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 76-100 of 242 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 28411 10-in. approximately 1913 That ripping rag Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28415 10-in. approximately 1913 I do love my wife Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28437 10-in. approximately 1913 Hullo ragtime : How do you do Miss Ragtime Jack Manning vocalist  
Columbia 28438 10-in. approximately 1913 Where shall we go tonight Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28444 10-in. approximately 1913 Mickey Rooney’s ragtime band Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28446 10-in. approximately 1913 A ragtime honeymoon Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28489 10-in. approximately 1913 Hello ragtime : The bacchanal rag Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28490 10-in. approximately 1913 It's a long, long way to Tipperary Stanley Kirkby Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28491 10-in. approximately 1913 Hello ragtime : Military Mary Ann Stanley Kirkby ; Beth Tate vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28503 10-in. approximately 1913 Hallo, little Miss U.S.A. Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28504 10-in. approximately 1913 Everybody’s doing it at the seaside Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28505 10-in. approximately 1913 Hey ho, can't you hear the steamer Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28506 10-in. approximately 1913 Who are you with tonight? Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28520 10-in. approximately 1913 Take me in your arms Charles Holland vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28521 10-in. approximately 1913 All the girls are lovely by the sea Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28522 10-in. approximately 1913 Dance your troubles away Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28523 10-in. approximately 1913 Hold your hand out, naughty boy Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28524 10-in. approximately 1913 When love creeps in your heart Charles Holland vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28574 10-in. approximately 1913 Parisienne Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28603 10-in. approximately 1913 Jerry-Jeremiah Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28604 10-in. approximately 1913 The way the wind blows we’ll go Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28605 10-in. approximately 1913 Nursery rhymes in ragtime Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28606 10-in. approximately 1913 Wine, women and song Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28633 10-in. approximately 1913 You made me love you Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 28634 10-in. approximately 1913 If I could only make you care Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
(Results 76-100 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

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.