Bert Lee

Bert Lee (11 June 1880 – 23 January 1946) was an English songwriter. He wrote for music hall and the musical stage, often in partnership with R. P. Weston.

Lee was born 11 June 1880 in Ravensthorpe, Yorkshire, England.

He and Weston became partners in 1915. They were prolific songwriters thanks to their workman-like attitudes. They reportedly wrote a song a day. Ultimately, they wrote more than 2000 songs including 75 skits, pantomimes, and sketches. They worked together in Weston's house in Twickenham, Middlesex.

The duo also wrote music for film, including the book and lyrics for O-kay for Sound, a 1937 film. Much of their music was written specifically for actors Sydney Howard and Stanley Holloway both noted comedians of the 1920s and '30s. These included Splinters in the Air for Howard and Squibs for Holloway. Among Lee's most endearing tunes is Knees Up Mother Brown!, which is traditionally associated with Cockney culture. This was written in 1938 in collaboration Robert Weston's son, Harris, after Robert's death in 1936. In 1938 Lee and Harris Weston co-wrote the hit stage revue These Foolish Things which starred The Crazy Gang and the Sherman Fisher Girls. The same year Lee contributed to the musical The Fleet's Lit Up.

Lee died 23 January 1946 in Llandudno, Wales. He is interred at Great Orme, Llandudno.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 11, 1880 (Ravensthorpe, West Yorkshire), Died January 23, 1946

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1911 - 1937

Roles Represented in DAHR: songwriter, lyricist, composer

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 29 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-10222 10-in. 4/24/1911 No more staying out late Jack Norworth Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Victor BS-04622 10-in. 2/7/1937 Legion of the lost Lieut. R. Dennison ; Trinidad Constabulary Band Instrumental ensemble lyricist  
Victor BS-011143 10-in. 7/2/1937 With her head tucked underneath her arm Connecticut Yankees ; Cyril Smith ; Rudy Vallée Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 77633 10-in. 1/14/1918 Fancy you fancying me Samuel Ash Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 77665 10-in. 2/7/1918 Fancy you fancying me John Mahan Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 77679 10-in. 2/20/1918 Fancy you fancying me Robert Lewis Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 77689 10-in. 2/26/1918 Fancy you fancying me Edna White Trumpet Quartette Trumpet quartet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 49320 12-in. ca. 1918 Odds and ends of 1917 Jockers Brothers Violin and piano duet songwriter  
Columbia W144943 10-in. 11/1/1927 Mama's gone young, Papa's gone old Ed Lowry Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 146236 10-in. 5/8/1928 Mamma's grown young, Papa's grown old Jane Gray Female vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 75893 12-in. approximately 1917 Cheep, selection, part 1 Albert W. Ketelbey ; Vaudeville Theatre Orchestra Orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 75894 12-in. approximately 1917 Cheep, selection, part 2 Albert W. Ketelbey ; Vaudeville Theatre Orchestra Orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 75923 12-in. approximately May 1917 Shoot the rabbit Albert W. Ketelbey ; Beatrice Lillie ; Vaudeville Theatre Orchestra Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 75927 12-in. approximately May 1917 Our navy Albert W. Ketelbey ; Guy Le Feuvre ; Vaudeville Theatre Orchestra Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 75939 12-in. approximately 1917 I shall see you tonight Albert W. Ketelbey ; May Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 75940 12-in. approximately 1917 Somebody's coming to tea Albert W. Ketelbey ; May Morris Female vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 75941 12-in. approximately 1917 Cheep, vocal gems, part 1 Columbia Revue Company ; Albert W. Ketelbey Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 75942 12-in. approximately 1917 Cheep, vocal gems, part 1 Columbia Revue Company ; Albert W. Ketelbey Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra songwriter  
Columbia 75946 12-in. approximately 1917 Where did that one go? Harry Glenn ; Albert W. Ketelbey ; Vaudeville Theatre Orchestra Male vocal solo, with chorus and orchestra composer  
Columbia 76384 12-in. approximately 1919 I've a bit of a blighty one Vesta Tilley Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 76385 12-in. approximately 1919 Sidney's in civvies again Vesta Tilley Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
OKeh W400722 10-in. 5/29/1928 Mamma's grown young, Papa's grown old Goofus Five Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick E27492 10-in. 5/7/1928 Mama’s grown young, Papa’s grown old Al Shayne Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
Brunswick [Br (U.K.) cat 204-b] 10-in. Nov. 1928 Roll away, clouds Melville Gideon Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 18524 10-in. 5/22/1928 Mamma's grown young, Papa's grown old 7 Blue Babies ; Jack Kaufman Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
(Results 1-25 of 29 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lee, Bert," accessed March 27, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113082.

Lee, Bert. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113082.

"Lee, Bert." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 27 March 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113082

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