"Sir Harry Lauder (1870 - 1950), the popular singer and entertainer, who won international renown, was born at Number 4 Bridge Street, Portobello.
As a boy Lauder worked in a flax-spinning mill in Arbroath, where he attended school, and for a time he was a miner. It was in Arbroath that he first appeared on stage. He had a natural singing voice and a talent for composing simple and tuneful songs.
His stage persona depended heavily on the kilt, a curly walking-stick, and much talk of bawbees and allusions to tight-fistedness, and Lauder's critics complained that he caricatured the Scot. Be that as it may, Lauder was just as popular in his own country as he was in England and innumerable countries overseas.
Songs like Roaming in the Gloaming and Keep Right On to the End of the Road retain their magic and have become part of Scotland's folk music. He was knighted in 1919, and in 1927 received the Freedom of Edinburgh."
Something very irritating about a professional scotman like Lauder who played the part to the hilt, but nevertheless I find the mixture of music hall song and stirring highland sentiment and wimsy very attractive in an odd kind of way. Maybe I have some scottish blood in my veins somewhere?
Sir Harry Lauder - The Waggle 'O The Kilt
Sir Harry Lauder - The Wedding Of Sandy McNab
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3 comments:
I've really enjoyed reading all your posts, but darn it, I can't seem to listen to the music. My virus/pop up blocker won't let me. I'll keep trying though.
Sorry to hear you can't hear these songs Angelica. thanks for the encouraging remarks though- much appreciated. Hope you can bypass the aggressive virus blocker soon!
Now that was a jaunty little tune! Hey, what's wrong with the back of your neck? Thanks Michael!
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