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 1-25 of 59 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-23505 10-in. 12/1/1919 The bells of St. Mary's Frances Alda Soprano vocal solo, with celeste and orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-23505 10-in. 6/9/1926 The bells of St. Mary's Frances Alda Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-24953 10-in. 2/18/1921 Love in lilac time Lambert Murphy Male vocal solo, with oboe, bells, violin, piano, and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-25570 10-in. 9/23/1921 Every bit of loving in the world Frances Alda Soprano vocal solo, with celeste and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-25782 10-in. 11/28/1921 The mill by the sea Elsie Baker Female vocal solo, with harp and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-25901 10-in. 12/13/1921 Bless you Frances Alda Soprano vocal solo, with celeste and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-30056 10-in. 5/8/1924 Limehouse blues Marcia Freer Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-34542 10-in. 2/6/1926 The bells of St. Mary's Associated Glee Clubs of America Male vocal chorus lyricist  
Victor BVE-36361 10-in. 9/28/1926 The far-away bells John McCormack Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-37046 10-in. 11/27/1926 The bells of St. Mary's Associated Glee Clubs of America Male vocal chorus, with piano lyricist  
Victor BVE-42447 10-in. 2/16/1928 Bells of Saint Mary's Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BVE-58184 10-in. 1/10/1930 She's such a comfort to me Leo Reisman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-76479 10-in. 6/20/1933 Three wishes Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-76848 10-in. 8/4/1933 Let me give my happiness to you Elmo Tanner ; Ted Weems Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor CS-011481 12-in. 8/13/1937 The bells of St. Mary's Lew White Organ solo, with harp and vocal ensemble lyricist  
Victor BS-024452 10-in. 8/4/1938 Lambeth Walk Joseph Rines Hotel St. Regis Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble lyricist  
Victor PBS-042555 10-in. 3/7/1940 The bells of St. Mary's Kenny Baker ; David Broekman Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor D5VB-0977 10-in. 12/11/1945 The bells of St. Mary's Charlie Spivak Orchestra ; Jimmy Saunders Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor D5VB-1323 10-in. 12/28/1945 The bells of St. Mary's Charlie Spivak Orchestra ; Jimmy Saunders Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Columbia 78788 10-in. 11/1/1919 The bells of St. Mary's George Meader Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia 49413 12-in. approximately 1918 God send you back to me Dorothy Brunton Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia W141357 10-in. 12/7/1925 The bells of St. Mary's Barbara Maurel Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Columbia W143580 10-in. 3/4/1927 The far-away bells Fred Rich Hotel Astor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W144242 10-in. 5/31/1927 The far-away bells Franklyn Baur Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet lyricist  
Columbia 148414 10-in. 5/3/1929 Sing a song in the rain Jim Andrews ; Ted Bartell Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
(Results 1-25 of 59 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Furber, Douglas," accessed March 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105957.

Furber, Douglas. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105957.

"Furber, Douglas." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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