Will Fyffe

Will Fyffe, CBE (16 February 1885 – 14 December 1947) was a Scottish music hall and performing artist on stage and screen during the 1930s and 1940s.

Fyffe made his debut in his father's stock company at age 6. He travelled extensively throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK, playing the numerous music halls of the time, where he performed his sketches and sang his songs in an inimitable style. During the 1930s, he was one of the highest paid musical hall artists in Britain.

In addition, Fyffe appeared in 23 major films of the era (American and British), and he recorded over 30 songs.

His singer-songwriter skills are still well-known today, particularly his composition "I Belong to Glasgow". This song has been covered by Danny Kaye, Eartha Kitt, Gracie Fields and Kirk Douglas:

"If your money, you spend,
You've nothing to lend,
Isn't that all the better for you"

As a result of this song, Fyffe became forever associated with Glasgow, but he was born 70 miles (110 km) away in the east coast city of Dundee, where a street bears his surname. Fyffe was also Freemason, who was initiated and then became a full member of Lodge St John, Shotts No 471. He left some rare footage of his stage act, which gives a glimpse of stage life in these times. In the footage, he performs the "Broomielaw" sketch and sings his song "Twelve and a Tanner a Bottle". The footage came about as a result of a screen test, shot for Pathe in New York in 1929.

Fyffe died after falling from a window in the Rusacks Hotel in St Andrews in December 1947. The fall has been attributed to dizziness caused by an operation on his ear.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 16, 1885 (Dundee), Died December 14, 1947 (St Andrews)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1921 - 1927

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, lyricist, composer, speaker

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W144059 10-in. 4/28/1927 I'm 94 to-day Will Fyffe Male vocal solo and talk, with orchestra lyricist, composer, speaker, vocalist  
Columbia W144060 10-in. 4/28/1927 I belong to Glasgow Will Fyffe Male vocal solo and talk, with orchestra lyricist, composer, vocalist  
Columbia W144061 10-in. 4/28/1927 The engineer Will Fyffe Male vocal solo and talk, with orchestra lyricist, composer, vocalist  
Columbia W144062 10-in. 4/28/1927 Sandy's holiday Will Fyffe Male vocal solo and talk, with orchestra lyricist, composer, vocalist  
Columbia W144208 10-in. 5/24/1927 The centenarian Will Fyffe Male vocal solo and talking, with orchestra composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia W144209 10-in. 5/24/1927 The gamekeeper Will Fyffe Male vocal solo and talking, with orchestra lyricist, composer, vocalist  
Columbia 71404 10-in. 09/16/1921 I'm 94 today Will Fyffe Male vocal solo and monologue, with orchestra speaker, vocalist, composer, lyricist  
Columbia 71405 10-in. 09/16/1921 I belong to Glasgow Will Fyffe Male vocal solo and monologue, with orchestra speaker, composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia 71406 10-in. 09/16/1921 The engineer Will Fyffe Male vocal solo and monologue, with orchestra speaker, composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia 71407 10-in. 09/16/1921 Sandy's holiday Will Fyffe Male vocal solo and monologue, with orchestra speaker, composer, lyricist, vocalist  
Columbia 71694 10-in. 05/12/1922 Maggie Will Fyffe vocalist  
Columbia 71705 10-in. 05/17/1922 New Year's Day Will Fyffe vocalist  
Columbia 71706 10-in. 05/17/1922 The first wee drappie in the morning Will Fyffe vocalist  
Columbia 71707 10-in. 05/17/1922 Good-bye Jenny Will Fyffe vocalist  
Columbia 71974 10-in. 10/24/1922 The hieland jazz Will Fyffe vocalist  
Columbia 71975 10-in. 10/24/1922 I'm going to sea Will Fyffe vocalist  
Columbia 73401 10-in. 04/26/1923 I'm tight too Will Fyffe vocalist  
Columbia 73402 10-in. 04/26/1923 Up among the heather Will Fyffe vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Fyffe, Will," accessed November 6, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/108970.

Fyffe, Will. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 6, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/108970.

"Fyffe, Will." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 6 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/108970

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