Fred Godfrey
Fred Godfrey | |
|---|---|
| Born | Llewellyn Williams 17 September 1880 Swansea, Wales |
| Died | 22 February 1953 (aged 72) Pinner, London, England |
| Pen name | Eddie Stamper, Don Grahame, Edward E. Elton |
| Occupation | Songwriter |
| Nationality | British |
| Genre | Music |
| Spouse | Bertha Lloyd |
Fred Godfrey (17 September 1880 – 22 February 1953) was the pen name of Llewellyn Williams, a
Early life
Llewellyn Williams was born on 17 September 1880 in Swansea. He was one of the sons of Robert Williams, an auctioneer, and Maria Jane Knight, a sailor's daughter. They had married in 1864 in Caernarvon.[1]
On 1 July 1901 he married Bertha Lloyd. (One of her cousins was
Career
Between 1900 and 1953 he wrote over 800 songs.
Godfrey could write and arrange music as well as write lyrics. He also played the piano. He began selling songs around 1906, with his first success a year later, when he teamed up with lyricist
During World War I, he gained a reputation as a writer of war songs. His song "Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty" was recorded by Dorothy Ward in 1916 and quickly became a hit. On 26 January 1917 he was conscripted into the Royal Naval Air Service. He was transferred to the Royal Air Force in 1918, who released him from service to continue songwriting. In 1917, while he was away in the RNAS, "Down Texas Way", a song he had written the year, before was published and become a success. He is also credited with writing the lyric for "Bless 'Em All" in 1917.[1][3]
After World War I popular music styles changed, and he became less successful.
In 1930, he played in a variety act featuring his hit songs with Irish tenor
In October 1939, Godfrey's wife died from cancer at the age of 59.[1]
In November 1940, Formby's recording of "Bless 'Em All" was released. After World War I, it had become a kind of unofficial anthem of the RAF. The recording was an immediate success. Formby recorded a second version in early 1941, with new lyrics by Godfrey.[1]
Godfrey spent his last years living with his eldest daughter in the North London suburb of Pinner. He died in a London hospital in 1953, still writing new song ideas. He is buried in Pinner New Cemetery. His will left £202.[1][3]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Norris, Barry. "A Biography of Fred Godfrey (1880–1953)". Bless 'Em All: The Songs of Fred Godfrey. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
- ^ "Australia's Billy Williams". MOVE. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ a b Stewart, Laverne. "Musical legacy - The man nobody knew made everybody sing". Daily Gleaner. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
External links
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