The Artists of the Music Hall
The Music Hall was a uniquely British Institution which lasted from about 1850 to 1930.
Key to the period around 1900 was the cult of the personality.
Many of the top line artists were persuaded to make records, and just a few of these are shown below.
To find a particular artist: consult our database
CD re-issues of these artists and many others are available via this Website.
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Wilkie Bard made his London debut
at Collins Music Hall. He acquired his own particularly
individual style, adopting a rather eccentric form of makeup with a
high bald head and black spots above each eye. His records include tongue twisters such as She sells Sea Shells. |
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Harry Champion first appeared
in London at the Queen's Poplar in 1888, and continued
performing until his death in 1942, aged 76. His records
include Any old iron, I'm Henery the Eighth, Boiled Beef
and Carrots. |
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Albert Chevalier was famous for
his "coster" songs, co-written with his brother,
Charles Ingle. His records include: My Old Dutch, The
future Mrs Hawkins. |
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Gus Elen found his fame in 1891
with his performance of "coster" songs. His
success was such that he was earning 250 pounds a week in
1900 (around 650,000 pounds per year in 2001 currency).
His records
are prized today as pithy and amusing stories
of a lost generation of cockneys. Recorded titles
include: If it wasn't for the 'ahses in between, Pretty
little villa down at Barking, The Publican.
His all time classic is "Wait till the work comes
round" containing the lines:
Put yer head back on yer pillow
And read yer Daily Mirror
And wait till the work comes round |
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Florrie Forde was born in
Australia in 1876. She came to London in 1897 and made
countless records over the next 30 years. Her records
include: The Bull and Bush, What the curate saw,
Flanagan, Girls Study your cookery book, Oh Oh Antonio. |
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George Formby, the father of the now famous
George Formby Jnr. was one of the first Lancashire comedians to gain
National popularity. His songs and records
have a rather naive quality which is still appealing today. |
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George Lashwood, was such a handsome and
distinguished looking man who always dressed at the height of fashion
that he became known as "The Beau Brummel of the
Halls". In many of his songs and records he takes the part of a "swell" out on London Town for the night. Born in
Birmingham he had a style all his own. |
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Harry Lauder worked in a
coalmine before making his first London appearance in
1900. He was an immediate success and soon introduced his
own particular brand of Scottish songs. He received a
knighthood in 1919. His songs included: Stop yer tickling
Jock, Every Lassie loves a Lassie, She is ma Daisy.
Lauder's records were so popular that his style was
copied by Peter Dawson, who recorded many similar songs
under the name "Hector Grant" |
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Dan Leno was the most famous
comedian of his generation. His surviving records bear
testimony to his drole sense of humour. He became a
champion clog dancer in 1883, and was first engaged
in pantomime in 1888. Leno is remembered as the greatest
of all the pantomine "dames". He performed
tirelessly throughout England and in 1901 was commanded
to appear before King Edward at Sandringham. He died in
1904. Crowds, three deep for over three miles, watched
his funeral. He made a number of records,
some of them now very rare. The titles include: My
wife's relations, The Tower of London, The hardboiled egg
and the wasp, Wait till I'm his father |
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Little Tich, real name Harry
Relph, appeared in the Halls in 1884. He is most famous
for his eccentric dancing wearing the long boots shown
here. Records include The Gas Inspector, One of the
Deathless Army, The twenty third. |
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Marie Lloyd was born in 1870 as
Matilda Alice Victoria Wood in Hoxton, London. She became
known to the public as "Our Marie". Marie was
married three times and her later years were marred by
ill-health. She died in 1922 and her funeral was attended
by 50,000 people. Since her songs were considered rather saucy,
her records
did not sell that well and so are quite scarce today. They
include: Every little movement has a meaning of its own,
A little of what you fancy does you good, The Piccadilly
trot. |
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Lily Morris, had dynamic personality and with her clarity of diction and a great repertoire of songs is a joy to the ear. Her Records include: Only a Working Man, The Old Apple Tree, Don't have any more Mrs. Moore |
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George Robey was otherwise
known as the Prime Minister of Mirth. His trademarks were
the eyebrows and the clergyman's coat which he used
through his career. He was equally successful in revue
and pantomime. His records include: Archibald certainly
not, and The Prehistoric Man. |
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Ella Shields was best known as a male
impersonator, particularly in her songs such
Burlington Bertie from Bow. Although she had a number of her own songs, she also sang "free" songs which were not tied to a particular
performer. She was an American by birth, although made her
initial success in Britain. |
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Mark Sheridan was a singer of lusty seaside songs, and is remembered
today for his classic recording of "I do like to be beside the seaside" He died a tragic death in 1918. |
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Vesta Tilley was a male
impersonator and sang songs and made character studies of
"men about town". Recordings included: The army of
today's alright, One of the midnight Sons. |
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Vesta Victoria was famous for
her song "Daddy wouldn't buy me a bow wow".
Records included: On a Motor Car, Now I have to call him
Father, Poor Old Adam. She died in 1951 aged 77 |
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Billy Williams is thought of today as merely a
recording artist, but he appeared on the Halls as "The man in the
Velvet Suit". With his infectious laugh and topical songs
his recordings are still entertaining
today. |
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Nellie Wallace was noted for her eccentric appearance and
her role as a disappointed spinster. A CD with her complete issued recordings is available which includes such highly amusing classics as "Under the Bed" and "Let's have a Tiddley at the Milk Bar". |
To find a particular artist: consult our database
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