Stanley Kirkby

Stanley Kirkby (born James Baker; 1878 – 30 October 1949) was an English baritone singer and variety artist of the early 20th century. He sang ballads and popular songs of the Edwardian era, the First World War and the inter-War period. He sang mostly in music halls and variety theatres and was a popular recording artist.

Born and brought up in Manchester, Kirkby worked in a warehouse from the age of 12; he went on to win first prize in a baritone singing competition at the age of 22. His career moved to London where he formed a number of collaborations on stage with other variety artists; these became well known for their smartly-dressed and musically excellent performances. In 1915 he teamed up with Harry Hudson to form the popular duo "Kirkby and Hudson". They entertained audiences with their eclectic mix of songs and humour well into the 1920s. Kirkby became especially well known for his concert party performances at The Oval, Margate in Kent.

Kirkby was a prolific recording artist and has been credited with making the largest number of records in Britain from the 1900s to the 1930s. Although he was among the first to record roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas, much of his recorded output was popular songs, the subject matter of which ranged from the topical to the comic. He was one of the highest paid recording artists of his time.

In the mid-1920s he was a joint theatrical producer of a burlesque revue. In the 1930s he broadcast on BBC Radio variety shows. He was a founder member of an early British record company which produced Clarion cylinders.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1878, Died October 30, 1949

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1910 - 1920

Roles Represented in DAHR: baritone vocal, vocalist, leader

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 242 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 6308 12-in. approximately 1913 My heart is with you tonight Charles Holland Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 6309 12-in. approximately 1913 Take me back to the garden of love Charles Holland Male vocal solo, with vocal quartet vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 6373 12-in. approximately 1913 Trail of the lonesome pine Charles Holland ; Mary Read Vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 6374 12-in. approximately 1913 When love creeps in your heart Charles Holland ; Mary Read Vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 6386 12-in. approximately 1913 You made me love you Stanley Kirkby ; Beth Tate Vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 6387 12-in. approximately 1913 Take me in your arms and say I love you Stanley Kirkby ; Beth Tate Vocal duet, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27184 10-in. approximately 1910 There are nice girls everywhere Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27185 10-in. approximately 1910 Are you anybody's girlie Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27186 10-in. approximately 1910 Tis a faded picture Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27187 10-in. approximately 1910 When you marry a girl for looks Alec Murray vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27211 10-in. approximately 1910 Don’t go down the mine, Dad Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27212 10-in. approximately 1910 You were coming through the corn, Molly dear Alec Murray vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27259 10-in. approximately 1911 What is the meaning of Mother? Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27260 10-in. approximately 1911 You taught me how to love you (Now teach me to forget) Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27274 10-in. approximately 1911 Here come the chocolate major Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27275 10-in. approximately 1911 When the lights are low Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27366 10-in. approximately 1911 Oh, boys, I’ll see you there Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27367 10-in. approximately 1911 Mister owl Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27394 10-in. approximately 1911 Kitty dear Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27396 10-in. approximately 1911 You want to go on Tokio Charles Holland vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27429 10-in. approximately 1911 And a little child shall lead them Charles Holland vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27436 10-in. approximately 1911 When the summer days are o’er, Anna Grey Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27437 10-in. approximately 1911 The magic of your voice Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27438 10-in. approximately 1911 Yiddle on your fiddle Charles Holland vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27439 10-in. approximately 1911 The Quaker girl : Come to the ball : Waltz song Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
(Results 1-25 of 242 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kirkby, Stanley," accessed November 6, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/325396.

Kirkby, Stanley. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 6, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/325396.

"Kirkby, Stanley." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 6 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/325396

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