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 226-242 of 242 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 65340 10-in. approximately 1916 When Paderewski plays that baby grand Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 65366 10-in. approximately 1916 A broken doll Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 65367 10-in. approximately 1916 Keep the kettle boiling, Mary Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 65372 10-in. approximately 1916 The Bing Boys are here : If you were the only girl in the sorld Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 65386 10-in. approximately 1916 Toto : A broken doll Charles Osborne vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 65429 10-in. approximately 1916 Underneath the stars : Romance Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 65430 10-in. approximately 1916 My mother's rosary Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 65509 10-in. approximately 1916 Hello, Hawaii, how are you? Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 65510 10-in. approximately 1916 Yaaka hula hickey dula Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 65511 10-in. approximately 1916 Somebody would shout out "Shop" Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 65512 10-in. approximately 1916 Ragging the old church bells Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 65563 10-in. approximately 1916 The deathless army Arthur Cecil vocalist  
Columbia 69673 10-in. approximately 1920 Beautiful Ohio George Diamond vocalist  
Columbia 69674 10-in. approximately 1920 My baby's arms George Diamond vocalist  
Gramophone ak18717e 10-in. 12/19/1914 They sang 'God save the King' Murray Johnson [i.e., Stanley Kirkby] Male vocal solo, with chorus and orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Gramophone ak18721e 10-in. 12/19/1914 When we've wound up the watch on the Rhine Murray Johnson Male vocal solo, with vocal soloists, vocal chorus, and orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Gramophone ak18727e 10-in. 12/19/1914 The goose step Murray Johnson Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
(Results 226-242 of 242 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kirkby, Stanley," accessed November 17, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/325396.

Kirkby, Stanley. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 17, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/325396.

"Kirkby, Stanley." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 17 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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