Al Bowlly - The Greek Crooner

Al Bowlly

The Greek Crooner

The First Pop Star

Albert Alick Bowlly - (Pauli) - (Pavlis)

Albert Alick Bowlly was the most famous crooner of the 1920s and 30s. He is often referred to as the first Pop Star in the world. He made over 1000 records, which given the primitive recording techniques in those years was an astonishing accomplishment. His original name was not Bowlly but Pavlis and his father hailed from the historic Greek island of Rhodes.

The Al Bowlly Story - The Greek Crooner

Wikipedia Entry

Extensive Song List from Oldies.com

Below are two live performances by Al Bowlly filmed by the British Pathe film company

'The Very Thought of You'

'Melancholy Baby'

Al Bowlly performing the Yiddish folk song Bei Mir Bistu Shein

Al Bowlly - The First 'Pop Star'

Albert Alick Bowlly was the most famous singer of the 1920s and 30s. He was famous in India , the Far East, Germany, Britain and in the USA before Bing Crosby with whom he competed for a time in the 30s. During his career he made over 1000 records, which given the primitive recording techniques in those years was an astonishing accomplishment. He was called Europe's Most Popular Crooner, or the Ambassador of Song. Al Bowlly was the first singer to use the microphone and amplification to project his own personality and was hailed by the press as The all conquering Al Bowlly. He was the first British popular singer to form a solo variety act, the first to be invited to have a solo spot on the BBC, and the first to be invited to work in America .

His original name was not Bowlly and his father Alexandros Pavlis hailed from the historic island of Rhodes.