This site is a tribute to, and a study of, the 19th century performer known as
BARLOW the INIMITABLE BLUE- TAIL'D FLY
My name is Joy, and my interest in minstrel songs began in childhood. I was born in Melbourne at a time when horse troughs were still in use in the city, and where you could buy a posy of violets from a cart. The 19th century hadn't quite left us. My world was, and in many ways still is, back in that century. The world of pantomimes, parlour songs, banjos, folktales, and jigsaw puzzles.
My father sang and played piano. He loved the songs of Stephen Foster and other old songs. He would have owned a banjo if he'd been able to acquire one. He'd been born and raised on the Bendigo Goldfields where our family had settled after they came to Australia from Cornwall in 1848. I sometimes wonder if Barlow ever rode in the coach driven by my great-great grandfather. My family would have known about Barlow.
Although I've been a compulsive singer all my life I have a deep love of some particular songs. Many of them are old, very old, and extremely old.
In 1999 the study of all things Billy Barlow became a quest. The study of this particular Billy Barlow ( there were others!) grew out of that. Over the years I developed a great admiration for this amazing little Lancashire performer.
Wander around as you will. There are many side-trails and meanderings, many songs, many performers, many stories. Click below to view my book
Hey Ho Raggedy-O:
A Study of the Billy Barlow Phenomenon
Joy Hildebrand, 2014
BARLOW the INIMITABLE BLUE- TAIL'D FLY
My name is Joy, and my interest in minstrel songs began in childhood. I was born in Melbourne at a time when horse troughs were still in use in the city, and where you could buy a posy of violets from a cart. The 19th century hadn't quite left us. My world was, and in many ways still is, back in that century. The world of pantomimes, parlour songs, banjos, folktales, and jigsaw puzzles.
My father sang and played piano. He loved the songs of Stephen Foster and other old songs. He would have owned a banjo if he'd been able to acquire one. He'd been born and raised on the Bendigo Goldfields where our family had settled after they came to Australia from Cornwall in 1848. I sometimes wonder if Barlow ever rode in the coach driven by my great-great grandfather. My family would have known about Barlow.
Although I've been a compulsive singer all my life I have a deep love of some particular songs. Many of them are old, very old, and extremely old.
In 1999 the study of all things Billy Barlow became a quest. The study of this particular Billy Barlow ( there were others!) grew out of that. Over the years I developed a great admiration for this amazing little Lancashire performer.
Wander around as you will. There are many side-trails and meanderings, many songs, many performers, many stories. Click below to view my book
Hey Ho Raggedy-O:
A Study of the Billy Barlow Phenomenon
Joy Hildebrand, 2014
Memories!
