Al Bowlly

Al Bowlly was the most popular vocalist in Britain during the 1930s, making more than 1000 recordings between 1927 and 1941. Al was born on January 7, 1899 in Mozambique to Greek and Lebanese parents, raised in Johannesburg, South Africa a

Al Bowlly was the most popular vocalist in Britain during the 1930s, making more than 1000 recordings between 1927 and 1941. Al was born on January 7, 1899 in Mozambique to Greek and Lebanese parents, raised in Johannesburg, South Africa and killed by the explosion of a parachute mine outside his apartment in London on April 17, 1941.

Al Bowlly showcased a range of material unsurpassed by any contemporary other than Bing Crosby. He was also a true international recording artist. He gained his musical experience singing for a dance band led by Jimmy Liquime in India and Singapore during the mid-1920s. Just one year after his 1927 debut recording date in Berlin, Bowlly arrived in London for the first time in 1931, 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 and their recordings achieved popularity in the USA; 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).