Fred Gilbert

Frederick Younge Gilbert (2 March 1850 – 12 April 1903) was an English theatrical agent and writer of music hall songs.

Born in London, the son of a comedian also named Fred Gilbert, he performed in theatres as a singer before joining the office of theatrical agent Ambrose Maynard. He soon changed to the office of another agent, Charles Roberts, and began writing songs, His first successful comic song was "Did You Ever See An Oyster Walk Upstairs?", performed by Frank Roberts and by Lizzie Coote, a young actress befriended by Lewis Carroll.

Gilbert began his own business as an agent while continuing to write songs as a supplement. In 1890, he wrote the song "The Man That Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo", reputedly inspired by the true story of Charles Wells, who was a confidence trickster who won some £40,000 at the Monte Carlo casino, using the profits from earlier frauds, but was later imprisoned for obtaining money by false pretences. Gilbert attempted to sell the song to various entertainers, but the only one interested was Charles Coborn, who paid Gilbert £10 for the rights to the song, and first sang it in late 1891. The song became a success, and Coborn continued to perform it until his death.

Gilbert also wrote other successful songs, notably "Down The Road" (1893) for Gus Elen, and "At Trinity Church I Met My Doom" (1894) for Tom Costello. However, he developed consumption or tuberculosis, and retired to Sandgate in Kent. He died there in 1903, aged 53.

Birth and Death Data: Died 1903

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1898 - 1927

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, 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
Berliner 1880 7-in. August 1898 The man that broke the bank at Monte Carlo John Terrell Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Victor C-16216 12-in. 7/20/1915 Songs of the past, no. 4 Victor Mixed Chorus Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra composer, lyricist  
Victor CVE-16216 12-in. 5/11/1927 Songs of the past, no. 4 Victor Mixed Chorus Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra composer, lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Gilbert, Fred," accessed December 27, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116973.

Gilbert, Fred. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 27, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116973.

"Gilbert, Fred." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 27 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116973

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