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 126-150 of 242 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 29085 10-in. approximately 1914 The passing show of 1915 : You’re here and I’m here Maie Courtney ; Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29107 10-in. approximately 1914 Algernon, go hon! Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29108 10-in. approximately 1914 The wedding of the joy-ride girl Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29109 10-in. approximately 1914 Never mind Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29110 10-in. approximately 1914 We all come fra’ Lancashire Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29112 10-in. approximately 1914 Merry wedding bells Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29113 10-in. approximately 1914 Here’s to the day (We’ve got a mailed fist, too) Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29114 10-in. approximately 1914 Boys in khaki, boys in blue Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29123 10-in. approximately 1914 Cheer up Molly (with recitation) Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29125 10-in. approximately 1914 Your dear old Dad was Irish Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29126 10-in. approximately 1914 Farewell, Isabelle Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29128 10-in. September 1914 Sandy boy Howard Fraser vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29134 10-in. approximately 1914 Au revoir, my own, sweet Marguerite Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29135 10-in. approximately 1914 Dolly McHugh Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29136 10-in. approximately 1914 We don’t want to fight but, by jingo, now we do Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29158 10-in. September 1914 Fall in! Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29159 10-in. approximately 1914 Your King and country want you Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29179 10-in. approximately 1914 When the Angelus is ringing Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29180 10-in. approximately 1914 We’re all plain civilians Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29181 10-in. approximately 1914 You’ve got me and I’ve got you Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29189 10-in. approximately 1914 Here we are, here we are, here we are again Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29231 10-in. approximately 1914 For empire and for England Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29240 10-in. approximately 1914 They sang God save the King Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29241 10-in. approximately 1914 Goodbye, my soldier sweetheart Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29242 10-in. approximately 1914 March on to Berlin Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
(Results 126-150 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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