Al Bowlly was a popular singer and jazz guitarist in the 1930s, who recorded more than 1,000 songs and influenced many other vocalists. He was known for his expressive style of singing, which he called “the modern singing style”, and his ability to make himself and his listeners cry with emotion. He had a successful career in Britain and America, where he worked with famous bandleaders such as Ray Noble and Glenn Miller. He also appeared in several films, including The Big Broadcast with Bing Crosby. But his life was cut short by a tragic event during World War II, when a parachute mine exploded outside his flat in London and killed him instantly. This is the story of Al Bowlly’s cause of death and how it affected his fans and the music industry.
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Early Life and Career
Al Bowlly was born in 1898 in Mozambique, then a Portuguese colony, to Greek and Lebanese parents. He grew up in South Africa, where he had various jobs, including barber and jockey. He started singing and playing guitar in local bands, and then traveled to Asia and Europe, where he performed in different countries. He made his first record in 1927 in Berlin, a cover version of Irving Berlin’s Blue Skies. He moved to London in 1928, where he joined Fred Elizalde’s orchestra. He soon became a popular vocalist, recording with Ray Noble’s orchestra and Roy Fox’s band at the Monseigneur Restaurant. He also sang with Lew Stone’s band at the same venue, after Stone replaced Fox as the bandleader. He recorded hundreds of songs during this period, many of which became hits, such as Midnight, the Stars and You, Goodnight, Sweetheart, The Very Thought of You, and Love Is the Sweetest Thing.
Success in America and Hollywood
In 1934, Bowlly moved to New York with Ray Noble, where they continued their collaboration and gained more fame. Their recordings were well received by the American audience, and they had hits such as Blue Moon, Easy to Love, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, and My Melancholy Baby. Bowlly also had his own radio show on NBC and performed at prestigious venues such as the Rainbow Room. He also traveled to Hollywood, where he co-starred with Bing Crosby in The Big Broadcast in 1936. He sang several songs in the film, including It’s All Forgotten Now and Where Am I?. He also appeared in other films, such as The Big Broadcast of 1937 and Ali Baba Goes to Town.
Return to Britain and World War II
Bowlly returned to Britain in 1937, where he resumed his work with Lew Stone’s band. He also formed his own band, the Radio City Rhythm Makers, and recorded some solo songs. He continued to be popular among the British public, despite the outbreak of World War II in 1939. He entertained the troops and civilians with his songs, often performing in air raid shelters and underground stations. He also volunteered as a firewatcher during the Blitz. He refused to leave London, despite the danger of bombing raids. He said: “I’m going to stick it out here – after all there is nowhere else on earth like London.” According to Wikipedia, he was offered an opportunity to move to America by songwriter Jimmy Kennedy but declined.
The Fatal Night
On April 16th 1941, Bowlly gave his last performance at the Rex Cinema in Oxford Street with Jimmy Messene (with whom he had formed a double act). He took a train back to London after the show and arrived at his flat on Duke Street around midnight. He said goodbye to his chauffeur and friend Leslie Thompson (a trumpeter) who later said: “I stood on the pavement until he had reached the top of the stairs leading to his flat – then I waved goodnight.” According to Flashbak, Bowlly had planned to marry his girlfriend Marjie Fairless the next day.
At ten past three in the morning, a Luftwaffe parachute mine detonated outside his flat. The impact of the explosion was fatal, and although Bowlly’s body appeared unmarked, it had blown his bedroom door off its hinges and caused a fatal impact against his head. The caretaker found him on the floor by the side of his bed. His death was not reported by the newspapers until two days later due to wartime censorship.
The Legacy of Al Bowlly
Al Bowlly’s death shocked and saddened his fans and colleagues. His funeral was attended by hundreds of people, including many famous musicians such as Ray Noble, Lew Stone, Geraldo, Carroll Gibbons, and Ken “Snakehips” Johnson. He was buried at Hanwell Cemetery in West London. His grave was unmarked until 1972, when a headstone was erected by the Al Bowlly Circle, a fan club dedicated to his memory.
Al Bowlly’s music has survived the test of time and has been featured in many films, TV shows, and video games. Some of his songs have become classics, such as Midnight, the Stars and You, which was used in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, and Guilty, which was used in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Amelie. His voice has also inspired many other singers, such as Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Mel Torme. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest crooners of all time and a pioneer of modern singing.
Al Bowlly’s cause of death was a tragic end to a brilliant career. He left behind a legacy of beautiful songs that still touch the hearts of millions of listeners. He was a star who shone brightly in the dark times of war and a singer who made himself and others cry with emotion. He was Al Bowlly, the modern singing style.
