Bob and Alf Pearson
Bob and Alf Pearson | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Born | Sunderland, County Durham, England (Bob) 15 June 1910, Sunderland, County Durham, England (Alf) | 15 August 1907,
Origin | Sunderland, County Durham, England |
Died | 30 December 1985Tyne and Wear, England (Bob) 7 July 2012 (aged 102), London, England (Alf) | (aged 78), Sunderland,
Genres | |
Instruments | Vocals and piano |
Years active | 1927–1985 |
Labels | Columbia, Piccadilly, Broadcast, Imperial, Rex, Parlophone, Sterno |
Past members | Bob Pearson Alf Pearson |
Bob and Alf Pearson were an English musical variety double act, consisting of brothers Robert Alexander Pearson (15 August 1907 – 30 December 1985)
During the 1930s, they became one of the most popular acts in Britain, and had sold over a million records by 1936.[4] Their fame continued into the post-war period, when they regularly appeared on the BBC Radio show Ray's a Laugh with comedian Ted Ray. Introducing themselves with their signature tune, "My Brother and I", audiences heard the brothers performing well-known songs, with Bob accompanying on piano.[3][5] Ray would ask, "Why, it's a little girl, what's your name?" with Bob replying, "Jennifer", followed by a comedy routine. Bob's turn as 'Jennifer' became closely associated with their act.[3]
Early lives
Bob and Alf Pearson were both born in
As soon as the brothers left school (aged 14), they were put to work as apprentices in their father's plastering business, and would sing while they worked around houses in
Career
Early years
In 1928, when their father Arthur got a contract for a new house-building development at Tolworth on the Kingston bypass, the family moved to Surrey, and the brothers performed on stage in music halls. Emily entered them in a nationwide talent contest, in which first prize was a recording contract with Columbia Records and 50 copies of the winner's song.[10] They sang "Singin' in the Rain" and "Ol' Man River", and won the competition. However, as Columbia already had a singing duo, Layton & Johnstone, it was suggested that Bob and Alf instead be signed to Regal. Their recording manager asked them to copy the style of two Americans, but the brothers said it was "too simple" for their tastes, as it featured singing in thirds for the whole duration. The manager responded, "That is the way that people like it. I can sell thousands of records if you sing like that." Bob and Alf apologised, saying they didn't sing like that, and left.[3]
Instead, the Pearsons were signed up by Piccadilly to make records; these were played on BBC Radio by Christopher Stone, who had become Britain's first disc jockey in 1927. The brothers were also booked for their own broadcast on BBC Radio's Saturday night Music Hall programme.[8] During this period, the duo appeared on air with the well-known bandleader Ambrose on Saturday nights from The May Fair Hotel.[11]
Fame
Following the Columbia competition, music publisher Bert Feldman heard Bob and Alf singing and came up with a publicity stunt. The Pearsons were asked to see Frank Reubens, Feldman's manager, with the message that he would have "something for them". In January 1930, they arrived to a room filled with journalists and the bandleader Jack Hylton.[12] Reubens told the assembled press that he had heard two plasterers singing, and was so impressed that had introduced them to Hylton, who was going to sign them up to sing with his band. The ruse worked, and nearly every newspaper carried the story, helping to establish the brothers as a name.[1]
The Pearsons were invited by John Logie Baird to appear on BBC Television twice weekly, when the medium was in its infancy. Consequently, they became the first duo to be seen on the small screen.[3] The shows were produced at Baird's studio in Long Acre, in central London.[8] Alf later recalled, "There were only about 400 sets in the country and the picture was the size of a cigarette card."[3] They were also engaged for a six-week season at the London Coliseum, and began to make a name for themselves, appearing at the country's top theatres.[8]
Despite their initial setback with Columbia, the brothers had also started a prolific recording career, with regular releases during the early 1930s on
The Pearsons recorded several songs in the 1930s which would prove durable when revived by other artists in later decades: "
Post-war years
Following the war, the establishment of the
Ray's a Laugh, starring Ted Ray, began on Monday 4 April 1949 at 7.30 pm, and was broadcast weekly on the Home Service, as well as being repeated on the Light Programme. It was later moved to Tuesday and then Thursday nights, with Bob and Alf Pearson as regular stars. The show also featured a young Peter Sellers.[18][19] During the show, they would sing songs and appear in sketches, most notably with Bob playing the part of a little girl, 'Jennifer'.[3] Another part of the show would feature a comedic dialogue between the fictional Mrs 'Oskins and her friend Ivy, with the former announcing, "Oooh, it's agony Ivy!"[7] The Pearsons' last appearance on the programme was in July 1951.[20]
In July 1949, shortly after their Ray's a Laugh debut, the duo's first recordings in over ten years were issued on the
During 1953, the Pearsons were regulars in The Pleasure Boat, a Light Programme series which also starred Anne Shelton and Julie Andrews. They were later joined by future Doctor Who star Jon Pertwee heading the cast. In the early 1950s, they continued to make regular appearances on radio shows such as Blackpool Night, The Frankie Howerd Show, Midday Music-Hall, Workers' Playtime and Variety Playhouse. There were also a number of BBC Television broadcasts: in 1955 and 1956 they starred in two one-off programmes in which they sung songs written by members of the public.[20][21][22] With the dawn of rock and roll in the mid-1950s, their work dried up. However, they remained active as performers, and from 1958 to 1960 they had a regular slot on Join in and Sing, in which they were heard "singing songs you all know" on the Light Programme.[23]
The Pearsons' association with the Light Programme continued into the 1960s, via appearances on shows such as Music Hall and A Night at the Music Hall. In 1966, they featured on Looking High, High, High, a series hosted by
In the 1970s, the Pearsons were amongst the stars of Those Golden Years of Music Hall, a variety show at Eastbourne. Alongside a varying cast which included Elsie and Doris Waters, fellow Sunderland performer Nat Jackley, Walter Landauer, Leslie Sarony and Lester Ferguson, it did five summer seasons in the seaside resort.[9] The show also toured at the end of each season, reaching South Africa, Rhodesia, New Zealand and Canada.[8]
Personal lives
Bob married Vera Pauline Johnson (1905–1993) in Sunderland on 8 June 1932. Alf did not marry, remarking, "My brother's wife, Vera, wasn't very open to the idea of there being another lady. I liked the company of girls and girls liked me as well. But Vera didn't want another lady in with Bob and Alf Pearson."[1]
Later years and deaths
In October 1985, the brothers sang a medley of World War II songs on the television series Highway, hosted by Harry Secombe.[9] Bob died in his home town of Sunderland ten weeks later, aged 78, bringing the curtain down on their act after more than 50 years.[5][27]
Alf appeared in the pilot episode of the BBC television sitcom
In 2007, after 30 years living on his own in Surbiton, Alf moved into Brinsworth House in Twickenham, the retirement home for showbusiness professionals in south-west London. It was here that, in 2010, he celebrated his 100th birthday with a party held by the Water Rats.[10] He died in London on 7 July 2012, at the age of 102.[3]
Discography
Aside from their numerous 78rpm singles, there have been three albums collecting recordings by Bob and Alf Pearson – all titled My Brother and I after the opening of their Ray's a Laugh signature tune. They recorded no studio albums.
Compilation albums
- My Brother And I (Evergreen Melodies EVR27, cassette, c.1990s)
- My Brother And I (Rollercoaster RCCD 6005, CD, 2001)
- My Brother And I (Windyridge VAR89, CD, 2018)
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 9781783408832.
- ^ "Obituaries". The Stage. 16 January 1986. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Leigh, Spencer (10 September 2012). "Alf Pearson: Singer who moved successfully from music hall and variety". The Independent. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Their Songs Go Round The World" (PDF). Radio Review: 12. 16 May 1936.
- ^ a b c Baker, Richard Anthony (20 July 2012). "Alf Pearson – Obituaries". The Stage. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
- ^ "Alf Pearson". It's a Funny Business. 21 September 1986. BBC Radio 2.
- ^ a b c d e Bickerdyke, Percy (Autumn 1993). ""My Brother and I..." (Bob & Alf Pearson)". Evergreen Melodies. Evergreen.
- ^ a b c d e f Wappat, Frank (Summer 1990). "Bob and Alf Pearson". Memory Lane.
- ^ a b c d e Stoner, Sarah (20 July 2012). "Sunderland singer takes his final curtain at 102". Sunderland Echo. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
- ^ a b Kilvington, Joanna. "Entertainer Alf Pearson reaches 100". Richmond and Twickenham Times. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
- ^ "Desert Island Discs – Bob & Alf Pearson". BBC Sounds. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- ^ "Plastering brothers cause furore with their voices" (Press release). London. Planet News. 31 January 1930.
- ^ a b "Bob And Alf Pearson 78 RPM – Discography – UK – 78 RPM". 45worlds.com. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
- ISBN 0902470159.
- ^ "Search – BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
- ^ "Search Results: 'bob alf pearson' – British Pathé". British Pathé. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Search Results". BBC Genome. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- ^ "Issue 1329". BBC. 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
- ^ "Search Results – BBC Genome". BBC. 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Search Results". BBC Genome. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "Search Results". BBC Genome. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- ^ "Search Results – BBC Genome". Radio Times. 5 February 1954. p. 19. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
- ^ "Search Results". BBC Genome. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- ^ "Search Results". BBC Genome. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 – Desert Island Discs, Bob & Alf Pearson". BBC. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
- ^ "Collections Search – BFI – British Film Institute". collections-search.bfi.org.uk. BFI. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- ^ "Robert Alexander Pearson – England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837–2007". FamilySearch. Intellectual Reserve. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
- ^ "Su Online : You Rang, M'Lord? – Full Episode Guide". www.toyah.net. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "Bob & Alf Pearson CD: My Brother And I (CD)". Bear Family Records.
External links
- Grand Order of Water Rats biography
- Windyridge CDs – Bob and Alf Pearson – My Brother and I – VAR89
- Old Time Medley – singing a British Pathéarchive which feature the duo.
- Bob and Alf Pearson discography at Discogs
- Bob Pearson at IMDb
- Alf Pearson at IMDb