George Melly

Born (Alan) George Heywood Melly (1926-), Jazz singer, art historian and raconteur. Sang with Mick Mulligan’s Magnolia Jazz Band 1946-61 and since 1974 with John Chilton’s Feetwarmers. His early experiences in the Royal Navy and as an assistant at the London Gallery are recalled in Rum, Bum, and Cocertina (1977) and Don’t Tell Sybill (1997). With Willy Fawkes (Trog) wrote the Strip cartoon Flook (1956-1971). From 1965-1973 was Observer critic for (successively) pop music, film and TV, and has since widely lectured on art. Other books include owning up (1964), The Media Mob, (with Barry Fantoni, 1980) and works on surrealism and primitive art.

Who's the fella in the stripey suit, eyepatch and singing those bawdy Blues songs? Why, it's none other than George Melly. Didn't he have a radio show on the BBC? Why, yes he did. He's a great bloke, is George!

George Melly by Jonathan October 3, 2004