Alfred Vance
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| Alfred Vance | ||
 Sheet music for Walking in the Zoo |
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name: | Alfred Peek Stevens | |
| Date of birth: | 1839 | |
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| Birth location: | London | |
| Date of death: | December 26, 1888 | |
| Death location: | Sun Music Hall, Knightsbridge | |
| Other names: | The Great Vance Alfred Grenville |
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| Genres: | Music hall vocalist | |
Alfred Peek Stevens (1839 – December 26, 1888) was born in London. He adopted the stage name Alfred Vance and performed as an English singer, in the 19th Century Music Halls.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Alfred Vance was born in London in 1839 as Alfred Peek Stevens. He worked initially as a solicitor's clerk, before appearing in Music Halls. His first solo appearance was at the South London Palace in 1864, but he had earlier performed as a 'black faced' couple with his brother in 1860. His act, initially as a cockney singer evolved into comedy. He was also known as both The Great Vance and Alfred Grenville.
Vance was a great rival of George Leybourne, writer of Champagne Charlie. Vance wrote and performed Cliquot in response. Vance ended the feud with the song Beautiful Beer. Their style introduced a new genre to the music hall, known as Lion Comique.
He died while performing on the stage of the Sun Music Hall, Knightsbridge, on 26 December 1888. He is buried in Nunhead Cemetery.
[edit] Songs
- The Chickaleery Cove
- Jolly Dogs
- Walking the Zoo
- Cliquot, Cliquot
- Act in the Square, Boys
[edit] Reference
Oxford Companion to Popular Music by Peter Grimmond - ISBN 0-19-280004-3
[edit] Trivia
- Alfred Vance makes a cameo appearance in the fictional novel Lestrade and the Brother of Death by M. J. Trow
