November 27th is Lancashire Day. This auspicious date prompts me to advise that Lancashire provided more big names in the field of entertainment, during a golden age, than any other county. The following came from Lancashire :
Jack Hylton, George Formby, Elsie Carlisle, Maurice Winnick, Gracie Fields, Tommy Handley, Florence Oldham, Norman Evans, Ann Penn, Arthur Askey, Rob Wilton and Pat O'Malley.
We should also remember Tom Burke \"The Lancashire Caruso\".
Not forgetting Ross Parker & Hughie Charles composers of \"There'll always be an England and \"We'll meet again\". Earlier, another composer Leslie Stuart \"Lily of Laguna\" and \"Soldiers of the Queen\", was Lancashire born\". Mrs Jack Hylton (Ennis Parkes) was born on the Isle of Man but raised in Lancashire.
Over the next few days, I will be sharing recordings of a few of the above.
Lancashire Stars No. 1 - Jack Hylton.
\"It's a great life\" is a hard to find Hylton record from 1930. I acquired this record from a record fair in Birmingham a good twenty five years ago. A note on the sleeve advised Hylton's test copy £3.50. I duly paid the amount and still think myself lucky.
The recording is full of the typical Hylton flair of the period. Both bandleader and vocalist were Lancastrians.
Vocal chorus by Pat O'Malley
Recorded 21st October 1930.
*** Transfer and video by Jonathan Holmes ***
