Alfred Vance

Alfred Glanville Vance (born Alfred Peck Stevens; 1839 – 26 December 1888), often known as The Great Vance, was an English music hall singer, regarded as "one of the most important of the early music-hall performers".

He first appeared on stage in London in 1859, and the following year made his first music hall appearance, as part of a blackface act with his brother. His first solo appearance – not in blackface – was at the South London Palace in 1864.

He developed a new style of music hall performance as a "heavy swell" or Lion comique, at the same time as George Leybourne took a similar approach. In this style, performers relied less on copying burlesque, and instead sought inspiration in their everyday experiences and the colourful characters of daily street life. Audiences loved to join in the chorus and "give the bird". Vance and Leybourne developed a strong rivalry, with Vance's song "Walking in the Zoo" answered by Leybourne with "Lounging in the Aq"; and Leybourne's "Champagne Charlie" answered by Vance with the song "Clicquot". The song refers specifically to the Zoological Gardens at Regent's Park, London.

Vance became a personal favourite of the Prince of Wales. His popularity continued after the demise of the Lion comique fashion, and he performed more "motto songs" in the style of Harry Clifton, and comic songs in character. These included "Come to Your Martha", a relatively bawdy sketch of a bathing machine attendant. He toured with his own concert party, an approach developed by another contemporary rival, Arthur Lloyd.

Songs

"The Brokin 'arted Butler" "The Chickaleery Cove" "Carrie" "A Country Life for Me" "Covent Garden in the Morning" "Dick Murphy of T.C.D." "Fair Girl Dress'd in Check" "The Husband's Boat" "The Kerrect Kard" "Jolly Dogs" "Walking in the Zoo" "Clicquot"

"Act on the Square, Boys" "The Young Man of the Day" "The Naughty Young Man" "Old Brown's Daughter" "Peter Potts the Peeler" "Serjeant Sharp of Lincoln's Inn" "Slap Bang Here We Are Again" "The Style" "Tick! Tick! Tick!" "The 'Ticket-of-Leave' Man" "Toothpick and Crutch"

In popular culture Vance makes a cameo appearance in the novel Lestrade and the Brother of Death by M. J. Trow. Vance is played by Stanley Holloway in the 1944 Ealing comedy film Champagne Charlie, opposite Tommy Trinder as George Leybourne and Betty Warren as Bessie Bellwood.