Harry Fragson
Encyclopedia
Harry Fragson was a British
music hall singer and comedian
, born in Soho
, London
. While living in Paris
, he developed an act involving impressions of French music hall performers, which gradually became popular, allowing him to introduce his own material. He came back to London in 1905 and became a popular performer in both the U.K. and France
. He is well known for the song 'Hello, Hello, Who's Your Lady Friend?'.
Fragson was shot dead by his own Belgian father, with whom he lived in his flat in Paris (56 rue Lafayette) His father believed that Fragson was going to put him into a home and, as a result, he became rather unstable and depressed. Fragson returned home one evening to find his father with a gun, intending to commit suicide. When Fragson entered, his father pointed the gun at him and shot him dead. Fragson's father died 6 weeks afterward in an asylum
.
He was arguably the most popular pre-WWI entertainer and introduced hundreds of songs still performed today like "Reviens", "Si Tu Veux...Marguerite", "A La Martinique", "La Baya","Les Blondes", "les Jaloux", "Amours Fragiles", "Les Amis De Monsieur" etc. He had an Irving Berlin
song, "A Girl In Havana", adapted to "Je Connais Une Blonde" which soldiers marched to war to in 1914.
More than 50 000 people followed his hearse to Saint Augustin church. He is buried at the crematorium at le Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris.
Some of his work can be found on Chairman's Choice - Music Hall Greats CD and also on CDs from Music Hall Masters - play a sample here
A recent biography "Fragson: the triumphs and the tragedy" by Andrew Lamb
and Julian Myerscough is available. See also "British Music Hall - an illustrated history" by Richard Anthony Baker, Sutton Publishing, UK, 2005 ISBN 0-7509-3685-1
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...
music hall singer and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, born in Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. While living in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, he developed an act involving impressions of French music hall performers, which gradually became popular, allowing him to introduce his own material. He came back to London in 1905 and became a popular performer in both the U.K. and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He is well known for the song 'Hello, Hello, Who's Your Lady Friend?'.
Fragson was shot dead by his own Belgian father, with whom he lived in his flat in Paris (56 rue Lafayette) His father believed that Fragson was going to put him into a home and, as a result, he became rather unstable and depressed. Fragson returned home one evening to find his father with a gun, intending to commit suicide. When Fragson entered, his father pointed the gun at him and shot him dead. Fragson's father died 6 weeks afterward in an asylum
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
.
He was arguably the most popular pre-WWI entertainer and introduced hundreds of songs still performed today like "Reviens", "Si Tu Veux...Marguerite", "A La Martinique", "La Baya","Les Blondes", "les Jaloux", "Amours Fragiles", "Les Amis De Monsieur" etc. He had an Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
song, "A Girl In Havana", adapted to "Je Connais Une Blonde" which soldiers marched to war to in 1914.
More than 50 000 people followed his hearse to Saint Augustin church. He is buried at the crematorium at le Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris.
Some of his work can be found on Chairman's Choice - Music Hall Greats CD and also on CDs from Music Hall Masters - play a sample here
A recent biography "Fragson: the triumphs and the tragedy" by Andrew Lamb
Andrew Lamb (writer)
Andrew Martin Lamb is an English writer, musicologist and broadcaster, known for his expertise in light music and musical theatre.-Biography:Lamb was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England, on 23 September 1942, the son of Harry Lamb, a schoolmaster, and his wife Winifred, née Emmott...
and Julian Myerscough is available. See also "British Music Hall - an illustrated history" by Richard Anthony Baker, Sutton Publishing, UK, 2005 ISBN 0-7509-3685-1