12/27/2023 0 Comments B flat banjo chordNonetheless he continued to perform until his death in 1961. His racy innuendos and cheeky persona were not to the taste of stuffy post-war britain, and his popularity and health began to wane throughout the 50’s. He enjoyed immense success as an entertainer, making the transition from the vaudeville halls where he got his start in the early 20’s, to the silver screen throughout the 30’s and 40’s. Lancashire man George Formby is almost singularly responsible for the banjo-uke having survived beyond the big-band years. Their popularity throughout the 20’s is evident in that much popular sheet music of the time advertises tabulation for ‘banjo ukulele’, in spite of the fact that tuning is identical to that of ‘regular’ ukuleles. Keech patented the name ‘banjulele’ in 1917. Many companies began producing ‘banjo ukuleles’ throughout the 1920’s, after Alvin D. In the wild orchestra days of the early 20th century almost all fretted chordophones were ‘banjonated’ to compete with the brass, and the ukulele was no exception. The ‘E’ was nothing to be sneezed at, setting the purchaser back nearly £6 in its day! Dallas manufactured (under license) four models of banjo-uke bearing George Formby’s signature on the headstock, from the ‘A’, which retailed for £1.50 and was best suited for use as kindling, to the ‘E’, which featured a walnut neck, ebony fingerboard, mother of pearl inlays and well constructed gold-plated pot assembly. The banjo-ukulele pictured is a Dallas Type E, which was gold plated and presented to George Formby by the makers in 1930.
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