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b. 4 August 1870,
Portobello, near Edinburgh, Scotland, d. 26 February 1950, Strathaven,
Scotland. This popular singer, comedian and composer was a minstrel of
the British music halls. The son of a potter, Lauder worked in a flax mill,
and for 10 years in a coal mine. He made his first stage appearance in
1882, and continued to perform as an amateur, before turning professional
in 1894. After touring Scotland in concert parties, he ventured to England,
first with appearances in the Newcastle area, and then London, where he
made his debut at Gatti's, Westminster in 1900. A short, stocky, bandy-legged
figure, dressed in the tartan kilt complete with sporran, and carrying
his "crummock" (a stick with a curved head), Lauder exuded vitality
and good humour. He sang his own songs, such as "Tobermory" and "The
Lass Of Killiecrankie", and performed a sketch about an Irish tailor
named "Callaghan". Despite his Scottish burr amid what was basically
a Cockney form of entertainment, Lauder soon became one of the leading
figures and highest paid entertainers in such London music halls as the
Oxford, Royal Holborn and London Pavilion. In 1908 he performed for King
Edward VII at Rufford Abbey. He toured abroad, including the USA, and had
his first record hit there in 1907 with his theme song, "I Love A
Lassie", followed (through until 1916) with "The Wedding Of Sandy
McNab", "When I Get Back To Bonnie Scotland", "She
Is My Daisy", "He Was Very Kind To Me", "Stop Your
Tickling Jock", "The Bounding Bounder", "We Parted
On the Shore", "The Blarney Stone", "Roamin' In The
Gloamin'", "The Picnic (Every Laddy Loves A Lassie)", "She's
The Lass For Me" and "My Bonnie, Bonnie Jean". Several of
those were his own songs, written mostly in collaboration with Gerald Grafton.
Others included "Early In The Morning", "The Last Of The
Sandies", "The Saftest O' The Family", "Bonnie Hielan
Mary", "Glasgow Belongs To Me", "That's The Reason
Noo I Wear A Kilt", "A Wee Deoch-An-Doris", "It's Nice
To Get Up In The Morning" and the rousing "End Of The Road".
During World War I, Lauder raised large sums of money for charity through his concerts, entertained the troops on the French front and, in 1919, received a knighthood for his services. He lost his only son in the conflict. In 1916 he starred in Harry Gratton's revue, Three Cheers, at London's Shaftesbury Theatre, and during the 20s and 30s continued to appear in variety theatres in London and the provinces, as well as touring South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and the Dominions. In 1932 he made his 25th tour of the USA.
Lauder also made several films, including Huntingtower (1927), Auld Lang Syne (1929) and the musical, The End Of The Road (1936). He wrote several novels and collected his own reminiscences in Harry Lauder: At Home And On Tour. Other books included Roamin' In The Gloamin', A Minstrel In France and Wee Drappies. His biographies included Great Scot: The Life Of Sir Harry Lauder by G. Irving. Vocal evidence of his pre-eminence in the music hall era, rivalled only, perhaps, by Dan Leno, has been preserved on several recent compilations. After his death, the Harry Lauder Society continued to flourish, with members throughout the world. In 1991, over 40 years later, the Society became affiliated to the Clyde Valley Tourist Board.
During World War I, Lauder raised large sums of money for charity through his concerts, entertained the troops on the French front and, in 1919, received a knighthood for his services. He lost his only son in the conflict. In 1916 he starred in Harry Gratton's revue, Three Cheers, at London's Shaftesbury Theatre, and during the 20s and 30s continued to appear in variety theatres in London and the provinces, as well as touring South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and the Dominions. In 1932 he made his 25th tour of the USA.
Lauder also made several films, including Huntingtower (1927), Auld Lang Syne (1929) and the musical, The End Of The Road (1936). He wrote several novels and collected his own reminiscences in Harry Lauder: At Home And On Tour. Other books included Roamin' In The Gloamin', A Minstrel In France and Wee Drappies. His biographies included Great Scot: The Life Of Sir Harry Lauder by G. Irving. Vocal evidence of his pre-eminence in the music hall era, rivalled only, perhaps, by Dan Leno, has been preserved on several recent compilations. After his death, the Harry Lauder Society continued to flourish, with members throughout the world. In 1991, over 40 years later, the Society became affiliated to the Clyde Valley Tourist Board.