Jack Judge
Encyclopedia
Jack Judge was a song-writer and music-hall entertainer best remembered for writing the song It's a Long, Long Way to Tipperary.
. His grand-parents came from Tipperary
. He was originally a fish-monger, and took to the stage after winning a talent contest.
At the time his famous song was written, he was performing at "The Grand" Theatre, Stalybridge
, Cheshire
.
He allegedly wrote the song for a 5 shilling
bet on 30 January 1912 and performed it the next night at "The Grand". However, many people, including the Judge family, dispute this and say the song was written in his home town of Oldbury.
"It's a long way to Tipperary" was bought by British music publisher Feldman for £5. Harry Williams
, a neighbour of Jack's, who died in
1924, was co-attributed as composer. Later in his life when he became very unwell, the company gave him a weekly pension of £1.
John McCormack recorded the song in 1914, which gave it worldwide popularity. Jack recorded The Place Where I Was Born in 1915, when he was aged 42 and already a big star. Written before the outbreak of war, this is one of his few serious songs, and sensitive comment about the working man's compassion for others during hard times. In the same year he recorded Paddy Maloney's Aeroplane and Michael O'Leary, V.C., both about Irishmen helping the war effort. As well as songs for the stage, he wrote a number of football songs in support of his beloved West Bromwich Albion. He continued recording through the 1920s.
A bronze statue of Judge now adorns Lord Pendry Square
in Stalybridge. The recently opened public library in his home town of Oldbury bears his name.
Life
Jack Judge's parents were Irish, from County MayoCounty Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
. His grand-parents came from Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
. He was originally a fish-monger, and took to the stage after winning a talent contest.
At the time his famous song was written, he was performing at "The Grand" Theatre, Stalybridge
Stalybridge
Stalybridge is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside in Greater Manchester, England, with a population of 22,568. Historically a part of Cheshire, it is east of Manchester city centre and northwest of Glossop. With the construction of a cotton mill in 1776, Stalybridge became one of...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
.
He allegedly wrote the song for a 5 shilling
Shilling
The shilling is a unit of currency used in some current and former British Commonwealth countries. The word shilling comes from scilling, an accounting term that dates back to Anglo-Saxon times where it was deemed to be the value of a cow in Kent or a sheep elsewhere. The word is thought to derive...
bet on 30 January 1912 and performed it the next night at "The Grand". However, many people, including the Judge family, dispute this and say the song was written in his home town of Oldbury.
"It's a long way to Tipperary" was bought by British music publisher Feldman for £5. Harry Williams
Harry Williams
Harry Hiram Williams was an American composer, lyricist, and publisher of popular music from 1903 until his death in 1922....
, a neighbour of Jack's, who died in
1924, was co-attributed as composer. Later in his life when he became very unwell, the company gave him a weekly pension of £1.
John McCormack recorded the song in 1914, which gave it worldwide popularity. Jack recorded The Place Where I Was Born in 1915, when he was aged 42 and already a big star. Written before the outbreak of war, this is one of his few serious songs, and sensitive comment about the working man's compassion for others during hard times. In the same year he recorded Paddy Maloney's Aeroplane and Michael O'Leary, V.C., both about Irishmen helping the war effort. As well as songs for the stage, he wrote a number of football songs in support of his beloved West Bromwich Albion. He continued recording through the 1920s.
A bronze statue of Judge now adorns Lord Pendry Square
Tom Pendry, Baron Pendry
Thomas Pendry, Baron Pendry PC is a Labour politician and member of the House of Lords. He was previously the Labour member of parliament for Stalybridge and Hyde from 1970 to 2001. In 2000, prior to his retirement as an MP he was made a member of the Privy council on the recommendation of Tony...
in Stalybridge. The recently opened public library in his home town of Oldbury bears his name.