Al Bowlly Blue Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

Al Bowlly was a popular South African-born British singer who achieved great success in the 1930s. Born in 1899 in Lourenço Marques (now Maputo), Mozambique, Bowlly’s family moved to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he began his musical career. He gained popularity in the 1920s as a member of various dance bands, before moving to London in 1928.

In London, Bowlly became the featured vocalist with the immensely popular Roy Fox’s Orchestra, showcasing his smooth and expressive voice. He went on to work with other renowned bandleaders such as Ray Noble and Lew Stone, recording hundreds of songs that captured the hearts of audiences in the pre-World War II era. Some of his most famous recordings include “The Very Thought of You,” “Goodnight, Sweetheart,” and “Love Is the Sweetest Thing.”

From 1933 to 1934, Al Bowlly lived at Charing Cross Mansions, located at 26 Charing Cross Road in the Borough of Camden. This vibrant area of central London has been home to many artists, musicians, and writers over the years. The blue plaque commemorating Bowlly’s residence was erected in 2013, paying tribute to his significant contributions to British popular music.

Tragically, Al Bowlly’s life was cut short during the Blitz in World War II. On April 17, 1941, he was killed by a German parachute mine that exploded outside his apartment in Jermyn Street, London. Despite his untimely death at the age of 42, Bowlly’s legacy lives on through his recordings, which continue to be celebrated by music lovers worldwide. His distinctive voice and interpretations of popular songs of the era have solidified his place as one of Britain’s most beloved singers of the 1930s.