Edward William Rogers (1864– 21 February 1913) was an English songwriter for

music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was most popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850, through the World War I, Great War. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as Varie ...

performers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Biography

He was born in

Newington, London Newington is a district of Central London, just south of the River Thames, and part of the London Borough of Southwark. It was an ancient parish and the site of the early administration of the county of Surrey. It was the location of the County ...

, and in the 1880s started appearing on the

stage in sketches written by singer and songwriter Harry Pleon (1856–1911). He came to recognise that he was a better songwriter than performer, and first found success in 1888 when his song "

Ask a P'liceman "Ask a P'liceman" (sometimes given as "If You Want to Know the Time Ask a Policeman") is a music hall song. It was first performed in 1888 by English comedian James Fawn and was written by Edward William Rogers (1864–1913) and Augustus Edw ...

", with music by A. E. Durandeau, was taken up by comedian and singer

James Fawn James Fawn (born James Simmonds; 1847–19 January 1923) was a British music hall comic entertainer, popular towards the end of the 19th century when he was often billed as 'The Prince of the Red Nosed Comedians'. His best known song was "Ask a P' ...

. Within three years, the song reportedly sold half a million copies as

sheet music Sheet music is a handwritten or printed form of musical notation that uses musical symbols to indicate the pitches, rhythms, or chords of a song or instrumental musical piece. Like its analogs – printed Book, books or Pamphlet, pamphlets ...

. Rogers and Durandeau also wrote

Charles Coborn Colin Whitton McCallum (4 August 1852 – 23 November 1945), known by his stage name Charles Coborn, was a British music hall singer and comedian. During a long career, Coborn was known largely for two comic songs: "Two Lovely Black Eyes", and ...

's 1890 song "Come Where the Booze Is Cheaper". Songs written by E. W. Rogers, ''Monologues.co.uk''
Retrieved 2 September 2020 Rogers found further success when his 1890 song "Hi-Tiddley-Hi-Ti", with music by

George Le Brunn George Le Brunn (born George Frederick Brunn; 20 June 186318 December 1905) was an English composer of popular songs, active during the heyday of the music halls. Biography He was born in Brighton, Sussex, and was educated privately, studying ...

, was performed by Charles Godfrey.Richard Anthony Baker, ''British Music Hall: an illustrated history'', Pen & Sword, 2014, , pp.141-142 In 1891, he began working as an accompanist to

George Robey Sir George Edward Wade, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, CBE (20 September 1869 – 29 November 1954),James Harding (music writer), Harding, James"Robey, George" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University P ...

, initially without Robey realising that he was a successful songwriter. Rogers began writing some of Robey's songs, including "The Simple Pimple", and monologues. He also wrote material for

Vesta Tilley Matilda Alice Powles, Lady de Frece (13May 186416September 1952) was an English music hall performer. She adopted the stage name Vesta Tilley and became one of the best-known male impersonators of her era. Her career lasted from 1869 until 19 ...

, including her successful song "Following in Father's Footsteps" in 1902. Tilley commented on Rogers' prodigious output of material: "It was a rare thing not to see Rogers at my home in London every day with a batch of new numbers. He turned them out so quickly, and they were all more or less successful." He also wrote for other performers including

Florrie Forde Florrie Forde (born Flora May Augusta Flannagan;16 August 187518 April 1940) was an Australian-born British vaudevillian performer and popular singer, notable in music hall and pantomime. From 1897 she lived and worked in the United Kingdom, wh ...

Marie Lloyd Matilda Alice Victoria Wood (12 February 1870 – 7 October 1922), professionally known as Marie Lloyd (), was an English music hall singer, comedian and musical theatre actress. She was best known for her performances of songs such as "The Boy ...

, Tom Costello,

Arthur Lennard Arthur Lennard (born Arthur Edward Hall; 8 March 1867 – 14 January 1954) was a British music hall singer, stage and silent film actor. Biography He was born in Plumstead, and first appeared on stage at Holborn in 1887. A tenor, he sang bal ...

, and

Alec Hurley Alexander Hurley (24 March 1871 – 6 December 1913) was an English music hall singer, and Marie Lloyd's second husband. Born in London, Hurley began a boxing career, during which he would perform a song entitled "The Strongest Man on Earth" af ...

, for whom he wrote the original "Lambeth Walk" (not the 1937

Noel Gay Reginald Moxon Armitage (15 July 1898 – 4 March 1954) known professionally as Noel Gay. was a British composer of popular music of the 1930s and 1940s whose output comprised 45 songs as well as the music for 28 films and 26 London shows. She ...

song of the same name). Rogers died in

Wandsworth Wandsworth Town () is a district of south London, within the London Borough of Wandsworth southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. Toponymy Wandsworth takes its name ...

in 1913, aged 49.

References

1864 births 1913 deaths British music hall performers English lyricists {{songwriter-stub