Al Bowlly Sings 'Melancholy Baby' (1934) | British Pathé

Jazz singer Al Bowlly sings his popular hit 'Melancholy Baby' in 1934 at Pathé Studios.

Bowlly was South African (although born in Mozambique) yet he became a great star in both the UK and America during the 1930s.

Al Bowlly enjoyed over 15 big hits from 1935 to 1941, acquiring a mass radio following of millions. Tragically he was killed in the Blitz, when his home in St. James was bombed in 1941. He was 43 years old.

#BritishPathé #Music #Singer #Jazz

Al Bowlly Sings "Melancholy Baby".

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[thebarbjohn]

i was six years old when he died . I will be eighty in a few weeks.  he was a hunk .

[peterg]

They knew how to write lyrics and he knew how to perform them.

[SuperVirginiaRose]

I am 86, I grew up with this music, Mum loved it, and she played all the songs on the piano, as I do myself now. Al Bowlly will live on.xx

[kidpeligro]

This is why I have so much respect for old school musicians and singers. No enhancements, no auto tunes, nothing.
Just your voice and your instruments.
Your craft at its pure form.

[denyseaita]

To see this wonderful man sing, brings tears to my eyes, how sad that he died during that terrible second world war. I will listen to Al, everyday. In remembrance of him and for all those who died during this war and every other war. thank you for posting this beautiful memory of such a gentle man.

[stephennewcombe]

My dad may have seen the Beatles in concert, but my nan saw Al Bowlly! How I miss her.

[ishgabibble]

It makes me sad to know people like this dont exist anymore

[bonjvi]

This is high class. Amazing expressions, face and body. This is not old school anymore. This is prehistory!

[minneminsken]

Al Bowlly is my favorite singer from the time before the war. But listen the magnificent way the piano sounds!

[timanderson]

Britain's first pop star. What a voice.

[videosuperhighway]

Amazing just a guy singing, a guy playing the piano and two microphones. No protools, no special effects etc.. just perfect.

[MikeSulman]

Al Bowlly had a wonderful voice, and Monia Liter was a superb pianist.

[CBHS]

What greatness and so sad he was killed by a bomb in WW2. What a loving and happy singer, a very very talented crooner. He played guitar too. Love you Al.

⚜ I wish people would sing this sweetly, nowadays.

[chrisfrancz]

It's almost hard to imagine there was a time when a person had to sing well in order to be called a singer. I'm trying to collect all of his songs on CD.

[realQuestion]

when this guy sings...I'm just left shaking my head like "wow" at so much talent and humor and warmth that comes through

[SpringNotes]

My God ! He's so good and so is the pianist !!!  

Thank you so much to the person, who decided to film Al Bowlly and Monia Liter in 1934 !

[frannieo]

So glad to have this footage of the great Al Bowlly. My mum loved him.

[drsunshine]

Such a handsome man, and what a beautiful voice. He sang with such passion. Al Bowlly was truly one of the greats.

[rmstitanic]

Absolutely love this man's voice. A sound of a different era, when life didn't seem as fast. Music to chill to. And what an extensive list of great tunes he sung. Pure magic.