Max Bygraves - 16 October 1922 – 31 August 2012
The title housewives favourite was created for Max Bygraves. He always gave the impression that he was always here. If you wanted to keep the household quiet and smiling play a Max Bygraves record or put the channel on to Challenge TV for some old re-runs of Family Fortune.
Max Bygraves was an ‘East End Boy made good’. An entertainer that once earned £1000 per week in the 1950’s which would be equivalent to £20,000 in todays money after inflation was taken into account. Even when he wasn’t in the East End his presences was always fely especially down the old pub now gone called The Volunteer on tha A13. Back in the day loads of old men and women talked glowingly of Max Bygraves singing in the pub which must have been 50 – 60 years previous.
Although he started out as a singer he was later more famous for presenting Family Fortunes. In that program he was always the gentleman and so gentle with his contestants that they would reveal their most intimate secrets and foibles which left the viewer cringing with embarrassed laughter. His singing style could be described as ‘homely’. Having the demeanor of ‘a family get-around the piano’ feeling. The title of his catalogue of songs were titled SingalongaMax clearly embodied his style. Max Bygraves represents a time when life was a lot easier and gentler.
1922 Born in Rotherhithe, London, one of nine children, and christened Walter.
1942 Marries Gladys ‘Blossom’ Murray, to whom he was wed for 70 years until her death.
1943 First professional appearance at the Roxy Theatre, Falkirk, earning £5 and 10 shillings for three nights.
1950 First of 20 royal variety shows.
1956 He reveals he is earning £1,000 a week (about £20,000 in today’s terms).
1958 You Need Hands wins him the Ivor Novello award as songwriter of the year.
1972 The first SingalongaMax album is awarded his first gold disc.
1976 Publishes his autobiography I Wanna Tell You a Story.
1982 Awarded an OBE.
1983 Takes over TV quiz Family Fortunes.
2008 Bygraves and his wife moved from Bournemouth to Queensland, Australia.
2011 Gladys “Blossom” Murray dies
Max Bygraves ‘You Need Hands’ 78 rpm Original Version
Family Fortunes Classic Mistakes
