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Albert Chevalier

Albert Chevalier (often listed as Albert Onésime Britannicus Gwathveoyd Louis Chevalier); (21 March 1861 – 10 July 1923), was an English music hall comedian, singer and musical theatre actor. He specialised in cockney related humour based on life as a costermonger in London during the Victorian era. Owing to this and his ability to write songs, he became known to his audiences as the "costers' laureate".

Born in London to a French father and Welsh mother, his name at birth was registered simply as "Albert Chevalier", but he gained the unusual middle names "Onésime Britannicus Gwathveoyd Louis" during his career. He showed an interest in entertainment from an early age through his private performances to family and friends. He made his debut on the amateur stage when he was eight, performing in Julius Caesar, at the local Cornwall Hall. Soon after, he joined a local amateur dramatics group before changing his stage name to "Albert Knight".

Chevalier joined the music hall circuit in the 1880s and over the decade became very successful. His success meant that from the early 1890s he was able to choose which theatres to perform in and often performed at three or four halls each night. Together with his brother Charles Ingle he wrote a number of highly successful coster songs to support his act including "Wot Cher! Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road", "The Future Mrs. 'Awkins", "Appy 'Ampstead", and the melodrama "My Old Dutch". As well as in London, Chevalier became popular with audiences in the English provinces which he toured over the length of his career.

During the 1910s Chevalier moved from comedy into music composition for straight plays. With a deteriorating health his final appearance was in My Old Dutch at the Lyceum Theatre in 1920. The play was based on Chevalier's own song of the same name and had some success. The play ran for over a year and Chevalier completed his last performance in November 1922. He died aged 62 and was buried in Abney Park cemetery in the same plot as his son and father-in-law George Leybourne.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 21, 1861, Died July 10, 1923

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1896 - 1908

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, composer

= 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
Berliner 926 7-in. 5/19/1896 Wot cher George J. Gaskin Male vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Berliner 929 7-in. 5/19/1896 The future Mrs. Hawkins George J. Gaskin Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Berliner 0117 7-in. Before June 1899 The future Mrs. Hawkins Len Spencer Male vocal solo composer, lyricist  
Berliner 0118 7-in. Before June 1899 My dear old Dutch Len Spencer Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]895 7-in. 7/9/1901 My old Dutch Burt Shepard Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]2111 10-in. 3/21/1903 Our little nipper Len Spencer Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]2111 7-in. 3/21/1903 Our little nipper Len Spencer Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3496 10-in. 7/9/1901 My old Dutch Burt Shepard Male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 720 10-in. ca. Jan.-Sept. 1902 My old Dutch George J. Gaskin Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 720 7-in. ca. Jan.-Sept. 1902 My old Dutch George J. Gaskin Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 721 10-in. ca. Jan.-Sept. 1902 The future Mrs. 'Awkins George J. Gaskin Male vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Columbia 721 7-in. ca. Jan.-Sept. 1902 The future Mrs. 'Awkins George J. Gaskin Male vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Columbia 722 10-in. ca. Jan.-Sept. 1902 Knocked 'em in the old Kent Road Male vocalist (unidentified; Columbia Records) Tenor vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 722 7-in. ca. Jan.-Sept. 1902 Knocked 'em in the old Kent Road Male vocalist (unidentified; Columbia Records) Tenor vocal solo, with piano lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Chevalier, Albert," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111260.

Chevalier, Albert. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111260.

"Chevalier, Albert." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111260

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