TOM CLARE

TOM CLARE was a popular music hall singer, composer of comedy songs, sketches and an accomplished pianist.

 

He was born on 26th September 1876 in Holloway, London.

 

He was the son of GEORGE CLARE, the famous female impersonator and 'prima donna' of the Mohawk Minstrels.   

 

As a child Tom was a soloist in the choir of the Brompton Oratory and St Peter's Italian Church, Hatton Garden  and was a member of an Opera company. 

 

 

He made his first theatre appearance aged eight with his father in a Mowhawk Minstrel show at the Agricultural Hall, Islington.

 

A series of concert appearances followed before he made his first professional appearance at the Tivoli in April 1900.  

 

Tom went on to appear in every leading London and provincial Hall including the Moss and Stoll circuit.

 

He was a fine performer, always impeccably dressed, often wearing a monocle, sitting at his piano to perform songs and monologues, many of which he composed himself.  

 

Tom Clare also toured South Africa and Australia. 

 

Aside from his work as an entertainer Tom was a prominent freemason and had held high office with the Savage Club Lodge and Lyric Lodge.   He would often use his talent to help raise funds for charities and good causes, even after retirement.

 

He passed away on 29th January 1946 at The Royal Masonic Hospital in Hammersmith and was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium.

 

TOM CLARE'S SONG INCLUDE:

 

ABSOLUTELY WRONG

A FISHY, FISHY, FISHY STORY

AM I WRONG OR AM I RIGHT?

THE ANGEL AND THE CHILD

ARGENTINES AND GREEKS

AT HOME

THE AWFULLY CHAP

BACK TO METHUSELAH

BEAUTIFUL GIRLIE GIRLS

BOYS OF THE FIRE BRIGADE

BRITANNIA'S LULLABY

BY AEROPLANE

CAPTAIN CUTTS OF THE CRUISER "WHATS NOT"

CHEER BOYS, CHEER!

COHEN ON THE TELEPHONE

COME AND JAZZ WITH ME

COME TO LONDON TOWN

COME WITH ME TO THE SEA

CYNTHIA

DO IT NOW

DOHERTY

FAMILIARITY

THE FINE OLD ENGLISH GENTLEMAN

FRITZ

THE FOOD BRIGADE

FOOTBALL

THE GAY RIVER

THE GERMAN AT THE TELEPHONE

THE GIRL IN CHINTZ

THE GIRL IN THE BIG BLACK HAT

GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND

HARRY AND CARRIE

THE HINDENBURG

HUM A LITTLE TUNE

HUSH A BYE BABY

THE IDEAL HOME

IF I WERE BLIND

IF YOU'D ONLY TOLD ME

I HAD A LITTLE GARDEN

I'M MY WIFE'S FIRST HUSBAND, BUT WHEN I', AWAY I'M ME

IN ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO

IN MY MUSEUM

IT ISN'T DONE

IS IT DONE IN SUBURBIA?

IS IT LIKELY?

IT'S REFINED

I'VE SEEN IT ON THE PICTURES

LOVE, IF YOU'D ONLY TOLD ME CLAIRE

THE MILITARY REPRESENTATIVE

MY BEAUTY EYEGLASS

THE NIGHT WHEN THE OLD COW DIED

THE NIGHT LIGHT

ON THE DAY WHEN THE WORLD GOES DRY

ONE LITTLE, ONE MORE

ONCE THE KAISER'S ARMY

PARLIAMENTARY SMOKING CONCERT

PERCY WAS PAINFULLY PALE

SEVEN YEARS HARD

SILLY ASS!

SOUVENIRS

SUBURBAN GIRLS

SYBIL

TAKING REGARD

THANKS VERY MUCH!

THIS FREEDOM (MY WIFE IS AWAY!)

WALTZING WILLIE

THE WAY TO TREAT YOUR PARENTS

WE OUGHT TO BE THANKFUL FOR THAT!

WE'LL SIGH FOR THE DAYS OF THE WAR

WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE GREAT WAR DADDY?

WHERE DOES DADDY GO?

WHO BASHED BILL KAISER?

WHEN THEY MADE IT SUMMERTIME IN BALLYMOONEY

WINKELHEIMER'S MOTOR RIDE (A monologue)

WOMEN'S WAY

WON'T YOU WALTZ WITH ME?

YOU MEET THEM PROMENADING