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 26-50 of 242 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 27440 10-in. approximately 1911 Please, Mr. Conductor, don’t put me off Charles Holland vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27464 10-in. approximately 1911 Let’s have free trade among the girls Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27465 10-in. approximately 1911 O King of Kings Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27466 10-in. approximately 1911 By the moon's pale light Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27467 10-in. approximately 1911 Let me kiss those tears away Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27468 10-in. approximately 1911 Yesterday you called me sweetheart Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27469 10-in. approximately 1911 Beautiful bird, sing on Charles Holland vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27470 10-in. approximately 1911 In the valley where the bluebird sings Charles Holland vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27479 10-in. approximately 1911 There’s a clock upon the mantel Charles Holland vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27497 10-in. approximately 1911 The old 100th. : All people that on earth do dwell Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27564 10-in. approximately 1911 They’re all single by the seaside Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27565 10-in. approximately 1911 Meet me in Kelly-Land Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27691 10-in. approximately 1911 Hush, here comes the dream man Charles Holland vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27738 10-in. approximately 1911 Play another before you go Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27739 10-in. approximately 1911 We all go the same way home Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27745 10-in. approximately 1911 I’m trying so hard to forget you Charles Holland vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27746 10-in. approximately 1911 When the harvest days are over, Jessie dear Alec Murray vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27886 10-in. approximately 1912 We all went marching home again Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27888 10-in. approximately 1912 I saw Peter Henry home Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27902 10-in. approximately 1912 The hymns my mother used to sing Charles Holland vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27903 10-in. approximately 1912 Maidie and her little teddy bear Charles Holland vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27942 10-in. approximately 1912 Follow the tram lines Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27943 10-in. approximately 1912 Take me down Piccadilly Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27957 10-in. approximately 1912 Have you ever loved another girl? Charles Holland vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 27958 10-in. approximately 1912 You are my sunbeam Charles Holland vocalist, baritone vocal  
(Results 26-50 of 242 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kirkby, Stanley," accessed May 2, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/325396.

Kirkby, Stanley. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 2, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/325396.

"Kirkby, Stanley." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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