For Britons, George Formby is seen as a national treasure. The comedian’s loving portrayals of hapless working-class characters has charmed countless filmgoers, and with statues and trains in his honor, his influence can still be felt in his homeland.
His musicianship has also proved influential; his fans formed the George Formby Society after his death so they could gather and play his music, and George Harrison, Brian May, and Richard Thompson cited him as inspiration to pick up the ukulele. While Formby is less well known in America, the ukulele revival of the past decade could give stateside ukeists an opportunity to learn more about the comedian and musician’s musician.
Christopher Davis-Shannon has been doing his part to raise Formby’s profile among ukulele players and other musicians. The multi-instrumentalist—who has played with luminaries like Bill Haley, Jr., and the Comets and Joe Nugent—recently published The George Formby Handbook, whose purpose is “not to teach Formby solos note for note but to provide insight into his playing set in a broader musical context.” Ukulele players will find tabs of Formby’s most beloved songs alongside tutorials for his tec
