Gifford Folkard (1877 – 8 January 1960), known professionally as Harry Gifford, was an English songwriter. He worked from the 1900s but is best known for his work in the 1930s co-writing songs with

Fred E. Cliffe Frederick Cliffe Howchin (11 April 1885 – 22 September 1957), known professionally as Fred E. Cliffe, was an English songwriter, best known for his work co-writing songs with Harry Gifford for entertainer George Formby. He was born in Liverp ...

for entertainer

George Formby George Formby, (born George Hoy Booth; 26 May 1904 – 6 March 1961) was an English actor, singer-songwriter and comedian who became known to a worldwide audience through his films of the 1930s and 1940s. On stage, screen and record he s ...

. He was born and grew up in

Dalston Dalston () is an area of East London, in the London Borough of Hackney. It is northeast of Charing Cross. Dalston began as a hamlet on either side of Dalston Lane, and as the area urbanised the term also came to apply to surrounding areas includ ...

, London (not in Plymouth as sometimes claimed), and after working as a salesman became a writer of popular songs for

music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as variety. Perceptions of a distinction in Bri ...

artistes. His early co-writes with other writers included "I Like Your Old French Bonnet" (with Tom Mellor and Alf J. Lawrance, 1906, performed by Harry Fay), "If I hadn't got a girl like you" (with Mellor and Lawrance, 1907, performed by

Gordon Stretton Gordon Stretton (5 June 1887 – 3 May 1983), born William Masters, was an English singer, dancer and musical director of mixed Irish and Jamaican descent. He became one of the first Liverpool-based musicians to gain international acclaim,Dani ...

), "She Sells Seashells" (with Terry Sullivan, 1908, performed by

Wilkie Bard Wilkie Bard (born William August Smith) (19 March 1874 – 5 May 1944) was a popular British vaudeville and music hall entertainer and recording artist at the beginning of the 20th century. He is best known for his songs "I Want to Sing in Opera" ...

), "My Indiana Queen" and "She's somebody's sweet heart" (both with Mellor, 1909, performed by Gordon Stretton), "There's a brown gal way down in Old Dahomey" (with Mellor, 1910, performed by Gordon Stretton), "It’s Nice To Have A Friend" (with Mellor, 1913, performed by

Florrie Forde Flora May Augusta Flannagan ( Flannagan; 16 August 187518 April 1940), known professionally as Florrie Forde, was an Australian popular singer and music hall entertainer. From 1897 she lived and worked in the United Kingdom. She was one of the ...

), "Hey Ho! Can’t You Hear the Steamer?" (with

Fred Godfrey Fred Godfrey (17 September 1880 – 22 February 1953) was the pen name of Llewellyn Williams, a World War I songwriter. He is best known for the songs " Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty" (1916) and " Bless 'Em All" (1917), a 1940s hit reco ...

, 1913, performed by

Ella Retford Elinor Maud Dawe ( Flanagan, 2 July 1885 – 29 June 1962), who used the stage name Ella Retford, was an English music hall comedian, singer and dancer, and later a stage and film actress. Biography She was born in Sunderland (not Ireland, ...

), "When It's Apple Blossom Time in Normandy" (with Mellor and Huntley Trevor, 1913), "All the Boys in Khaki Get the Nice Girls" (with Mellor, 1915), and "Save Your Kisses Till The Boys Come Home" (with Godfrey and Mellor, 1915). "Harry Gifford (1876–1960)", ''Fred Godfrey Songs''
Retrieved 25 August 2020 Gifford re-emerged in the 1930s as a songwriter for

, working in particular with

. Their most popular songs include " Fanlight Fanny" (1935), "

With My Little Stick of Blackpool Rock "With My Little Stick of Blackpool Rock" is a popular song by English entertainer George Formby, who recorded it in 1937. It was written by his regular songwriting team of Harry Gifford and Fred E. Cliffe, with input from Formby himself. The so ...

" (1936), "

When I'm Cleaning Windows "When I'm Cleaning Windows" is a comedy song performed by Lancastrian comic, actor and ukulele player George Formby. It first appeared in the 1936 film ''Keep Your Seats, Please''. The song was credited as written by Formby, Harry Gifford and ...

" (1936), "It’s Turned Out Nice Again" (1939), "Mr. Wu’s a Window Cleaner Now" (1939), "

Imagine Me in the Maginot Line "Imagine Me in the Maginot Line" (sometimes "Imagine Me on the Maginot Line") is a 1939 comedy song written by Harry Gifford and Fred E. Cliffe for the comedian George Formby. Formby recorded it on 17 December for Regal Zonophone Records. The ti ...

" (1939) and "Bunty’s Such A Big Girl Now" (1943), some of which also included Formby's name as a co-writer. He contributed songs to many of Formby's films. In 1960, aged 82, Gifford died at home in

Streatham Streatham ( ) is a district in south London, England. Centred south of Charing Cross, it lies mostly within the London Borough of Lambeth, with some parts extending into the neighbouring London Borough of Wandsworth. Streatham was in Surrey ...

. He was unmarried and lived with his sister. "Harry Gifford the Songwriter", ''The Stage'', 14 January 1960, p.7
Retrieved 25 August 2020

References

1877 births 1960 deaths English songwriters {{songwriter-stub