Douglas Furber
Encyclopedia
Douglas Furber 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 award
s for both Best Score and Best Book.
Furber made his first entry into song writing 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 America, in 1917, 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 include Limehouse Blues from 1924, written with composer Philip Braham
.
Furber also made a few appearances on stage.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
and playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
.
Furber is best known for the lyrics to the 1937 song The Lambeth Walk
The Lambeth Walk
"The Lambeth Walk" is a song from the 1937 musical Me and My Girl . The song takes its name from a local street Lambeth Walk once notable for its street market and working class culture in Lambeth, an area of London.The tune gave its name to a Cockney dance first made popular in 1937 by Lupino Lane...
and the libretto to the musical Me and My Girl
Me and My Girl
Me and My Girl is a musical with book and lyrics by Douglas Furber and L. Arthur Rose and music by Noel Gay. It takes place in the late 1930s in Hampshire, Mayfair, and Lambeth....
, composed by Noel Gay
Noel Gay
Noel Gay was born Reginald Moxon Armitage. He also used the name Stanley Hill professionally. He was a successful British composer of popular music of the 1930s and 1940s whose output comprised 45 songs as well as the music for 28 films and 26 London shows...
, from which it came. This show made broadcasting history when in 1939 it became the first full length musical to be broadcast on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
. A 1986 revival went on to achieve great acclaim, and was nominated for Tony award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
s for both Best Score and Best Book.
Furber made his first entry into song writing with the Australian born composer A. Emmett Adams. Following a visit to St. Mary's Church, Southampton
St. Mary's Church, Southampton
St. Mary's Church, Southampton is the largest church in the city of Southampton, England and can trace its origins to the first Saxon settlements of the 7th century. In 1917, the sound of the church bells inspired the writing of the song, "The Bells of St. Mary's", later sung by Bing Crosby in the...
, England in 1914, the two wrote The Bells of St. Mary's
The Bells of St. Mary's (song)
"The Bells of St. Mary's" is a popular song.The music was written by A. Emmett Adams, the lyrics by Douglas Furber, following a visit to St. Mary's Church, Southampton, England. The song was published in 1917....
. The song was published in 1917
1917 in music
-Events:* May 12 - Béla Bartók's ballet The Wooden Prince is premiered in Budapest* First Jazz recordings made by the Original Dixieland Jass Band* First African American jazz recordings made by Wilber Sweatman's Band* Eddie Cantor makes his first recordings...
This became a major hit in America, in 1917, despite having been originally rejected by the publishers. In 1945, Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
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 include Limehouse Blues from 1924, written with composer Philip Braham
Philip Braham
Philip Braham was an English composer of the early twentieth century, chiefly associated with theatrical work.-Biography:...
.
Furber also made a few appearances on stage.