Victoria Annie Monks (1 November 1884 – 26 January 1927) was a British

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 ...

singer of the early 20th century. During the Edwardian and First World War eras she performed and recorded popular songs such as "Take Me Back to London Town" and "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey".

Life and career

Monks was born in

Blackpool Blackpool is a seaside resort in Lancashire, England. Located on the North West England, northwest coast of England, it is the main settlement within the Borough of Blackpool, borough also called Blackpool. The town is by the Irish Sea, betw ...

, Lancashire on 1 November 1884, the daughter of Charles Monks. She was educated in both England and Belgium. In 1899 she made her first stage appearance as "Little Victoria"; her first appearance in London was at the Oxford Music Hall on 9 March 1903. She went on to appear in all the leading Music Halls, both in London and the provinces. She married the American songwriter and Music Hall manager Karl F. Hooper and by 1911, they were living in

Lambeth Lambeth () is a district in South London, England, in the London Borough of Lambeth, historically in the County of Surrey. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The population of the London Borough of Lambeth was 303,086 in 2011. The area expe ...

, London with a daughter. In 1915 she was prevented from working following an accident which involved a stage door at one of the Moss Empires theatres; she became bankrupt shortly afterwards. She died in London in 1927 and is buried in

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery St Mary's Catholic Cemetery is located on Harrow Road, Kensal Green in London, England. It has its own Catholic chapel. History Established in 1858, the site was built next door to Kensal Green Cemetery. It is the final resting place for mo ...

near Harlesden, London. Her great-granddaughter Chloe Hooper was born in Basingstoke and grew up in

Silchester Silchester is a village and civil parish about north of Basingstoke in Hampshire. It is adjacent to the county boundary with Berkshire and about south-west of Reading. Silchester is most notable for the archaeological site and Roman town of ...

– she is both an international vocalist and Tribute Act today.

Songs and recordings

Monks performed and recorded a number of popular songs of her day. A list of some of her recordings is given below with lyricists and recording dates where known. Monks recorded for HMV and their Zonophone sister label between 1906 and 1913. and also for Pathe, Jumbo Fonotipia, Edison and Homophone. * "Ain't the Old Place Good Enough for You", ( Clarence Wainwright Murphy & D. Lipton) * "Ain't Yer Gwine to Say 'How Do'?". Recorded 1906 * "Buy Me a Home in London" * "Give My Regards to Leicester Square", ( William Hargreaves). Recorded 1906 * "Take Me Back to London Town", (Arthur Trevelyan & Harry Von Tilzer). * "Ain't I No Use, Mr Jackson?", ( Clarence Wainwright Murphy & D. Lipton). Recorded 1906 * "If You Want to Have a Row, Wait Till the Sun Shines", (William Hargreaves). Recorded 1906 * "

Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey "(Won't You Come Home) Bill Bailey", originally titled "Bill Bailey, Won't You Please.... Come Home?" is a popular song published in 1902. It is commonly referred to as simply "Bill Bailey". Its words and music were written by Hughie Cannon, an ...

?", ( Hughie Cannon) never recorded * "Brown Eyes and Blue Eyes" not recorded * "Ise Gwine Back to Jacksonville". Recorded 1906 * "Love Song". Recorded 1906 * "Open the Door". Recorded 1907 * "Hello Old Man". Recorded 1907 * "Sweet Saturday Night", (Percy Ford & J.B.Mullen). Recorded 1907 * "I'm Leaving Home". Recorded 1907 * "Moving Day", (

Andrew B. Sterling Andrew B. Sterling (August 26, 1874 – August 11, 1955) was an American lyricist. Biography Born in New York City, after he graduated from high school, he began writing songs and vaudevilles. An important event was his meeting with the compo ...

& Harry Von Tilzer). Recorded 1908 * "Hello Miss London: A Bunch of Roses", (Tom Mellor). Recorded 1913 * "The Vickey Glide", (Tom Mellor). Recorded 1913

References and notes

External links

Link to Chloe Hooper's website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Monks, Victoria 1884 births 1927 deaths Musicians from Blackpool Music hall performers British women singers Burials at St Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green 20th-century English singers 20th-century English women singers