TrottieTrue: Fixed grammar
'''Bob and Alf Pearson''' were an [[English people|English]] [[music hall]] and [[Variety show|variety]] [[double act]], comprised of brothers '''Robert 'Bob' Pearson''' (1907 - December 30 1985) and '''Alfred 'Alf' Vernon Pearson''' (June 15 1910 - July 7 2012),<ref name="alfimdb"></ref><ref></ref> known for singing songs and performing sketches as a duo. Their career lasted over 50 years, spanning stage, [[radio]], [[television]] and [[gramophone record]]s. During the 1930s and 40s, they became one of the most popular acts in Britain, and their fame continued into the post-war period when they regularly appeared on the [[BBC Radio]] show ''[[Ray's a Laugh]]'' with comedian [[Ted Ray (comedian)|Ted Ray]]. Introducing themselves with their [[Theme music|signature tune]], "We bring you melodies from out of the sky, my brother and I", they would harmonise well-known songs, with Bob accompanying on [[piano]].<ref name="stage">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> Ray would ask, "Why, it's a little girl, what's your name?" and Bob would reply, "Jennifer", followed by a comedy routine. Bob's turn as 'Jennifer' became closely associated with their act.<ref name="independent">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>
== Early life ==
Bob was born in High Barnes, [[Sunderland]] in 1907, while Alf was born three years later in 1910. Growing up in Sunderland, their father was a [[plasterer]], but their mother, Emily Smiles (performing under her maiden name), was a [[contralto]] singer, to whom Alf attributed the brothers' musical talent.<ref name="stage" /> Alf's first professional engagement was singing "[[Oh! Susanna]]" in the stage show prior to the film ''[[The Covered Wagon]]'' in 1924; in those days, it was common for films to be presented as part of a variety bill of other acts performing. He also began to sing with a St Gabriel's Church group, the Blue Boys, whilst Bob was training to be a [[classical pianist]].<ref name="sunderland">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> Realising that he couldn't play on the pianos in church halls, Bob suggested they sing duets, finishing with [[Negro spirituals]] such as "I Got a Robe", "Tis You O Lawdy" and "Standing in the Need of Prayer". As Alf later recalled, "That's what we did and so we had an act before we came to London. Whenever the Blue Boys was advertised, the place was full".<ref name="independent" /> It was in 1927 that their duet act was born, and they began appearing at amateur shows and parties across the north-east of England.<ref name="sunderland" />
== Career ==
After their father won a contract for house-building on the [[A3 road|Kingston bypass]], the family moved to [[Surrey]] in 1928, and the brothers performed on stage in music halls. They also made their [[BBC Radio]] debut, broadcasting from [[Savoy Hill]]. Emily entered them in a nationwide talent contest, in which first prize was a recording contract with [[Columbia Graphophone Company|Columbia Records]] and 50 copies of the record.<ref name="richmond"></ref> They sang "[[Singin' in the Rain (song)|Singin' in the Rain]]" and "[[Ol' Man River]]", and won the competition. However, as Columbia already had a singing duo, [[Layton & Johnstone]], it was suggested that Bob and Alf instead be signed to [[Regal Recordings|Regal]]. Their recording manager asked them to copy the style of two Americans, but the brothers said it was "too simple" for their tastes, as it featured singing in thirds for the whole duration. The manager responded, "That is the way that people like it. I can sell thousands of records if you sing like that." Bob and Alf apologised, saying they didn't sing like that, and left.<ref name="independent" />
Shortly after this, music publisher [[Bert Feldman]] heard them singing and came up with a [[publicity stunt]]. The Pearsons were asked to see Frank Ruebens, Feldman's manager, with the message that he would have "something for them". They arrived to a room filled with [[journalists]] and the [[bandleader]] [[Jack Hylton]]. Ruebens told the assembled press that he had heard two plasterers singing, and was so impressed that had introduced them to Hylton, who was going to sign them up to sing with his band. The ruse worked, and nearly every newspaper carried the story, helping to establish the brothers as a name. They did not sing with Hylton, but performed in major theatres with their own show.<ref name="hylton"></ref><ref name="stage" />
Invited by [[John Logie Baird]] to appear on [[BBC Television]] when the medium was in its infancy, they became the first duo to be seen on the small screen.<ref name="mail">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>Alf recalled, "There were only about 400 sets in the country and the picture was the size of a cigarette card."<ref name="independent" /> They also had their vocal recordings regularly released by Piccadilly, [[Broadcast Twelve Records|Broadcast]], [[Imperial Records (1920)|Imperial]] and [[Rex Records (1933)|Rex]]. On many of these records, Bob accompanied the pair on piano.<ref name="45worlds"></ref> These labels also issued records by [[British dance bands]], with whom Bob and Alf would sing the vocal refrain. Occasionally, one or the other sing the solo vocal on a dance band recording.<ref name="gramophone">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> They recorded several songs which would prove durable when revived by other artists in later decades: "[[Walkin' My Baby Back Home (song)|Walkin' My Baby Back Home]]", a hit for [[Johnnie Ray]] in 1952, "[[You're Driving Me Crazy]]", a number 1 for [[The Temperance Seven]] in 1961 and "[[Tears (Ken Dodd song)|Tears]]", which topped the charts for [[Ken Dodd]] in 1965. From 1932 to 1938, they appeared in a series of short films for [[Pathé News]], singing songs in [[newsreels]] seen by cinema audiences.<ref></ref>
During [[World War II]], they formed a concert troupe with [[ENSA]], performing at [[Army base|army bases]] and singing for troops across [[Europe]] and [[Africa]]. In 1947, they were initiated into the [[Grand Order of Water Rats]], a [[United Kingdom|British]] entertainment industry [[fraternity]] and [[charitable organisation]]. That Christmas, whilst appearing at the [[Glasgow Empire Theatre|Glasgow Empire]], the duo heard from comedian Ted Ray, informing the brothers that he had specified their names when asked who he wanted for his radio show. ''Ray's a Laugh'' began in 1949, with Bob and Alf Pearson as regular stars. They would sing songs and appear in sketches, most notably with Bob playing the part of a little girl, 'Jennifer'.<ref name="independent" /> They also appeared on radio shows such as ''[[Variety Bandbox]]'' and ''Palace of Varieties''. They also had their own BBC television show, ''Fresh Airs and Places'', broadcast from [[Lime Grove Studios]].
The same year, the duo began making records for [[Parlophone]], where they remained until 1953. Occasionally working with a young producer named [[George Martin]], who joined [[EMI]] in 1950, their [[Single (music)|singles]] included recordings of songs such as "[[Red Roses For A Blue Lady]]", "[[Careless Hands]]" and "In a Golden Coach (There's a Heart of Gold)", issued for the [[Coronation of Elizabeth II]]. They also made a number of [[List of musical medleys|medleys]]: at the time, the [[LP record|LP]] and 7-inch single, which had longer playing times, and could thus contain more tracks, were still fairly new. The 10-inch 78rpm disc was still dominant at the time, but could typically only hold three minutes on each side. A medley featuring several songs on each side of a disc could therefore allow the listener to hear half a dozen songs on on record. Continuing a theme of their earlier records, Bob and Alf released a number of medleys in series' such as "In Big Bits of Big Hits" and "Family Favourites". Their final recording was a two-sided medley, "Christmas Favourites For Children", issued in December 1953.<ref name="45worlds" /> They also toured with a stage version of the radio show ''[[Take It from Here]]''. However, with the dawn of [[rock and roll]] in the mid-1950s, their work dried up. The duo continued to perform into the 1960s, and were invited onto the BBC's ''[[Desert Island Discs]]'' in 1966.<ref></ref> In the 1970s, they appeared in a five-year world tour, Those Golden Years of Music Hall.<ref name="sunderland" />
== Later years and deaths ==
In 1985, Bob and Alf Pearson made their last television appearance together, singing a medley of wartime songs on [[Highway (TV series)|Highway]], hosted by [[Harry Secombe]]. Bob died ten weeks later, aged 78, thus ending their double act.<ref name="stage" /> Alf subsequently made an appearance in the 1988 [[pilot episode]] of the BBC television sitcom ''[[You Rang, M'Lord?]]'' as as [[Call boy (theatre)|call boy]].<ref name="alfimdb" /> He continued his association with the Grand Order of Water Rats, becoming King Rat (head of the charity) in 1997. In 2001, a [[CD]] [[Compilation album|compilation]] of Bob and Alf's recordings was released, which skiffle musician and fellow Water Rat [[Chas McDevitt]] co-ordinated and wrote [[sleeve notes]] for.<ref name="sunderland" /> At the age of 91, Alf also recorded messages linking the tracks.<ref name="bear"></ref>
In 2007, after 30 years living on his own in [[Surbiton]], Alf moved into [[Brinsworth House]] in [[Twickenham]], the retirement home for showbiz professionals in south-west [[London]].<ref name="mail" /> It was here that in 2012 he celebrated his 100th birthday with a party held by the Water Rats.<ref name="richmond" /> He died in London on 7 July 2012 at the age of 102.<ref name="independent" />
==See also==
* [[British dance band]]
* [[Grand Order of Water Rats]]
* [[List of Columbia Graphophone Company artists]]
* [[Music hall]]
* [[Ted Ray (comedian)|Ted Ray]]
* [[Variety show]]
==References==
==External links==
* [http://bit.ly/2GhCex4 Grand Order of Water Rats biography]
[[Category:1907 births]]
[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
[[Category:20th-century English people]]
[[Category:British comedy duos]]
[[Category:British singers]]
[[Category:English comedy duos]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:English male singers]]
[[Category:English radio personalities]]
[[Category:Family musical groups]]
[[Category:Music hall performers]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1985]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1927]]
[[Category:Musicians from Tyne and Wear]]
[[Category:People from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear]]
[[Category:Sibling musical duos]]
== Early life ==
Bob was born in High Barnes, [[Sunderland]] in 1907, while Alf was born three years later in 1910. Growing up in Sunderland, their father was a [[plasterer]], but their mother, Emily Smiles (performing under her maiden name), was a [[contralto]] singer, to whom Alf attributed the brothers' musical talent.<ref name="stage" /> Alf's first professional engagement was singing "[[Oh! Susanna]]" in the stage show prior to the film ''[[The Covered Wagon]]'' in 1924; in those days, it was common for films to be presented as part of a variety bill of other acts performing. He also began to sing with a St Gabriel's Church group, the Blue Boys, whilst Bob was training to be a [[classical pianist]].<ref name="sunderland">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> Realising that he couldn't play on the pianos in church halls, Bob suggested they sing duets, finishing with [[Negro spirituals]] such as "I Got a Robe", "Tis You O Lawdy" and "Standing in the Need of Prayer". As Alf later recalled, "That's what we did and so we had an act before we came to London. Whenever the Blue Boys was advertised, the place was full".<ref name="independent" /> It was in 1927 that their duet act was born, and they began appearing at amateur shows and parties across the north-east of England.<ref name="sunderland" />
== Career ==
After their father won a contract for house-building on the [[A3 road|Kingston bypass]], the family moved to [[Surrey]] in 1928, and the brothers performed on stage in music halls. They also made their [[BBC Radio]] debut, broadcasting from [[Savoy Hill]]. Emily entered them in a nationwide talent contest, in which first prize was a recording contract with [[Columbia Graphophone Company|Columbia Records]] and 50 copies of the record.<ref name="richmond"></ref> They sang "[[Singin' in the Rain (song)|Singin' in the Rain]]" and "[[Ol' Man River]]", and won the competition. However, as Columbia already had a singing duo, [[Layton & Johnstone]], it was suggested that Bob and Alf instead be signed to [[Regal Recordings|Regal]]. Their recording manager asked them to copy the style of two Americans, but the brothers said it was "too simple" for their tastes, as it featured singing in thirds for the whole duration. The manager responded, "That is the way that people like it. I can sell thousands of records if you sing like that." Bob and Alf apologised, saying they didn't sing like that, and left.<ref name="independent" />
Shortly after this, music publisher [[Bert Feldman]] heard them singing and came up with a [[publicity stunt]]. The Pearsons were asked to see Frank Ruebens, Feldman's manager, with the message that he would have "something for them". They arrived to a room filled with [[journalists]] and the [[bandleader]] [[Jack Hylton]]. Ruebens told the assembled press that he had heard two plasterers singing, and was so impressed that had introduced them to Hylton, who was going to sign them up to sing with his band. The ruse worked, and nearly every newspaper carried the story, helping to establish the brothers as a name. They did not sing with Hylton, but performed in major theatres with their own show.<ref name="hylton"></ref><ref name="stage" />
Invited by [[John Logie Baird]] to appear on [[BBC Television]] when the medium was in its infancy, they became the first duo to be seen on the small screen.<ref name="mail">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>Alf recalled, "There were only about 400 sets in the country and the picture was the size of a cigarette card."<ref name="independent" /> They also had their vocal recordings regularly released by Piccadilly, [[Broadcast Twelve Records|Broadcast]], [[Imperial Records (1920)|Imperial]] and [[Rex Records (1933)|Rex]]. On many of these records, Bob accompanied the pair on piano.<ref name="45worlds"></ref> These labels also issued records by [[British dance bands]], with whom Bob and Alf would sing the vocal refrain. Occasionally, one or the other sing the solo vocal on a dance band recording.<ref name="gramophone">Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> They recorded several songs which would prove durable when revived by other artists in later decades: "[[Walkin' My Baby Back Home (song)|Walkin' My Baby Back Home]]", a hit for [[Johnnie Ray]] in 1952, "[[You're Driving Me Crazy]]", a number 1 for [[The Temperance Seven]] in 1961 and "[[Tears (Ken Dodd song)|Tears]]", which topped the charts for [[Ken Dodd]] in 1965. From 1932 to 1938, they appeared in a series of short films for [[Pathé News]], singing songs in [[newsreels]] seen by cinema audiences.<ref></ref>
During [[World War II]], they formed a concert troupe with [[ENSA]], performing at [[Army base|army bases]] and singing for troops across [[Europe]] and [[Africa]]. In 1947, they were initiated into the [[Grand Order of Water Rats]], a [[United Kingdom|British]] entertainment industry [[fraternity]] and [[charitable organisation]]. That Christmas, whilst appearing at the [[Glasgow Empire Theatre|Glasgow Empire]], the duo heard from comedian Ted Ray, informing the brothers that he had specified their names when asked who he wanted for his radio show. ''Ray's a Laugh'' began in 1949, with Bob and Alf Pearson as regular stars. They would sing songs and appear in sketches, most notably with Bob playing the part of a little girl, 'Jennifer'.<ref name="independent" /> They also appeared on radio shows such as ''[[Variety Bandbox]]'' and ''Palace of Varieties''. They also had their own BBC television show, ''Fresh Airs and Places'', broadcast from [[Lime Grove Studios]].
The same year, the duo began making records for [[Parlophone]], where they remained until 1953. Occasionally working with a young producer named [[George Martin]], who joined [[EMI]] in 1950, their [[Single (music)|singles]] included recordings of songs such as "[[Red Roses For A Blue Lady]]", "[[Careless Hands]]" and "In a Golden Coach (There's a Heart of Gold)", issued for the [[Coronation of Elizabeth II]]. They also made a number of [[List of musical medleys|medleys]]: at the time, the [[LP record|LP]] and 7-inch single, which had longer playing times, and could thus contain more tracks, were still fairly new. The 10-inch 78rpm disc was still dominant at the time, but could typically only hold three minutes on each side. A medley featuring several songs on each side of a disc could therefore allow the listener to hear half a dozen songs on on record. Continuing a theme of their earlier records, Bob and Alf released a number of medleys in series' such as "In Big Bits of Big Hits" and "Family Favourites". Their final recording was a two-sided medley, "Christmas Favourites For Children", issued in December 1953.<ref name="45worlds" /> They also toured with a stage version of the radio show ''[[Take It from Here]]''. However, with the dawn of [[rock and roll]] in the mid-1950s, their work dried up. The duo continued to perform into the 1960s, and were invited onto the BBC's ''[[Desert Island Discs]]'' in 1966.<ref></ref> In the 1970s, they appeared in a five-year world tour, Those Golden Years of Music Hall.<ref name="sunderland" />
== Later years and deaths ==
In 1985, Bob and Alf Pearson made their last television appearance together, singing a medley of wartime songs on [[Highway (TV series)|Highway]], hosted by [[Harry Secombe]]. Bob died ten weeks later, aged 78, thus ending their double act.<ref name="stage" /> Alf subsequently made an appearance in the 1988 [[pilot episode]] of the BBC television sitcom ''[[You Rang, M'Lord?]]'' as as [[Call boy (theatre)|call boy]].<ref name="alfimdb" /> He continued his association with the Grand Order of Water Rats, becoming King Rat (head of the charity) in 1997. In 2001, a [[CD]] [[Compilation album|compilation]] of Bob and Alf's recordings was released, which skiffle musician and fellow Water Rat [[Chas McDevitt]] co-ordinated and wrote [[sleeve notes]] for.<ref name="sunderland" /> At the age of 91, Alf also recorded messages linking the tracks.<ref name="bear"></ref>
In 2007, after 30 years living on his own in [[Surbiton]], Alf moved into [[Brinsworth House]] in [[Twickenham]], the retirement home for showbiz professionals in south-west [[London]].<ref name="mail" /> It was here that in 2012 he celebrated his 100th birthday with a party held by the Water Rats.<ref name="richmond" /> He died in London on 7 July 2012 at the age of 102.<ref name="independent" />
==See also==
* [[British dance band]]
* [[Grand Order of Water Rats]]
* [[List of Columbia Graphophone Company artists]]
* [[Music hall]]
* [[Ted Ray (comedian)|Ted Ray]]
* [[Variety show]]
==References==
==External links==
* [http://bit.ly/2GhCex4 Grand Order of Water Rats biography]
[[Category:1907 births]]
[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
[[Category:20th-century English people]]
[[Category:British comedy duos]]
[[Category:British singers]]
[[Category:English comedy duos]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:English male singers]]
[[Category:English radio personalities]]
[[Category:Family musical groups]]
[[Category:Music hall performers]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1985]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1927]]
[[Category:Musicians from Tyne and Wear]]
[[Category:People from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear]]
[[Category:Sibling musical duos]]
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