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 151-175 of 242 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 29243 10-in. approximately 1914 Molly McCarthy Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29260 10-in. approximately 1914 Business as usual : We shall all do the goose-step Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29261 10-in. approximately 1914 When we’ve wound up the watch on the Rhine Stanley Kirkby ; Harrison Latimer vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29265 10-in. approximately 1914 It’s the same old Tommy and the same old Jack Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29267 10-in. approximately 1915 My croony melody Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29269 10-in. approximately 1915 Johnny O’Morgan and his little mouth organ Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29283 10-in. approximately 1915 The army of today’s all right Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29284 10-in. approximately 1915 Somebody’s boy Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29285 10-in. approximately 1915 Won’t you join the army? Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29286 10-in. approximately 1915 We’re really proud of you Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29315 10-in. approximately 1915 Tell my daddy to come home again (The evening news lonely soldier song) Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29352 10-in. approximately 1915 Patriotic Patrick Muldoon Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29353 10-in. approximately 1915 Twas an old-fashioned song he was singing Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29354 10-in. approximately 1915 We’re all North Country lads and lassies Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29355 10-in. approximately 1915 Nothing but boys in khaki at the seaside Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29409 10-in. approximately 1915 I’m glad my boy grew up to be a soldier Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29410 10-in. approximately 1915 Razzy dazzy Lou Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29411 10-in. approximately 1915 Little singing girl of Eldorado Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29412 10-in. approximately 1915 Goodbye, Dolly Gray Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29421 10-in. approximately 1915 Song of Australia Lloyd Johnson Quartette vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29422 10-in. approximately 1915 King and country Lloyd Johnson Quartette vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29527 10-in. approximately 1915 Sally is my ally Stanley Kirkby ; Norah Meadows vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29528 10-in. approximately 1915 The honeymooners : The wardrobe song Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29529 10-in. approximately 1915 Which switch is the switch for Ipswich Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29581 10-in. approximately 1915 The fleet’s afloat Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
(Results 151-175 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

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

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.