Not only is Ernest Pike – otherwise known as Herbert Payne – one of my favourite singers, he also appears to be one of the top Google searches people use to get here.

And how did I get started as a Pike afficionado?  Probably when I was about nine, when I was collecting 78 records.  I discovered his version (recorded as Herbert Payne) of “Who’s Sorry Now”, which I still regard as my favourite.

So for anyone who’s interested in this esoteric artist – who started on Edison-Bell wax cylinders, and recorded for Regal Zonophone, Ariel Grand and other labels – here’s a few bits and pieces I’ve managed to find out from various sources…

John Culme, editor of the excellent Footlight Notes, believes that Pike was employed as a staff artist for The Gramophone Company Ltd, owners of both the HMV and Zonophone imprints, which accounts for the wide variety of items he was recorded singing, as well as the large number of recordings in which he was involved with existing music hall stars.  (I can strongly recommend his site to anyone with a general interest in British music hall, as well).