Max Bygraves

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Max Bygraves

Max Bygraves - CD cover.
Born 16 October 1922 (1922-10-16) (age 85)
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.

Contents

[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 acted in several films notably as Charley Moon in the film of that name. He also made a series of hit records including ten albums under the title Singalongamax. These albums consisted of several continuous medleys of popular songs usually linked by a common theme.

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.

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. Bygraves currently lives at Sanctuary Cove, Queensland with Blossom, his wife of 65 years.[1]

[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

[edit] Albums

[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

[edit] References

  1. ^ Huxley, John. "So strong he could crush a grape", Sydney Morning Herald, February 16, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-02-16. 

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Bob Monkhouse		 Host of Family Fortunes
1983–1985		 Succeeded by
Les Dennis