Swinging London: Al Bowlly - Love Locked Out, 1933

Al Bowlly
(Born Jan 7, 1899 in Mozambique, died Apr 17, 1941 in London, England). The most popular vocalist in Britain during the 1930s, Al Bowlly showcased a range of material unsurpassed by any contemporary other than Bing Crosby. He was also a true international recording artist: born in Mozambique to Greek and Lebanese parents, he was raised in Johannesburg, but gained his musical experience singing for a dance band led by Jimmy Liquime in India and Singapore during the mid-'20s. Just one year after his 1927 debut recording date in Berlin, Bowlly arrived in London for the first time, as part of Fred Elizalde's orchestra. That year, "If I Had You" became one of the first popular songs by an English jazz band to become renowned in America as well, and Bowlly had gone out on his own by the dawn of the '30s. During the next three years, he recorded over 500 songs and appeared with orchestras led by Ray Noble and Lew Stone. A visit to New York in 1934 with Noble resulted in more success; he appeared at the head of an orchestra hand-picked for him and Noble by Glenn Miller (the band included Claude Thornhill, Charlie Spivak and Bud Freeman, among others).

During the mid-'30s, such songs as "Blue Moon," "Easy to Love," "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "My Melancholy Baby" were sizable American successes -- so much so that Bowlly gained his own radio series on NBC and traveled to Hollywood to film The Big Broadcast of 1936, which also starred one of his biggest competitors, Bing Crosby. He was back in England that same year, appearing with his own band, the Radio City Rhythm Makers, as well as the orchestras of Sydney Lipton, Geraldo and Ken Johnson. Partnered with Jimmy Messini, Bowlly also branched out onto the London stage during the early '40s with an act called Radio Stars with Two Guitars. It was his last venture before his death in 1941, the victim of a German bomb exploded outside his apartment. Fifty years after his death, a British musical named Melancholy Baby toured the country with much success.

Recording:
Ray Noble & His Orch., voc. Al Bowlly - Love Locked Out (R.Noble/M.Kester), His Master's Voice 1933

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 1930s
• singer
• British
• dance
• bands
• Ray
• Noble
• Orchestra

[kspm01]

I second the assessment one can hardly get wrong with Bowlly!

[motownjo1960]

nauort23 - Bowlly is not British - he was of mixed Greek/Lebanese parentage, born in Africa in Mozambique and arrived in the UK during the 30's via some colourful globe trotting. His remains rest in London after he was killed in the West End during a bombing raid in WWII.

[DickAllen4HOF]

@motownjo1960 You are so correct. Al Bowlly grew up in and spent his early adult years in Johannesburg, South Africa

[paulkate72]

@kamilla1960 Yes, it's true as the coments mad by nauort23 above says. Even so, Al's fame came from singing with the great British dance bands of the 1930s and what musiic they made together. We'll never see their like again I'm sorry to say.

[kamilla1960]

It is true that Mr. Bowlly's ethnicity was not English; however he achieved his great fame in England, singing in the British band style.

[TheRainbowSpade]

zero dislikes. That's right. No one can NOT like Al Bowlly.

[spannerworks1]

Hi

I am a great fan of AL ad reading his Biography by Sid Colin and Tony Staveacre. It mentions The Big Broadcast so hence my interest in Al.

Warm regards

Richard

[waynebrasler]

This is a devastating recording and a favorite of many favorite singers. Many people in the music business believed Al would at the close of World War II forge a new career in the United States. Bing Crosby was very aware of his talent and power. There was and is no singer quite like Al; thousands are still devoted to him.

[wetgat]

do you know, I get fed up with people saying al was an imigrant, I am a Bowley, I have a dark compection, at the end of the day he was, and is stil the best. a dam site better than the crap you hear today.

[unclscam]

too perfect for your ears! al bowlly the gigolo sound of the 30s

[stobbzie]

jazz isnt english