Will Fyffe

WILL FYFFE d1947. Scottish music hall artist, a star of the 1930s and 1940s, on stage, screen and records. He made his debut in his father's stock company at the age of six. He travelled extensively throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK, playing the numerous music halls of the time, where he performed his sketches and sang his songs in his own inimitable style. During the 1930s, he was one of the highest paid musical hall artistes in Britain. In addition, he appeared in 23 major films of the era (American and British). His singer-songwriter skills are still well-known today, particularly his own composition, "I Belong To Glasgow". This song has been covered by Danny Kaye, Eartha Kitt, Gracie Fields and Kirk Douglas : "If your money, you spend, You've nothing to lend, Isn't that all the better for you"
As a result of this song, he became forever associated with Glasgow, even though he was born 70 miles (110 km) away in the east coast city of Dundee, where a street bears his surname. He left some rare footage of his stage act, which gives us a glimpse of stage life in those times. In the footage, he performs the "Broomielaw" sketch and sings his song "Twelve and a Tanner a Bottle". The footage came about as a result of a screen test, shot for Pathe in New York in 1929. He died whilst staying at Rusacks Hotel in St Andrews. After a few too many the 62 year old star fell from a window in the hotel on 14th December 1947. It is unknown if this fall was sheer accident or if he was taking his own life