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Eric Morecambe was
of course famous as one half of the variety and
TV comedy duo Morecambe
and Wise.
Their hugely popular and successful TV shows made
them a favourite of millions, and thanks to
repeat broadcasts and videos the boys are still
making us laugh today. But
did you know Eric was a uke player? Mike Mitchell
has provided two photos (left) which show Eric
Morecambe strumming a banjo uke. The first (dated
1932) is of Eric with his parents George and
Sadie. The second ('do not adjust your set' - the
picture quality is terrible!) is dated 1938.
Can
anyone give us more information about Eric
Morecambe's use of the ukulele please? Did he
play it on stage... and was he a good musician?
He certainly was a genius of comedy and a great
performer, so chances are he learnt the uke to a
competent level! Let's hope someone can tell us
more!
Please
click here to e-mail!
ELIZABETH
TAIT of the Eric Morecambe Fan Club writes...
As far as I am
aware Eric didn't play the ukelele a great deal.
He was taught to play,along with other musical
intruments, at his mother's insistence. She
always instilled in Eric to learn as many
instruments as possible and he ended up being a
passable pianist because of it. He really could
play although he would tell everyone otherwise -
to the point of denying it! GRAHAM McCANN,
Morecambe & Wise biographer states that for Eric, 'George
Formby became something of a personal hero,' and
also describes how his mother persuaded him to
take up 'the piano, the clarinet, the trumpet,
the euphonium, the accordion and the mandolin!'
| Eric's final
performance was at the Roses Theatre,
Tewkesbury on 28 May 1984, and also on
the bill was Alan Randall, famous for his
multi-instrumental act featuring a George
Formby impersonation. Ian Gridgeman has
sent in this great photo, which was taken
just before the show, of Eric playing
Alan's Gibson UB3 banjo-uke, previously
owned by Formby. |
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