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.
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When I'm Cleaning Windows
Humor - Erschienen bei lol am 01.01.2000
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The War And Postwar Years - Disc E
Original Soundtrack - Erschienen bei JSP Records am 18.04.2006
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The War And Postwar Years - Disc A
Original Soundtrack - Erschienen bei JSP Records am 18.04.2006
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Ultimate Collection
Jazzgesang - Erschienen bei Rolled Gold Classics am 23.07.2013
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The George Formby Songbook
Humor - Erschienen bei Fable Entertainment am 15.02.2021
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The Very Best Of
Pop - Erschienen bei Play Digital am 07.08.2015
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Forever Gold - Leaning On A Lampost (Remastered)
Pop - Erschienen bei Play Digital am 28.01.2011
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George Formby - The Essential
Jazz - Erschienen bei Vintage Jukebox am 10.05.2022
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Plays His Great Songs
Pop - Erschienen bei Sharp Edge Records am 05.06.2015
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The Inimitable George Formby
Humor - Erschienen bei lol am 01.01.2000
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When I'm Cleaning Windows
Pop - Erschienen bei Black Sheep Music am 01.10.2011
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Leaning on a Lamp-Post
Pop - Erschienen bei Synergie OMP am 28.04.2013
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George Formby
Jazz - Erschienen bei Jazz Town Records am 01.07.2011
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I Told My Baby with the Ukelele
Folk - Erschienen bei Firefly Entertainment am 05.05.2008
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It's Turned Out Nice Again
Vokalmusik (weltlich und geistlich) - Erschienen bei Music Masters NF am 23.07.2008
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The War And Postwar Years - Disc D
Original Soundtrack - Erschienen bei JSP Records am 18.04.2006
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The War And Postwar Years - Disc C
Original Soundtrack - Erschienen bei JSP Records am 18.04.2006
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FORMBY, George: Let George Do It (1932-1942) (Formby, Vol. 1)
George Formby, Jack Hylton Orchestra
Jazz - Erschienen bei Naxos am 17.09.2001
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The Best of George Formby
Pop - Erschienen bei Orange Leisure am 27.09.2010
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Remember the Good Old Days
Pop - Erschienen bei Play Digital am 14.03.2017
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Classics
Internationaler Pop - Erschienen bei Vinage Records am 01.12.2011
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