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 176-200 of 242 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 29582 10-in. approximately 1915 The anthem of the allies Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29669 10-in. approximately 1915 Watch your step : Minstrel parade Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29670 10-in. approximately 1915 Watch your step : Syncopated walk Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29671 10-in. approximately 1915 Watch your step : Show us how to do the fox trot Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29760 10-in. approximately 1915 Push and go : My snake-charming girl Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29761 10-in. approximately 1915 Watch your step : Goodbye girls, I’m through Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29762 10-in. approximately 1915 Sabie, you’re so condescending Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29763 10-in. approximately 1915 Kitty Lee Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29797 10-in. approximately 1915 Tonight’s the night : Murders Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29798 10-in. approximately 1915 Tonight’s the night! : The only way Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29958 10-in. approximately 1915 Sons of New Zealand Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 29959 10-in. approximately 1915 Good old New Zealand Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 35724 10-in. approximately 1915 Till the boys come home Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 35725 10-in. approximately 1915 We must all fall in Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 35726 10-in. approximately 1915 Shell out : Twelve little girls per year Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 35727 10-in. approximately 1915 The boys of the Dardanelles Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 35742 10-in. approximately 1915 Till the sands of the desert run cold Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 35743 10-in. approximately 1915 When the joy bells ring Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 35777 10-in. approximately 1915 Blue eyes Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 35778 10-in. approximately 1915 A little bit of heaven Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 35814 10-in. approximately 1915 What do you think of Australia now? Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 35875 10-in. approximately 1916 There's a light burning in the window Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 35876 10-in. approximately 1916 Remember where you come from : Good old Lancashire Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 35877 10-in. approximately 1916 You were the first one to teach me how to love Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 35931 10-in. approximately 1916 Oh, oh, oh, for the sight of a girl Stanley Kirkby vocalist, baritone vocal  
(Results 176-200 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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