Douglas Furber

Douglas Furber (13 May 1885 – 20 February 1961) was a British lyricist and playwright.

Furber is best known for the lyrics to the 1937 song "The Lambeth Walk" and the libretto to the musical Me and My Girl, composed by Noel Gay, from which it came. This show made broadcasting history when in 1939 it became the first full-length musical to be broadcast on television. A 1986 revival went on to achieve great acclaim, and was nominated for Tony Awards for both Best Score and Best Book.

Furber made his first entry into songwriting with the Australian born composer A. Emmett Adams. Following a visit to St. Mary's Church, Southampton, England in 1914, the two wrote "The Bells of St. Mary's". The song was published in 1917. This became a major hit in the United States despite having been originally rejected by the publishers. In 1945, Bing Crosby had a hit with "The Bells of St. Mary's" after it was used as the title song to the film of the same name.

Other hits included "Limehouse Blues" from 1924, written with composer Philip Braham.

Furber also made a few appearances on stage.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1885 (Greater London), Died February 20, 1961 (Greater London)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1918 - 1945

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-23505 10-in. 12/1/1919 The bells of St. Mary's Frances Alda Soprano vocal solo, with celeste and orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-23505 10-in. 6/9/1926 The bells of St. Mary's Frances Alda Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-24953 10-in. 2/18/1921 Love in lilac time Lambert Murphy Male vocal solo, with oboe, bells, violin, piano, and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-25570 10-in. 9/23/1921 Every bit of loving in the world Frances Alda Soprano vocal solo, with celeste and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-25782 10-in. 11/28/1921 The mill by the sea Elsie Baker Female vocal solo, with harp and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-25901 10-in. 12/13/1921 Bless you Frances Alda Soprano vocal solo, with celeste and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-30056 10-in. 5/8/1924 Limehouse blues Marcia Freer Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-34542 10-in. 2/6/1926 The bells of St. Mary's Associated Glee Clubs of America Male vocal chorus lyricist  
Victor BVE-36361 10-in. 9/28/1926 The far-away bells John McCormack Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-37046 10-in. 11/27/1926 The bells of St. Mary's Associated Glee Clubs of America Male vocal chorus, with piano lyricist  
Victor BVE-42447 10-in. 2/16/1928 Bells of Saint Mary's Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-58184 10-in. 1/10/1930 She's such a comfort to me Leo Reisman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-76479 10-in. 6/20/1933 Three wishes Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-76848 10-in. 8/4/1933 Let me give my happiness to you Elmo Tanner ; Ted Weems Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor CS-011481 12-in. 8/13/1937 The bells of St. Mary's Lew White Organ solo, with harp and vocal ensemble lyricist  
Victor BS-024452 10-in. 8/4/1938 Lambeth Walk Joseph Rines Hotel St. Regis Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble lyricist  
Victor PBS-042555 10-in. 3/7/1940 The bells of St. Mary's Kenny Baker ; David Broekman Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor D5VB-0977 10-in. 12/11/1945 The bells of St. Mary's Charlie Spivak Orchestra ; Jimmy Saunders Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D5VB-1323 10-in. 12/28/1945 The bells of St. Mary's Charlie Spivak Orchestra ; Jimmy Saunders Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Columbia 78788 10-in. 11/1/1919 The bells of St. Mary's George Meader Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 49413 12-in. approximately 1918 God send you back to me Dorothy Brunton Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia W141357 10-in. 12/7/1925 The bells of St. Mary's Barbara Maurel Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia W143580 10-in. 3/4/1927 The far-away bells Fred Rich Hotel Astor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W144242 10-in. 5/31/1927 The far-away bells Franklyn Baur Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet lyricist  
Columbia 148414 10-in. 5/3/1929 Sing a song in the rain Jim Andrews ; Ted Bartell Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 76258 12-in. approximately September 1918 I can't find a place for that John Humphries Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76691 12-in. approximately 11/5/1919 The man from Mexico Lupino Lane ; London Pavilion Theatre Orchestra ; I. A. de Orellana Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76692 12-in. approximately 11/5/1919 United we stand John Humphries ; Lupino Lane ; London Pavilion Theatre Orchestra ; I. A. de Orellana Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76693 12-in. approximately 11/5/1919 Antiques John Humphries ; London Pavilion Theatre Orchestra ; I. A. de Orellana ; Harry Welchman Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76694 12-in. approximately 11/5/1919 Give the devil his due London Pavilion Theatre Orchestra ; I. A. de Orellana ; Harry Welchman Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76695 12-in. approximately 11/5/1919 'Neath your casement London Pavilion Theatre Orchestra ; I. A. de Orellana ; Harry Welchman Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76696 12-in. approximately 11/5/1919 Ah, give me your lips Marie Burke ; London Pavilion Theatre Orchestra ; I. A. de Orellana ; Harry Welchman Vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76697 12-in. approximately 11/5/1919 Rose of Seville Marie Burke ; London Pavilion Theatre Orchestra ; I. A. de Orellana Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76698 12-in. approximately 11/5/1919 Sunshine valley Marie Burke ; London Pavilion Theatre Orchestra ; I. A. de Orellana Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76716 12-in. approximately 11/25/1919 Live for love Alice Delysia ; London Pavilion Theatre Orchestra ; I. A. de Orellana Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76717 12-in. approximately 11/25/1919 No man's land Alice Delysia ; London Pavilion Theatre Orchestra ; I. A. de Orellana Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76718 12-in. approximately 11/25/1919 A garden of make-believe Alice Delysia ; London Pavilion Theatre Orchestra ; I. A. de Orellana Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76719 12-in. approximately 11/25/1919 Night was made for love Alice Delysia ; London Pavilion Theatre Orchestra ; I. A. de Orellana ; Harry Welchman Vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76720 12-in. approximately 11/25/1919 Dear lonely lover Alice Delysia ; London Pavilion Theatre Orchestra ; I. A. de Orellana Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
OKeh S-7079 10-in. approximately Nov. 1919 The bells of St. Mary's Joseph A. Phillips Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick [Br cat 5224-a] 10-in. approximately Mar. 1918 God send you back to me Harry McClaskey Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick 3614 10-in. approximately Feb. 1920 Bells of St. Mary's Theo Karle Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick 5071 10-in. approximately Feb. 1921 Love in lilac time Ernest Hare Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick XE27622 12-in. 5/31/1928 Limehouse blues Five Pennies ; Scrappy Lambert ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) lyricist  
Brunswick E18255-E18257 10-in. 3/7/1926 The bells of St. Mary’s Eugene W. S. Leonardson ; University Of Wisconsin Glee Club Male vocal chorus and male vocal solo, with piano, bells, celeste, and chimes lyricist  
Brunswick C5189 10-in. Jan. 1930 She’s such a comfort to me Ben Bernie Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) lyricist  
Brunswick PB446-PB447 10-in. Apr. 1928 Bells of St. Mary’s Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick [Br (U.K.) cat 196-a] 10-in. 10/5/1928 Fancy our meeting Melville Gideon Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick [Br (U.K.) cat 204-b] 10-in. Nov. 1928 Roll away, clouds Melville Gideon Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 7360 10-in. 5/20/1920 The bells of St. Mary's Thomas Chalmers Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 7593 10-in. 10/21/1920 The bells of St. Mary's Lewis James Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 8345 10-in. 1/24/1922 The mill by the sea Walter Scanlan Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 11170 10-in. 8/13/1926 The far-away bells Walter Scanlan Male vocal solo, with bells lyricist  
Gramophone 0EA700 10-in. 12/6/1934 I think I can Jack Jackson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Gramophone 0EA5151 10-in. 1/1/1938 Me and my girl Ronnie Munro Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Gramophone 0EA5986 10-in. 1/15/1938 The Lambeth walk Ronnie Munro Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Gramophone 0B6474 10-in. Three wishes Ray Noble Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Gramophone 0B6476 10-in. 3/16/1933 Let me give you my happiness Ray Noble Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia (U.K.) CL6791 10-in. 9/20/1938 Lambeth walk Jo Bouillon ; Orchestre Jo Bouillon Instrumental ensemble lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Furber, Douglas," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105957.

Furber, Douglas. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105957.

"Furber, Douglas." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105957

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