Song Writers

Fred Gilbert

Fred Gilbert, another celebrated songwriter of the earlier period, spent his whole life in the business of entertainment, playing as a child at the Adelphi Theatre, and becoming later a chorister at Evans's Supper Rooms.

He wrote a song for MacDermott which caused a considerable flutter for it dealt with an unfortunate scandal involving Sir Charles Dilke, a very prominent politician. The song was called "Charlie Dilke"; it could not have been sung today.

Gilbert's best known song, written for Charles Coborn, was the immortal "The Man Who Broke the Bank."

He also wrote for Herbert Campbell. Richard Morton is best remembered because he wrote the words of the English version of the American "Ta-Ra-RaBoom-de-Ay" for Lottie Collins.

He wrote many other famous songs, "The Dandy Coloured Coon" for Stratton, for instance and was also responsible for the music of a most artistic arrangement of L'Enfant Prodigue.

"The Melodies Linger On" by Walter Macqueen-Pope