Ernest Walter Hastings (15 June 1879 – 2 September 1940) was an English singer, pianist, composer and performer of comic monologues. He was popular from the 1900s to the 1930s, when he was described as "England's Greatest Entertainer at the Piano". He was born in Manchester in 1879, and at first found work as a shipping clerk. He also played piano, and developed a talent for mimicry and monologues which led him to a theatrical career in music halls before 1900. He became popular, and toured in the United States as well as in Britain. His early successes included "The Commissionaire" (1899, with lyrics by Charles H. Taylor), "A Blooming Ballad" (with lyricist Astley Weaver, 1901), "The Three Ages of Man" (with lyrics by Nelson Jackson, 1909), and "The Emigrant's Letter" (with lyrics by Percy French, 1912).
Links to Peel[]
Peel played his 'My Word You Do Look Queer' track as one of the songs for the Peelenium 1922. No other tracks from the artist outside the Peelenium seemed to have been played by Peel according to available tracklistings on this site.
Shows Played[]
- 06 July 1999: 'My Word You Do Look Queer' (Peelenium 1922)