Max Bygraves
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| Max Bygraves | |
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 Max Bygraves - CD cover.
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| Born | 16 October 1922 Rotherhithe, London, England, UK |
Max Bygraves OBE (born 16 October 1922 in Rotherhithe, London as Walter William Bygraves) is an English singer songwriter, famous for his waving hands. He appeared on his own television shows, sometimes performing comedy sketches between songs. Shows he presented included the gameshow Family Fortunes.
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[edit] Life
Max Bygraves was the son of poor parents in London's East End docklands. His father was a professional boxer known as Battling Tom Smith, and a casual dockworker. Max went to St. Joseph's Primary school in Rotherhithe. Max showed talent as a child singer and performed a solo in Westminster Cathedral. He left school at 14 and became a messenger for W. S. Crawford, an advertising agency in High Holborn. When World War two broke out the advertising business collapsed and Max learnt the trade of carpenter and then volunteered for the RAF. It was his impression of Max Miller that earned him the nickname Max from other airmen. He married WAAF sergeant Blossom Murray in 1942. He was increasingly called upon to perform in concert parties wherever he was posted.
After the war the BBC asked him to perform in a demob show called They're Out with other wartime new talent such as Frankie Howerd, Benny Hill, Jimmy Edwards, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan.
This opened the way to a career in light entertainment. In 1951 he appeared at the London Palladium. Comedian Eric Sykes became his scriptwriter. He got the part of the tutor in the BBC radio comedy show Educating Archie where Archie was a ventriloquist's dummy. This made his name nationally and he appeared in a Royal Variety Show. Judy Garland invited him to support her for a season in New York.
He starred in many films notably as Charlie Moon in the film of that name. He also made a series of hit records including ten albums under the title Singalongamax.
He was awarded the OBE in 1982. In the 1990s he bought an 84 acre property in northern New South Wales, Australia called Attunga Park.
He semi retired from the UK in 2002, with a tour finishing with a sell out concert in Bournemouth, with the Beverley Sisters. However Max returned in 2005, playing his final UK concerts in September 2006.
[edit] Trivia
In TV comedy series Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere, it was revealed in episode four of series one that Max's real name is Maxwell Bygraves as his mum was 'a big fan'.
[edit] Catch phrases
Max Bygraves is known for the following catch phrases;
- I want to tell you a story
- That's a good idea, - SON!
- I've arrived - and to prove it, I'm here!
- Let's play BIG MONEY (while hosting Family Fortunes)
[edit] UK chart singles
The below singles all made the UK top 75 sales charts
- Cowpuncher's Cantata (1952)
- (The Gang That Sang) Heart Of My Heart (1954)
- Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen By The Sea (1954)
- Mister Sandman (1955)
- Meet Me On The Corner (1955)
- The Ballad Of Davy Crockett (1956)
- Out Of Town (1956)
- Heart (1957)
- You Need Hands / Tulips From Amsterdam (1958)
- Little Train / Gotta Have Rain (1958)
- My Ukelele (1959): Jingle Bell Rock (1959)
- Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'be (1960)
- Consider Yourself (1960)
- Bells Of Avignon (1951)
- You're My Everything (1969)
- Deck Of Cards (1973)
- White Christmas (1989)
[edit] Film parts
- Bless 'Em All (1949) playing Tommy Anderson
- Skimpy in the Navy (1949) playing Tommy Anderson
- Tom Brown's Schooldays (1951) playing a Coach Guard
- Charley Moon (1956) playing Charley Moon
- A Cry from the Streets (1958) playing Bill Lowther
... aka A Cry from the Street (reissue title)
- Bobbikins (1960) playing Benjamin Barnaby
- Spare the Rod (1961) playing John Saunders
| Preceded by Bob Monkhouse |
Host of Family Fortunes 1983- 1985 |
Succeeded by Les Dennis |
[edit] Autobiography
- Max Bygraves in his own words , Breedon Books Publishing (1997) ISBN 1-85983-079-X
[edit] External links
- Official website
- The making of MAX BYGRAVES Biographical summary based on his autobiography.
- BBC's own list of his work with them
- Detailed discography at Chartwatch
- Entry at the Internet Movie Database (IMB)
