Elsie Carlisle

Elsie Carlisle (28 January 1896 – 5 September 1977) was a popular English female singer both before and during the British dance band era of the 1920s and 1930s, showcased in her nickname of Britain's "Radio Sweetheart Number One."[1]

Elsie Carlisle
Elsie Carlisle c. 1926
Background information
Birth nameElizabeth Carlisle
Born(1896-01-28)28 January 1896
Manchester, England, UK
Died5 September 1977(1977-09-05) (aged 81)
Mayfair, London, England, UK
GenresBritish dance band
Occupation(s)Singer, actress, businesswoman
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1916-1955
Associated actsSam Browne, Ambrose

Originally from Manchester, Carlisle recorded hundreds of solo records, and also recorded with many of the big dance bands of the time, including the famous Ambrose Orchestra. She sang solo with Ambrose's Orchestra and also performed duets with Sam Browne, being hailed as one of its best singers[1] Her performance of "Home, James, and Don't Spare the Horses" with the orchestra may have helped to popularise the term. Her other most well-known song may be "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square"; she also performed with the Jack Hylton Orchestra. She made a number of appearances in film shorts and on television in the 1930s; two Pathé films are available on YouTube, a 1931 short with her singing "Alone and Afraid" and "My Canary Has Circles Under His Eyes", and an entire reel of "Radio Parade" (1933). Carlisle recorded very little after the beginning of the Second World War, and retired from the entertainment industry in about 1950. Carlisle's business interests after retirement from show business included ballroom dancing venues in south London, a company manufacturing bar accessories in Putney, London, a pub in Mayfair, central London and a hotel/pub in Wokingham in Berkshire. Carlisle lived from 1937 until her death in September 1977 in her house in Mayfair in central London.

Two songs performed by Elsie Carlisle (accompanied by Ambrose) were featured in the Dennis Potter television series Pennies From Heaven (1978).[2] "You've Got Me Crying Again" and "The Clouds Will Soon Roll By" were featured in the episode "The Sweetest Thing", with "Clouds" also heard in "Down Sunnyside Lane".

References
  1. "Elsie Carslise Biography". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  2. "Elsie Carlisle - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 6 January 2014.


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