Florrie Forde

Biography

Florrie Forde (August 27, 1876 - 1940), born Florence Mary Flannagan, was an Australian popular singer and entertainer. She was one of the greatest stars of the early 20th Century music hall. Forde was born in Richmond, Victoria, Australia in 1876. At the age of sixteen, she ran away from home to appear on the Sydney music hall stage, taking the last name of her step-father. At the age of 21 in 1897, she left for London, to make her first appearance on the stage of the British capital city. She...

Florrie Forde (August 27, 1876 - 1940), born Florence Mary Flannagan, was an Australian popular singer and entertainer. She was one of the greatest stars of the early 20th Century music hall.

Forde was born in Richmond, Victoria, Australia in 1876. At the age of sixteen, she ran away from home to appear on the Sydney music hall stage, taking the last name of her step-father. At the age of 21 in 1897, she left for London, to make her first appearance on the stage of the British capital city. She became an immediate star, making the first of her many sound recordings in 1903.

Forde had a powerful stage presence, and specialised in songs that had powerful and memorable choruses in which the audience was encouraged to join. She married in 1909 and was soon drawing top billing, singing songs such as Down At The Old Bull And Bush and Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?. She appeared in the very first Royal Command Performance in 1912. During World War 1, her most famous songs were some of the best known of the period, including Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag and It's A Long Way To Tipperary.

Florrie Forde formed her own travelling Review in the 1920s. It provided a platform for new rising stars, the most famous being the singing duo of Flanagan and Allen. She collapsed and died after singing for troops in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1940.

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