Harry Champion - Champion's Legacy and Influence

Champion's Legacy and Influence

Champion influenced many later variety artists and their acts. His songs are among some of the most popular Cockney songs ever recorded and are synonymous with people's interpretation of what Cockney humour is. "Any Old Iron" and "Boiled Beef and Carrots" are often used to illustrate a stereotype as perceived by non cockney people.

In 1960 the actor and singer Stanley Holloway recorded an album entitled "Down at the Old Bull and Bush", which included a cover of "Any Old Iron" In 1965 the pop group Hermans Hermits recorded a cover of "I'm Henry VIII, I Am" for the album "Hermits On Tour" and reached No. 1 in the American Bill board Charts on 7 August 1965. Champion was mentioned twice in a 1969 episode of Dad's Army in the Series 3 episode "War dance", first when music is being selected, and again when Lance Corporal Jones performs various impressions of music hall artistes of the pre-First World War era but says that he cannot do an impression of Champion.

"Ginger You're Barmy" which was the title of Champion's 1910 song was used as the title of a book written by the author (not to be confused with the actor of the same name) David Lodge in 1962. Chas and Dave are admirers of Champion and often emulate his style, incorporating it into their own acts. In 1984 they recorded "Harry was a Champion" in tribute to him.

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Famous quotes containing the words champion, legacy and/or influence:

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    What is popularly called fame is nothing but an empty name and a legacy from paganism.
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    Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)