Douglas Furber

Douglas Furber (13 May 1885 – 20 February 1961) was a British lyricist and playwright. Furber is best known for the lyrics to the 1937 song "The Lambeth Walk" and the libretto to the musical Me and My Girl, composed by Noel Gay, from which it came. This show made broadcasting history when in 1939 it became the first full-length musical to be broadcast on television. A 1986 revival went on to achieve great acclaim, and was nominated for Tony Awards for both Best Score and Best Book. Furber made his first entry into songwriting with the Australian born composer A. Emmett Adams. Following a visit to St. Mary's Church, Southampton, England in 1914, the two wrote "The Bells of St. Mary's". The song was published in 1917. This became a major hit in the United States despite having been originally rejected by the publishers. In 1945, Bing Crosby had a hit with "The Bells of St. Mary's" after it was used as the title song to the film of the same name. Other hits included "Limehouse Blues" from 1924, written with composer Philip Braham. Furber also made a few appearances on stage.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1885 (Greater London), Died February 20, 1961 (Greater London)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1918 - 1945

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 59 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BVE-23505	10-in.	6/9/1926	The bells of St. Mary's	Frances Alda	Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra	lyricist
Victor	B-23505	10-in.	12/1/1919	The bells of St. Mary's	Frances Alda	Soprano vocal solo, with celeste and orchestra	lyricist
Victor	B-24953	10-in.	2/18/1921	Love in lilac time	Lambert Murphy	Male vocal solo, with oboe, bells, violin, piano, and orchestra	lyricist
Victor	B-25570	10-in.	9/23/1921	Every bit of loving in the world	Frances Alda	Soprano vocal solo, with celeste and orchestra	lyricist
Victor	B-25782	10-in.	11/28/1921	The mill by the sea	Elsie Baker	Female vocal solo, with harp and orchestra	lyricist
Victor	B-25901	10-in.	12/13/1921	Bless you	Frances Alda	Soprano vocal solo, with celeste and orchestra	lyricist
Victor	B-30056	10-in.	5/8/1924	Limehouse blues	Marcia Freer	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	lyricist
Victor	BVE-34542	10-in.	2/6/1926	The bells of St. Mary's	Associated Glee Clubs of America	Male vocal chorus	lyricist
Victor	BVE-36361	10-in.	9/28/1926	The far-away bells	John McCormack	Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra	lyricist
Victor	BVE-37046	10-in.	11/27/1926	The bells of St. Mary's	Associated Glee Clubs of America	Male vocal chorus, with piano	lyricist
Victor	BVE-42447	10-in.	2/16/1928	Bells of Saint Mary's	Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra	Orchestra, with male vocal solo	lyricist
Victor	BVE-58184	10-in.	1/10/1930	She's such a comfort to me	Leo Reisman Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	lyricist
Victor	BS-76479	10-in.	6/20/1933	Three wishes	Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	lyricist
Victor	BS-76848	10-in.	8/4/1933	Let me give my happiness to you	Elmo Tanner ; Ted Weems Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	lyricist
Victor	CS-011481	12-in.	8/13/1937	The bells of St. Mary's	Lew White	Organ solo, with harp and vocal ensemble	lyricist
Victor	BS-024452	10-in.	8/4/1938	Lambeth Walk	Joseph Rines Hotel St. Regis Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble	lyricist
Victor	PBS-042555	10-in.	3/7/1940	The bells of St. Mary's	Kenny Baker ; David Broekman	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	lyricist
Victor	D5VB-0977	10-in.	12/11/1945	The bells of St. Mary's	Charlie Spivak Orchestra ; Jimmy Saunders	Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	lyricist
Victor	D5VB-1323	10-in.	12/28/1945	The bells of St. Mary's	Charlie Spivak Orchestra ; Jimmy Saunders	Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	lyricist
Columbia	78788	10-in.	11/1/1919	The bells of St. Mary's	George Meader	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	lyricist
Columbia	49413	12-in.	approximately 1918	God send you back to me	Dorothy Brunton	Female vocal solo, with orchestra	lyricist
Columbia	W141357	10-in.	12/7/1925	The bells of St. Mary's	Barbara Maurel	Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with orchestra	lyricist
Columbia	W143580	10-in.	3/4/1927	The far-away bells	Fred Rich Hotel Astor Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	lyricist
Columbia	W144242	10-in.	5/31/1927	The far-away bells	Franklyn Baur	Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet	lyricist
Columbia	148414	10-in.	5/3/1929	Sing a song in the rain	Jim Andrews ; Ted Bartell Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	lyricist

(Results 1-25 of 59 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Furber, Douglas," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105957.

Furber, Douglas. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/105957.

"Furber, Douglas." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.