest-paid entertainer. Born […]
Comic Songs (9)
Moving now into the 1930’s we will be featuring some famous names and perhaps some less well known ones. So today we celebrate the comedic songs of Leslie Sarony. Sarony was a British entertainer, singer, actor and songwriter. He was born in Surbiton the son of William Henry Frye, an Irish-born artist and photographer, and […]
Comic Songs 8
Another composer of comedic songs who began writing in the late 1920’s was Noël Coward, an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called “a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise”. Coward attended a dance academy in London as […]
Comic Songs (7)
Another performer who began in the Music Hall but made the transition to Variety was Stanley Holloway. An English actor, comedian, singer and monologist. He was famous for his comic and character roles on stage and screen, especially that of Alfred P. Doolittle in My Fair Lady. He was also renowned for his comic monologues […]
Comic Songs (6)
As the Music Halls declined in popularity, it was gradually replaced by Variety. Variety also known as ‘variety arts’ or ‘variety entertainment’, is entertainment made up of a variety of acts including musical performances, sketch comedy, magic, acrobatics, juggling, and ventriloquism. It is normally introduced by a compere (master of ceremonies) or host. The variety […]
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Today we make our final visit to the songs of the Music Hall. Where Did You Get That Hat?” is a comic song which was composed and first performed by Joseph J. Sullivan at Miner’s Eighth Avenue Theatre in 1888. It was a great success and has since been performed by many others including J.C. […]
Comic Songs (4)
We pay a second visit to the Music Halls for our selection of comic songs. We are also delighted to take the opportunity to pay tribute to two great modern performers who have kept these wonderful old songs fresh and alive. Both of them have now left the stage but they have left behind some […]
Comic Songs (3)
Today our series moves on to the source of so many comic songs from the Victorian era – The Music Hall. Although it pre-dates Gilbert and Sullivan in its inception, it comes into full flower around the same time as their great comic operas were filling the theatres. Music Hall is a type of British […]
Comic Songs (2)
Our second visit to the works of Gilbert and Sullivan sees us return to Iolanthe for our first offering. Lord Chancellor who is the main protagonist (“The law is the true embodiment”). is appealed to by the peers to decide who will have the hand of Phyllis with whom they are all smitten. The Lord […]
Comic Songs (1)
Today we begin a new series in which we will seek to discover that quintessential British institution, the so called Comic (comedy) Song. Our journey will begin with the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, throught the age of the Music Hall, via some the great comic song writers and performers and onto those songs that […]