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It is with great regret that I report on these pages of the death on Saturday 9th April 2005 of Alan Randall, honorary member of the GFS and international recording artist who has been a good friend of the George Formby Society for many years and has probably done more than anybody to promote the name of George Formby since George’s death in 1961.
Alan played Formby’s songs and achieved the special “Formby sound” like no other performer. He appeared in Royal Variety performances and was a brilliant musician who loved to play jazz on the piano and vibraphone. Alan wrote a book on George Formby in 1974 together with Ray Seaton, and although it is now out of print, it has always been considered to be the definitive biography of Formby. Whilst writing the book Alan made contacted with Pat Howson, George’s fiancé when he died. She gave Alan her complete archive of George Formby’s collection of personal items which included George’s silver disc for “When I’m Cleaning Windows” and his OBE medal.
Alan was closely connected with the Warrington exhibition of 1991 when his complete archive was put on display and over 35,000 people viewed the display over a three month period. Without Alan’s assistance this project would have been a non-starter.
Even though Alan was a unique and highly talented entertainer in his own right he never failed to acknowledge the genius of George Formby and Alan had been a dedicated fan since his childhood days.
On behalf of the committee and all the members of the George Formby Society
I would like to express sincere condolences to Alan's family. Read Alan's obituary in The Stage magazine.
Read Alan's obituary in The Times newspaper.
LISTEN TO THE BRILLIANT ALAN RANDALL ON VIBES
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