George Formby
Musical comedian George Formby was among Britain's most popular stars during the first half of the 20th century, with a legacy encompassing over 200 records and more than 20 hit films. Born George Hoy Booth on May 26, 1904 in Lancashire, England, he was the son of George Formby, Sr., himself a popular Edwardian music hall comedian. The younger Formby first worked as an apprentice jockey, but his father's sudden death in 1921 prompted him to pursue his own career as a performer; he initially worked under his given name, but later adopted his father's nom-de-stage following his marriage to dancer Beryl Ingham, who soon took over the reins of her husband's career. Initially, Formby attempted to approximate his father's act, but with little success; the chance acquisition of a banjo ukulele proved the key to establishing his own stage persona, and in light of audiences' enthusiastic reactions to his idiosyncratic, self-taught playing style, the instrument was never again far from his side.
With his toothy grin and goofy personality, Formby was dubbed "the beloved imbecile" by pundits; after earning a loyal following among music hall denizens, he scored a major pop hit with 1932's "Chinese Blues," which when renamed "Chinese Laundry Blues" became his signature song for the duration of his career. Two years later, Formby made his first film, Boots! Boots!; the picture was a smash, and he swiftly contracted to make 11 more films for Ealing Studios. Over the course of movies like 1935's No Limit, 1937's Feather Your Nest and 1938's It's in the Air, he became Britain's biggest star, earning an estimated £100,000 a year; his films also continued to provide him with a wealth of saucy hit records, including "The Window Cleaner," "Fanlight Fanny," "Riding in the T.T. Races" and the Noel Gay-penned "Leaning on a Lamp Post," perhaps his most popular song.
With the outbreak of World War II, Formby toured extensively, entertaining troops throughout Europe and the Middle East -- he was even among the first performers to appear in Normandy in the aftermath of its invasion, and in 1946 was awarded the OBE for his efforts. In 1951, Formby starred in the musical Zip Goes a Million, staged at the Palace Theater in London's West End; the production's success was unprecedented, but after suffering a major heart attack, Formby was forced to drop out of his role after just six months. After spending a year in recovery, he returned to the club circuit, but illness continued to plague him throughout the decade. In 1960, he cut "Happy Go Lucky Me," his first record in 15 years; on Christmas Eve of that same year his wife died, and just two months later he courted controversy by announcing his engagement to a schoolteacher over two decades his junior. Tragically, Formby himself passed away on March 6, 1961 at the age of 56.
© Jason Ankeny /TiVo
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George Formby: England's Famed Clown Prince Of Song
Blues - Erschienen bei JSP Records am 26.07.2005
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The Very Best Of (Remastered)
Pop - Erschienen bei Play Digital am 28.01.2011
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Leaning On A Lamp Post - Greatest Hits
Jazzgesang - Erschienen bei Master Classics Records am 01.06.2009
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The Legendary George Formby
Pop - Erschienen bei Parlophone UK am 01.11.1993
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When I'm Cleaning Windows
Humor - Erschienen bei Retrospective am 27.10.2008
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V For Victory
Humor - Erschienen bei RedRock Records am 11.09.2007
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The War And Postwar Years - Disc B
Original Soundtrack - Erschienen bei JSP Records am 18.04.2006
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Grandad's Flannelette Nightshirt
Pop - Erschienen bei Sharp Edge Records am 04.06.2014
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The Very Best Of
Jazzgesang - Erschienen bei Master Classics Records am 01.02.2009
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A Ukelele In His Hand
Pop - Erschienen bei Excess Music am 15.07.2020
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GEORGE FORMBY HAPPY GO LUCKY ME
World Music - Erschienen bei Summer Music am 05.09.2018
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The Best Of George Formby
Pop - Erschienen bei Synergie OMP am 01.01.1996
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Hits From The War Years
Alternativ und Indie - Erschienen bei GR8 Media (Hong Kong) Ltd am 01.01.2014
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Chinese Laundry Blues
Jazz - Erschienen bei Red Cab Records am 06.06.2011
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It’s Turned Out Nice Again (Original Recordings 1932-1946)
Klassik - Erschienen bei Naxos am 29.01.2007
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Presenting George Formby And His Ukelele
Humor - Erschienen bei lol am 01.01.2000
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With My Little Ukelele
Folk - Erschienen bei Red Cab Records am 21.06.2010
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The Ukelele Man - 24 Family Favourites
Humor - Erschienen bei H&H Music Ltd am 01.01.2009
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George Formby: Essential Collection
Pop - Erschienen bei Carter Lane - OMiP am 25.11.2012
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George Formby My Ukulele
Pop - Erschienen bei Editions Audiovisuel Beulah am 11.02.2022
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George Formby: Smile All the Time, Vol. 4
Folk - Erschienen bei 21-Music am 10.10.2013
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