Clifford Gray

Clifford Grey (5 January 1887 – 25 September 1941) was an English songwriter, librettist, actor and screenwriter. His birth name was Percival Davis, and he was also known as Clifford Gray.

Grey contributed prolifically to West End and Broadway shows, as librettist and lyricist for composers including Ivor Novello, Jerome Kern, Howard Talbot, Ivan Caryll and George Gershwin. Among his best-remembered songs are two from early in his career, in 1916: "If You Were the Only Girl (In the World)" and "Another Little Drink Wouldn't Do Us Any Harm". His later hits include "Got a Date with an Angel" and "Spread a Little Happiness".

For 35 years after 1979 it was widely believed that Grey secretly competed as an American bobsleigher, under the name Clifford "Tippy" Gray, in two Winter Olympics, in 1928 and 1932, winning gold medals, but it was finally shown that the sportsman was a different person.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 5, 1887 (Birmingham), Died September 25, 1941 (Ipswich)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1916 - 1930

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
Columbia W150562 10-in. 6/3/1930 My kind of a man Ethel Waters Female vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 6803 12-in. approximately 1916 Another little drink wouldn't do us any harm Alhambra Theatre Orchestra ; Alfred Lester ; Violet Loraine ; George Robey Vocal trio with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 6804 12-in. approximately 1916 I stopped, I looked, I listened Alhambra Theatre Orchestra ; George Robey Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 6805 12-in. approximately 1916 If you were the only boy in the world, and I were the onlyl girl Alhambra Theatre Orchestra ; Violet Loraine ; George Robey Vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 6806 12-in. approximately 1916 In other words Alhambra Theatre Orchestra ; George Robey Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76637 12-in. approximately 10/15/1919 Wonderful love Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Cicely Debenham ; Howard Talbot ; Fred Winn Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76638 12-in. approximately 10/15/1919 Wedding jazz Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Cicely Debenham ; Howard Talbot Male vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus lyricist  
Columbia 76639 12-in. approximately 10/15/1919 My London Town Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Paul Plunket ; Howard Talbot Male vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus lyricist  
Columbia 76640 12-in. approximately 10/15/1919 What are the wild waves saying? Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Howard Talbot ; Fred Winn Male vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus lyricist  
Columbia 76641 12-in. approximately 10/15/1919 There's an angel watching Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Cicely Debenham ; Paul Plunket ; Howard Talbot Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76642 12-in. approximately 10/15/1919 Day dreams Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Violet Blythe ; Howard Talbot Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76643 12-in. approximately 10/15/1919 It's nice to be home Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Violet Blythe ; Howard Talbot ; Fred Winn Vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76644 12-in. approximately 10/15/1919 Come landlord Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Alfred Beers ; Howard Talbot ; Fred Winn Vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76645 12-in. approximately 10/16/1919 Each day in passing Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Marjorie Gordon ; Howard Talbot Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76646 12-in. approximately 10/16/1919 A ladies man Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Robert Michaelis ; Howard Talbot Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76647 12-in. approximately 10/16/1919 My recipe for love Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Madeline Seymour ; Howard Talbot Female vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus lyricist  
Columbia 76648 12-in. approximately 10/16/1919 When no-one's looking Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Marjorie Gordon ; Robert Michaelis ; Howard Talbot Vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76649 12-in. approximately 10/15/1919 Garden of our dreams Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Marjorie Gordon ; Robert Michaelis ; Howard Talbot Vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 76653 12-in. approximately 10/16/1919 I'm really very sorry for a lunatic Adelphi Theatre (London) Orchestra ; Howard Talbot ; Fred Winn Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
OKeh W404024 10-in. 5/14/1930 My kind of a man Phil Spitalny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Gray, Clifford," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101265.

Gray, Clifford. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101265.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101265

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