Marie Lloyd English pop singer Date of Birth: 12.02.1870 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Marie Lloyd
2. Early Life and Career
3. Rise to Fame
4. Support for Fellow Artists and War Efforts
5. Personal Life
6. Decline and Death

Biography of Marie Lloyd

Marie Lloyd was an English music hall singer, known by her stage name Matilda Alice Victoria Wood. She was popular for her performances in the music halls, where her ability to make even the most innocent songs seductive often led to clashes with the guardians of public morality.

Early Life and Career

Marie Lloyd was born on February 12, 1870, in Hoxton, London. She was the eldest of nine children in her family. From a young age, she had a desire to perform in the music hall, which was encouraged by her father, John Wood, who worked part-time as a waiter at the Royal Eagle Tavern. Her mother, Matilda Mary Caroline Wood, was a skilled dressmaker.

As she grew up, Marie started helping her mother with sewing and cutting, and she organized her sisters and friends into a vocal group called the "Fairy Bells Minstrels." They performed in local missions and churches, singing songs about abstinence, and Marie's mother made their costumes.

Marie adopted the stage name Marie Lloyd, borrowing the surname from "Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper." She quickly became one of the most famous music hall performers in England. Seven of her siblings also pursued musical and theatrical careers, with Daisy, Rose, Grace, and Alice achieving the most success. All of them, except Daisy, performed under the last name Lloyd as a sign of respect for their older sister.

Rise to Fame

Marie Lloyd's songs, by today's standards, would be considered innocent, but in Victorian England, they gained a reputation for being saucy and full of innuendos. This was largely due to Marie's performance style, as she would smile, wink, and gesture, creating a sense of conspiratorial relationship with her audience.

She became the center of attention for censorship committees, as their licenses for music halls depended on the content of the performances. Marie enjoyed asserting that any impropriety was solely in the minds of those who complained about her acts, insisting that her songs were completely innocent.

Once, she was summoned to appear before one of these committees and asked to perform some of her songs. In the most charming and innocent manner, Marie sang "Oh! Mr Porter" and "A Little of What You Fancy." Then, she sang a popular ballad called "Come into the Garden, Maud" in such a way that the committee was left speechless in shock.

Support for Fellow Artists and War Efforts

Despite her success and substantial earnings, Marie Lloyd supported other performers during the "Variety War" of 1907, a strike organized by artists to improve their pay and working conditions. She argued that if the stars could dictate their own terms to variety theater owners, then their less fortunate colleagues were forced to accept meager wages, which was unfair. Many famous artists followed Marie's example during this time.

During World War I, like many other music hall performers, Marie enthusiastically supported the war effort and performed for wounded soldiers free of charge.

Personal Life

Marie Lloyd was married three times. Her first marriage was to Percy Charles Courtenay on November 12, 1887. They had a daughter together, but by 1894, their marriage had ended due to Percy's drinking and abusive behavior. Marie obtained a restraining order against him out of fear for her life.

In 1905, she married Alexander Hurley, a singer, and remained his wife until his death in 1913. However, they separated in 1910 when Marie met Bernard Dillon, an Irish jockey who was 18 years younger. They faced difficulties when they traveled together to the United States in 1913 and were denied entry due to their perceived "moral indecency." To be allowed to stay, they had to pay a bond of £300 each. Marie was furious and humiliated by this experience.

After Alexander Hurley's death, Marie and Bernard were able to marry in the British Consulate in Portland, Oregon. However, their marriage was troubled, with Bernard's drinking and abusive behavior mirroring Marie's own struggles with alcohol. They separated in 1920.

Decline and Death

Following her separation from Bernard Dillon, Marie Lloyd's career declined, and she was invited to perform less frequently. On October 4, 1922, during a performance at the Empire Music Hall in Edmonton, London, Marie collapsed on stage. The audience laughed, thinking it was part of the act, but Marie was seriously ill. She passed away three days later, on October 7.

More than 100,000 people attended her funeral on October 12, 1922, to pay their respects to the beloved music hall performer.