John Crook

John Francis Crook (1847 – 10 November 1922) was an English conductor who composed music for comic opera and musicals in the late 18th- and early 19th-centuries.

Crook was born in Marylebone, London, and had a privileged musical education, as protégé of an aunt and uncle, the well-known artistes Madame De Belleville and violinist Antonio James Oury. At Norwich he was taught harmony and counterpoint by one James Hill, and was appointed organist to St John's Catholic Chapel. as conductor and musical director at the Prince's Theatre, Manchester; they were collectively known as the "Manchester Three". It was here he wrote The King's Dragoons. at The Strand, The Kodak, or King Kodak, at Terry's, Venus, Orpheus, Black and White, House of Lords, the "gloriously tuneful" Peter Pan, and several musical comedies composed for Arthur Roberts: Lancelot the Lovely, Don Quixote, Claude Duval, and Robinson Crusoe. Their first performance in Australia was Il Trovatore at Musgrave's newly acquired and refurbished Princess Theatre, on Saturday, 13 October 1900, and was hailed by critics.

Perhaps his most popular composition was the song "Angels of Heaven Defend Thee", sung by Joseph Tapley in The Scarlet Feather. His "Laughing Song" and "Military Song and Chorus" were from the same show. He returned to England in October 1901.

Back in London, he wrote The Coster's Serenade for Albert Chevalier

Personal Crook married Alice Julia Burville; they had a home at 221 Norwood Road, Norwood.

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