George Leybourne

Infobox performer
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name = George Leybourne

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imagesize = 250px
caption = "Lounging in the Aq" (Royal Aquarium), sheet music cover
birthname = Joe Sanders
birthdate = 1842
location = Newcastle upon Tyne
deathdate = 15 September 1884 (aged 42)
deathplace = Islington
othername = "Champagne Charlie"
homepage =
genre = music hall vocalist
spouse =

Joe Sanders (1842 – 15 September 1884), better known as George Leybourne, was an English music hall performer. Often nicknamed "Champagne Charlie", Leybourne is best-remembered as the lyricist for "The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze".

Career

Leybourne was born in Newcastle, and became a factory worker in Birmingham. He began a career in the northern music halls, with the song "Villikins and His Dinah". His first professional appearance in London was at the "Whitechapel Music Hall" in 1864.

"Champagne Charlie" was first performed at the Sun Music Hall, Knightsbridge in 1867. He entered in top hat and tails, dressed as a "swell" in immaculate evening dress, with gloves, cane, and scarf, waving a bottle of vintage Moet & Chandon. Leybourne's rival Alfred Vance introduced a number called "Cliquot", starting a fierce competition between the two which culminated with Vance's rendition of "Beautiful Beer". Their style introduced a new genre to the music hall, known as "Lion Comique".

Leybourne wrote the lyrics for many popular hits of the time, including "The Flying Trapeze" (now known as "The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze"), which was published in 1867 with music by Gaston Lyle, arranged by Alfred Lee.

Leybourne also wrote the lyrics to the 1871 song "If Ever I Cease To Love" that is remembered today because of its association with Mardi Gras in New Orleans. It became the signature song for the Rex Krewe. The song was sung in England by Lydia Thompson, who included it in her burlesque show "Bluebeard", which she then toured in the United States. Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff saw it and was fascinated by the song, the songstress, or both. He visited New Orleans in 1872, and the king of Carnival directed that all bands in the Rex parade would play "the Royal Anthem", "If Ever I Cease To Love". It remains permanently associated with Rex, and is a New Orleans carnival standard.In 1866, Leybourne began his career of making celebrity endorsements for Champagne. The Champagne maker "Moet" commissioned him to write and perform songs extolling the virtues of Champagne, especially as a reflection of taste, affluence, and the good life. He also agreed to drink nothing but Champagne in public. His efforts did much to establish Champagne as an important element in conspicuous consumption.

George Leybourne's daughter Florrie married Music-Hall performer Albert Chevalier and was the inspiration for Chevalier's hit "My Old Dutch".

Leybourne died penniless in Islington and is buried at Abney Park Cemetery in Stoke Newington, London. Some time later, a headstone was erected by Dan Leno, and the Grand Order of Water Rats, with the epitaph, "God's finger touched him and he slept". His daughter, son-in-law and grandson were also interred in the grave on their deaths [ [http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Burials.htm "Music Hall burials" (Arthur Lloyd)] accessed 29 Oct 2007] .

References

Persondata
NAME= Leybourne, George
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Sanders, Joe
SHORT DESCRIPTION=
DATE OF BIRTH= 1842
PLACE OF BIRTH= Newcastle upon Tyne
DATE OF DEATH= 15 September 1884 (aged 42)
PLACE OF DEATH= Islington