Biography
Max Bygraves was the son of poor parents in London's East End docklands. His father was a professional boxer known as Battling Tom Smith, and a casual dockworker. He went to St. Joseph's Primary school in Rotherhithe. Max showed talent as a child singer and performed a solo in Westminster Cathedral. He left school at 14 and became a messenger for W. S. Crawford, an advertising agency in High Holborn. When World War two broke out the advertising business collapsed and Max learnt the trade of carpenter and then volunteered for the RAF. It was his impression of Max Miller that earned him the nickname Max from other airmen. He married WAAF sergeant Blossom Murray in 1942. He was increasingly called upon to perform in concert parties wherever he was posted.
After the war the BBC asked him to perform in a demob show called They're Out with other wartime new talent such as Frankie Howerd, Benny Hill, Jimmy Edwards, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan.
This opened the way to a career in light entertainment. In 1951 he appeared at the London Palladium. Comedian Eric Sykes became his scriptwriter. He got the part of the tutor in the BBC radio comedy show Educating Archie where Archie was a ventriloquist's dummy. This made his name nationally and he appeared in a Royal Variety Show. Judy Garland invited him to support her for a season in New York.
He starred in many films notably as Charlie Moon in the film of that name. He also made a series of hit records including ten albums under the title Singalongamax.
He was awarded the OBE in 1982. In the 1990s he bought an 84 acre property in northern New South Wales, Australia called Attunga Park.
His last tour was in 2002.
Catch phrases
Max Bygraves is known for the following catch phrases;
I wanna tell you a story
Thats a good idea, - SON!
I've arrived - and to prove it, I'm here!
Let's play BIG MONEY (while hosting Family Fortunes)
UK chart singles
The below singles all made the UK top 75 sales charts
Cowpuncher's Cantata (1952)
(The Gang That Sang) Heart Of My Heart (1954)
Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen By The Sea (1954)
Mister Sandman (1955)
Meet Me On The Corner (1955)
The Ballad Of Davy Crockett (1956)
Out Of Town (1956)
Heart (1957)
You Need Hands / Tulips From Amsterdam (1958)
Little Train / Gotta Have Rain (1958)
My Ukelele (1959): Jingle Bell Rock (1959)
Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'be (1960)
Consider Yourself (1960)
Bells Of Avignon (1951)
You're My Everything (1969)
Deck Of Cards (1973)
White Christmas (1989)
Film parts
Bless 'Em All (1949) playing Tommy Anderson
Skimpy in the Navy (1949) playing Tommy Anderson
Tom Brown's Schooldays (1951) playing a Coach Guard
Charley Moon (1956) playing Charley Moon
A Cry from the Streets (1958) playing Bill Lowther... aka A Cry from the Street (reissue title)
Bobbikins (1960) playing Benjamin Barnaby
Spare the Rod (1961) playing John Saunders
Autobiography
Max Bygraves in his own words , Breedon Books Publishing (1997) ISBN 185983079X
