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 (Results 26-50 of 59 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 26-50 of 59 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Furber, Douglas," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105957.

Furber, Douglas. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105957.

"Furber, Douglas." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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