George Formby Sr
(4 October 1875 — 8 February 1921)
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Alternative Names/Transliterations: James Lawler Booth, George Formby
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A massively famous music hall singer, and widely regarded as one of the best of his kind. His childhood was a sad and tragic one. His mother was a prostitute and was absent from home almost always, usually being arrested and held at the police station. Her marriage to his father was extremely turbulent, and George suffered from abuse as a result. Sleeping outside due to his mother's absence led to asthma, which led to bronchitis. This with the frantic lifestyle of a music hall artist was a ticking time bomb, and he died at 45 from TB brought on by said child abuse. You can hear his poor health in his later recordings. His breathless voice and coughing fits (which he would later incorporate into the act) were captured on them. It's obvious he is tired and in great pain, but he was working to make sure the family had money when he died. He left £25,000 in his will when he died, so it thankfully paid off. He is largely forgotten today, with his ukulele-playing son coming far more to mind.
