G. H. Elliott

George Henry Elliott (3 November 1882 – 19 November 1962) was a British music hall singer and dancer. Known as "The Chocolate Coloured Coon", he performed with a painted brown face and dressed entirely in white: white top hat, white tail-coat which came down well below the knees, white gloves, white tie or cravat, white trousers, white shoes and white cane.

Life and career He was born George Henry Elliott in Rochdale, Lancashire, in 1882. He and his family emigrated to the United States when he was four. There he played juvenile parts on stage including the title role in Little Lord Fauntleroy. He was a member of the Primrose and West Minstrels at the age of nine where he first blacked up, in a style considered at the time to be a "thoroughly respectable form of music hall and seaside entertainment". Unlike earlier performers who blacked their face while colouring their lips white, Elliott used a more naturalistic "chocolate coloured" make-up over his face and lips, giving him his unique bill matter. After a number of years treading the boards he rose to top of the bill. He was influenced by Eugene Stratton, who also used to black up, and he sang some of Stratton's songs, particularly "Lily of Laguna", which he sang in tribute to his hero. Among the songs particularly associated with him are "Idaho", "The Honeysuckle and the Bee", "I Used to Sigh for the Silvery Moon" and "Sue, Sue, Sue", many written by Herman Darewski and Lester Barrett. He made over 100 records, his first on a wax cylinder in 1904 and his last in 1960. In 1912 and 1914, he was the best-selling recording artist for His Master's Voice.

His gravestone shows a stage with curtains drawn back, and bears the words: "The last curtain call for G H Elliott the Chocolate Coloured Coon who died 19 November 1962. Dearly loved R.I.P". Because of sensitivities over the wording, the memorial was removed to a safe location in June 2020.