Donald Peers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Donald Rhys Hubert Peers |
| Born | 10 July 1908 Ammanford, Wales |
| Died | 9 August 1973 (aged 65) Hove, England |
| Genres | Traditional pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
Donald Rhys Hubert Peers (10 July 1908 – 9 August 1973) was a Welsh singer of traditional pop.[1] His best remembered rendition and signature song was "In a Shady Nook by a Babbling Brook".
Biography
Early life
Peers was born in the Welsh mining town of Ammanford, Carmarthenshire on 10 July 1908.[2] His father was a colliery worker and a prominent member of the Plymouth Brethren who disapproved of the variety theatre, and never heard or saw his son work. Peers' family were hoping he would become a schoolteacher, but he had other ambitions and left home at the age of sixteen.
Peers travelled around the country working as a house painter and, for a time in January to March 1927,[3] went to sea as a mess steward on ships. In September 1927, he decided to enter show business and he made his debut in a concert party called "Tons of Fun" at the New Theatre in Lowestoft.[3] He continued with the touring company in a show called "Comedy Concoctions - on Tour" for a few weeks until it disbanded.[3] He auditioned for the BBC and his first BBC Radio broadcast on 2LO took place on 17 December 1927, with the London Radio Dance Band.[4][3] One of the songs he sang was, "In a Shady Nook by a Babbling Brook", which became his most requested song and, later, his signature tune.
Career
He made several more radio broadcasts and these led to him touring the variety stages in a concert party called "Pleasure" where he accompanied himself on the ukulele and also gave ukulele solos.[5] He was engaged to appear in the "Babes in the Wood" pantomime at the Grand, Plymouth in December 1928.[6] Following that he went into a touring revue called "Spare Time" and received very good notices.[7] His London debut took place in a revue at the Bedford Theatre in 1929. December 1929 found him back at the Grand, Plymouth where he starred in the pantomime "Cinderella" playing Dandini[8] and then he toured in a revue called "Laugh, Hang It, Laugh".[9] The latter half of 1930 was spent touring with another revue called " A Vaudeville Voyage" when he was described as a light comedian.[10]
In May 1926 he met Gertrude Mary Thomson[3] in Richmond, North Riding of Yorkshire[11] and they eventually married on 7 June 1930 [12] in Harrogate.[3] Their daughter, Sheila, was born on 25 April 1931.[3] He continued to tour with revues and with appearances on the variety stage and from February 1932 he was being billed as "The Laughing Cavalier of Song".[13] In November and December 1932, he took part in two experimental television broadcasts playing banjo solos.[14] In 1933, after an appearance on the BBC Music Hall programme booked as The Laughing Cavalier of Song,[4] he got a recording contract with HMV Records. He soon moved to Eclipse Records who sold through Woolworths on 8" records[15] and he made a number of records for them during 1934 and 1935.[16]
In 1940 Peers enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps[17] as a clerk, where he served until D-Day in 1944, when he was invalided out. When in service, he entertained his fellow troops in shows. He continued to make records for Decca during the war and in 1944 he recorded "In a Shady Nook by a Babbling Brook", written by E.G. Nelson and Harry Pease in 1927.
Peers began a new radio series for the BBC's Light Programme on 5 August 1947[18] and this was very successful over the next two years. It resulted in a string of hit records in the late 1940s with recordings such "I Can't Begin To Tell You", "Bow Bells", "Far Away Places", "On The 5.45" (a vocal version of "Twelfth Street Rag", with lyrics by Andy Razaf), "Powder Your Face With Sunshine" (one of his biggest successes), "Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly)", "A Strawberry Moon (In A Blueberry Sky)", "Everywhere You Go", "Clancy Lowered the Boom", "It Happened in Adano", "A Rose in a Garden of Weeds", "I'll String Along with You" and "Down in the Glen". His popularity was such that on 9 May 1949 he performed his two-hour one-man show at the Royal Albert Hall in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 8692.[3] Henry Hall booked him with Billy Russell and Norman Wisdom for a new show called Buttons & Bows which opened for a summer season at the Grand in Blackpool on 20 June 1949. Unfortunately Peers had to withdraw from the show at the end of August because of throat trouble.[19] This led to a throat operation and he was unable to sing for six months.[20] He recovered to headline the London Palladium[21] in August 1950 and he appeared in the Royal Variety Performance.[22] on 13 November that year. Peers continued recording with songs such as, "The Last Mile Home", "Dear Hearts and Gentle People", "Out of a Clear Blue Sky", "Music! Music! Music!", "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake", "Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)", "Dearie", "I Remember the Cornfields", "Beloved, Be Faithful", "Me and My Imagination", "Mistakes", "In a Golden Coach" (a celebratory number for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II), "Is It Any Wonder" and "Changing Partners".
Peers found a favourable audience in Australia. In 1950 alone he placed the following 12 songs into Australia's Top 20: "Music! Music! Music! (Put Another Nickel In)", "I Told Them All About You", "(If I Knew You Were Comin') I'd've Baked a Cake", "Harry Lime Theme", "Twenty Four Hours of Sunshine", "Dearie", "Tennessee Waltz", "Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)", "Oh, You Sweet One", "Rolling 'Round the World", "My Golden Baby", and "Daddy's Little Girl".[23] On 31 May 1954 he went to Australia to tour and remained there for 2½ years.[24] His wife and daughter did not accompany him and on his return in 1956 he announced that he was seeking a divorce.[25] There was a maintenance dispute which was the subject of a legal battle[26] but his wife would not agree to a divorce as she was a Roman Catholic. His long term partner became Kay O'Dwyer who managed his affairs and had accompanied him to Australia.[27]
During his absence in Australia, his fans had forgotten him and the pop music scene had changed dramatically with the arrival of rock 'n' roll. He returned to TV and radio work but eventually Peers found work via the club circuit, which had taken over from the variety theatres. In May 1962, Peers was given his own BBC Wales television programme, Donald Peers Presents,[28] and during the series he introduced Tom Jones and also scientist and writer Brian J. Ford, this time playing boogie piano.
Peers kept busy with many guest appearances on TV shows and in February 1964 he became the compere of BBC TV's new "Club Night" programme, a 40-minute show televised from provincial social clubs with new and well-known entertainers.[29] The show was very successful and he made 18 appearances over the next year or so.[30] Shows for the BBC Light Programme[31] and for BBC2[32] followed. He made a comeback to the record charts with "Please Don't Go" (a ballad set to the tune of Offenbach's "Barcarolle" from The Tales of Hoffmann), which reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart in 1969.[33] He made several appearances on BBC-TV's Top of the Pops in February 1969 to promote his record. Eddy Arnold had pop and country success with his cover version. This was followed by a string of singles and albums by Peers, but it was not until 1972 that he had another minor hit with "Give Me One More Chance", which reached the UK Top 40.[33]
He suffered a serious accident in Australia in 1971 when he fell and broke his back. The recovery took a long time and for a while he was confined to a wheelchair.[34]
Films
He appeared in a couple of films.[35]
The Balloon Goes Up (1942). Balloon unit WAAFs catch German spies. Peers played "Sergeant Jim" and sang "You've Gotta Smile". "I'll Soon Be Coming Home" and "Keep Looking for the Rainbow".[36]
Sing Along with Me (1952). He played David Parry, a humble grocer who wins a radio song-writing contest. Peers sang "Take My Heart", "If You Smile at the Sun", "Hoop Diddle-i-do-ra-li-ay", "Down at the Old Village Hall" and "I Left My Heart in a Valley in Wales".[37] The review in Kinematograph Weekly stated "The picture presents Donald Peers with a simple yet effective vehicle for his screen debut, and he returns the compliment by easily adapting his flawless stage, radio and TV technique to the even more exacting demands of the "flicks." His friendly approach offsets his years, close-ups hold no terror for him, and, like the experienced trouper he is, he sees that all the ditties have rousing choruses."[38]
Later life
Peers died from bronchial pneumonia in a Hove nursing home on 9 August 1973 at the age of 65,[39] with The Brighton & Hove Gazette and Herald announcing his demise. He was cremated in the Downs Crematorium, Brighton. His memorial tablet in the Garden of Remembrance, now weather-beaten, reads, 'Donald Peers, August 1973, Loved by Kates, "In a Shady Nook by a Babbling Brook"'.
Miscellaneous
In 1950 Peers knocked down and killed an elderly man in a road accident in Marylebone, London. He was cleared of any blame.[40]
A keen golfer, Peers played in the British Amateur Championship at St. Andrews on 22 May 1950 but lost in the first round.[41]
Peers' autobiography titled "Pathway" was published in 1951.[42]
In 1954, Peers was sued by his former pianist Ernest John Ponticelli for arrears of salary of £490 and ultimately was required to pay just £200 to Mr. Ponticelli.[43]
Discography
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [44][45] |
AUS [46] | |||
| "Don't Blame Me" b/w "Sundown in a Little Green Hollow" |
1933 | — | — | His Master's Voice |
| "The Old Covered Bridge" b/w "In the Valley Where the Pine Trees Grow" |
1934 | — | — | Eclipse |
| "Little Man, You've Had a Busy Day" b/w "Humming Your Glum Times Away" |
— | — | ||
| "The Man on the Flying Trapeze – Part 1" b/w "The Man on the Flying Trapeze – Part 2" |
— | — | ||
| "Remember Me" b/w "Friends" |
— | — | ||
| "I'll String Along with You" b/w "If I Couldn't Have You" |
— | — | ||
| "Stay As Sweet As You Are" b/w "Since I Met You" |
1935 | — | — | |
| "Lady, Sing Your Gypsy Song" b/w "After the Sun's Kissed the World Good-Bye" |
— | — | ||
| "Cheek to Ckeek" b/w "I'm Singing in My Sleep" |
— | — | Crown | |
| "Take Me Back to My Boots and Saddle" b/w "Do They Miss Me at Home" |
1936 | — | — | |
| "Lights Out" b/w "Lonely Little Vagabond" |
— | — | ||
| "Life Begins When You're in Love" b/w "I'm in Love with You" |
— | — | ||
| "When I'm with You" b/w "Too Many Friends – Too Many Kisses" |
— | — | ||
| "The Adventures of Rusty and Dusty – Part One" b/w "The Adventures of Rusty and Dusty – Part Two" |
1937 | — | — | |
| "Pennies from Heaven" b/w "One-Way Street" |
— | — | ||
| "Amapola" b/w "There Goes That Song Again" |
1941 | — | — | Decca |
| "When They Sound the Last "All Clear"" b/w "Dolores" |
— | — | ||
| "Hey! Little Hen" b/w "Forever and a Day" |
— | — | ||
| "Russian Rose" b/w "Just a Little Cottage" |
— | — | ||
| "London Pride" b/w "St. Mary's in the Twilight" |
— | — | ||
| "Lights Out 'til Reveille" b/w "Marie Elena" |
1942 | — | — | |
| "No More" b/w "By Candlelight" |
— | — | ||
| "The Sailor with the Navy Blue Eyes" b/w "Madeleine" |
— | — | ||
| "Moonlight Cocktail" b/w "Sing Everybody Sing" |
— | — | ||
| "Three Little Sisters" b/w "Tangerine" |
— | — | ||
| "This Is Worth Fighting For" b/w "The Love Nest" |
— | — | ||
| "Thank You I'm Alright" b/w "Johnny and Mary" |
1943 | — | — | |
| "Isobel Loves a Soldier" b/w "I Met Her on a Sunday" |
— | — | ||
| "Springtime on the Farm" b/w "Who's Knocking at My Heart?" |
— | — | ||
| "Homecoming Waltz" b/w "Nevada" |
2 10 |
— | ||
| "By the River of the Roses" b/w "In a Shady Nook, by a Babbling Brook" |
1944 | 7 | — | |
| "Don't Sweetheart Me" b/w "It's Love, Love, Love" |
2 | — | ||
| "You Fascinating You" b/w "You're in Love" |
1945 | 10 | — | |
| "I Can't Begin to Tell You" b/w "So-o-o in Love" |
1946 | 2 | — | |
| "By the River of the Roses" (reissue) b/w "In a Shady Nook, by a Babbling Brook" |
1949 | — 3 |
— | His Master's Voice |
| "Far Away Places" b/w "Twelfth Street Rag" |
2
1 |
— | ||
| "Powder Your Face with Sunshine" b/w "For You" |
3 | — | ||
| "On the 5.45" b/w "Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly)" |
6 1 |
— | ||
| "It Happened in Adano" b/w "A Strawberry Moon (In a Blueberry Sky)" |
19 6 |
— | ||
| "Clancy Lowered the Boom" b/w "Dad's Birthday Waltz" |
15 | — | ||
| "I Told Them All About You" b/w Medley: "Blue Skies"/"There's a Rainbow Round My Shoulder"/"If You Were the Only Girl in the World" |
— | 1 | ||
| "Church Bells on Sunday Morning" b/w "Twenty Four Hours of Sunshine" |
— | — 4 | ||
| "My Golden Baby" b/w "Everywhere You Go" |
— | 15 | ||
| "The Last Mile Home" b/w "Lovers Lane Has Everything" |
17 | — | ||
| "A Rose in a Garden of Weeds" b/w "Rolling Round the World" |
6 | — 13 | ||
| "Sleepy Town Express" b/w "The Birthday of the Little Princess" |
— | — | ||
| "Dear Hearts and Gentle People" b/w "I'll String Along with You" |
1950 | 1 7 |
— | |
| "The Song Version of the Harry Lime Theme" b/w "Medley" |
1 | 3 | ||
| "Music! Music! Music! (Put Another Nickel In)" b/w "Chattanoogie Shoe-Shine Boy" |
1 | 1 | ||
| "(If I Knew You Were Comin') I'd 've Baked a Cake" b/w "Out of a Clear Blue Sky" |
1 17 |
2 | ||
| "Down in the Glen" b/w "When There's Love at Home" |
5 | — | ||
| "Let's Do It Again" (with the Cherokeys) b/w "Daddy's Little Girl" |
4 5 |
5 17 | ||
| "Across the Meadow (And Over the Hill)" (with the Cherokeys) b/w "Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)" |
— 9 |
— 9 | ||
| "Oh! You Sweet One" b/w "Dearie" |
5 3 |
12 7 | ||
| "I Remember the Cornfields" b/w "The Hills of Wales" |
6 | — | ||
| "Sometime" b/w "My Baby Told Me That She Loves Me" |
— | — | ||
| "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (with the Voice of the Reindeer (Hattie Jacques)) b/w "Beloved, Be Faithful" |
1 1 |
— 12 | ||
| "Me and My Imagination" b/w "Hors D'Oeuvres" |
19 | — | ||
| "My Heart Cries for You" (with the Merry Macs) b/w "Tennessee Waltz" |
’1951 | 2 1 |
— 8 | |
| "Mockin' Bird Hill" (with Jim Gussey) b/w "Get Out Those Old Records" |
1 | 1 | ||
| "An Armful of Roses" b/w "Mariandl Andl Andl" |
— | — 15 | ||
| "Sing a Little Sweeter" b/w "By the Kissing Rock" |
— | — | ||
| "My Truly, Truly Fair" (Australia and New Zealand-only release) b/w "Mister and Mississippi" |
— | 1 3 | ||
| "I Hope You Have a Happy Birthday" b/w "Buttercups 'n Daisies 'n Bluebells" |
— | — | ||
| "Cold Cold Heart" b/w "I Wish I Wuz" |
— 13 |
— | ||
| "Hoop Diddle-Ee-I Doo-Ra-Li-Ay" b/w "If You Smile at the Sun" |
— | — | ||
| "Why Worry" b/w "(I’m Cryin' 'Cause I Know I’m) Losin' You" |
1952 | 4 | — | |
| "A Gordon for Me" b/w "There's Always Room at Our House" |
—
1 |
— | ||
| "Paint Yourself a Rainbow" b/w "Mistakes" |
— 2 |
— | ||
| "I Don't Care" b/w "We Won't Live in a Castle" |
— | — | ||
| "Marryin' Time" b/w "Meet Me on the Corner" |
— | — | ||
| "Am I in Love?" b/w "Farewell and Adieu" |
— | — | ||
| "A Mighty Pretty Waltz" b/w "One for the Wonder" |
— | — | ||
| "Two Humble People" b/w "Encore" |
— | — | ||
| "Barrels 'n Barrels of Roses" b/w "Lulu Had a Baby" |
1953 | — | — | |
| "Banana Fingers" b/w "A Full Time Job" |
— | — | ||
| "The Calendar Song" b/w "She Wears Red Feathers" |
— | — | ||
| "Celebration Rag" b/w "In a Golden Coach (There's a Heart of Gold)" |
— | — | ||
| "Bottle Me Up" b/w "Your Cheatin' Heart" |
— | — | ||
| "No One Will Ever Know" b/w "Is It Any Wonder" |
— | — | ||
| "I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan" b/w "A Shine on My Shoes" |
— | — | ||
| "Lonely" b/w "Changing Partners" |
1954 | — | — | |
| "Friends and Neighbours" (Australia-only release) b/w "My Idea of Heaven" |
— | 5 | ||
| "Marcheta" (Australia-only release) b/w "Another Kiss" |
— | — | ||
| "Mister Sandman" (Australia-only release) b/w "Open Up Your Heart (And Let the Sunshine In)" |
1955 | — | 1 | |
| "Hearts of Stone" (Australia-only release) b/w "Melody of Love" |
— | — | ||
| "Ko Ko Mo" (Australia-only release) b/w "When I Grow Too Old to Dream" |
— | 13 | ||
| "How Important Can It Be" (Australia-only release) b/w "I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby" |
— | — | ||
| "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" (with Betty Parker; Australia-only release) b/w "If Anyone Finds This I Love You" |
— | — | ||
| "Bye Bye Blackbird" (Australia-only release) b/w "You'll Always Be My Lifetime Sweetheart" |
— | — | ||
| "Where Will the Dimple Be" (with Betty Parker; Australia-only release) b/w "Ukulele Baby" |
— | — | ||
| "Unchained Melody" (Australia-only release) b/w "You, My Love" |
— | — | ||
| "I Love Paris" (Australia-only release) b/w "It's Alright with Me" |
— | — | ||
| "I Just Want You to Want Me" b/w "Start Movin'" |
1957 | — | — | Oriole |
| "Oh! Oh! I'm Falling in Love Again" b/w "I Need Somebody" |
1958 | — | — | |
| "Roses from Venice" b/w "If There Are Stars in My Eyes (You Put Them There)" |
1959 | — | — | Columbia |
| "The Miracle of Love" (with the Vernon Girls) b/w "St. Christopher" |
1960 | — | — | |
| "Papa He Loves Mama" (with Janet Osborne) b/w "The House of Love" |
— | — | ||
| "Sing (And Tell the Blues So Long)" (with the Rita Williams Singers) b/w "Magic Music" |
1961 | — | — | |
| "Put on a Happy Face" (with the Rita Williams Singers) b/w "Rose" |
— | — | ||
| "Where Were You (When I Needed You)" (with the Rita Williams Singers) b/w "Rose" |
— | — | ||
| "I'm a Dreamer" b/w "Come Take My Hand" |
1964 | — | — | |
| "As Long As You Love Me a Little" b/w "Say That You'll Always Love Me" |
— | — | ||
| "Club Night Sing-Along – Part One" b/w "Club Night Sing-Along – Part Two" |
— | — | ||
| "Love, Like Summer, Has Gone (L'Oublie)" b/w "I've Lost My Love" |
1965 | — | — | |
| "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" b/w "If I Had My Way" |
1966 | — | — | |
| "Games That Lovers Play" b/w "I Found My Love Today" |
46 | — | ||
| "Turn the World Around the Other Way" b/w "I Don't Know" |
1967 | — | — | |
| "Somewhere My Love" b/w "Theme from "Peyton Place"" |
— | — | ||
| "I Love You, and You Love Me" b/w "Tehairno Me Amore" |
— | — | ||
| "Please Don't Go" b/w "I've Lost My Love" |
1968 | 3 | 32 | |
| "Was It Yesterday" b/w "When I Saw You This Morning" |
1969 | — | — | Decca |
| "Poem of Love" b/w "Adios, Baby, Goodbye" |
1971 | — | — | |
| "Give Me One More Chance" b/w "I Never Knew I Loved You So" |
1972 | 36 | — | |
| "Round and Round" b/w "When You Hear Our Song" |
— | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | ||||
References
- ↑ Trevor Herbert, 'Peers, Donald Rhys Hubert (1909–1973)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, May 2011; online edn, September 2011 accessed 16 April 2017
- ↑ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Peers, Donald (1951). Pathway. London: Werner Laurie. pp. 78–81.
- 1 2 "genome.ch.bbc.co.uk". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
- ↑ "Kent & Sussex Courier". Kent & Sussex Courier: 9. 7 September 1928.
- ↑ "The Era". The Era: 22. 2 January 1929.
- ↑ "Hull Daily Mail". Hull Daily Mail: 6. 4 June 1929.
- ↑ "Western Morning News". Western Morning News: 3. 27 December 1929.
- ↑ "Staffordshire Sentinel". Staffordshire Sentinel: 5. 25 February 1930.
- ↑ "The Stage". The Stage: 22. 23 October 1930.
- ↑ Before 1 April 1974 it was the North Riding of Yorkshire
- ↑ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ↑ "Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette: 6. 19 February 1932.
- ↑ "Daily News (London)". Daily News (London): 6. 21 November 1932.
- ↑ [mgthomas.co.uk/Records/LabelPages/Eclipse8.htm "mgthomas.co.uk"]. mgthomas.co.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ↑ "45worlds.com". 45worlds.com. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- ↑ as dhr Peers, Service Number S/215360
- ↑ "bbc.co.uk". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
- ↑ "The Stage". The Stage: 3. 1 September 1949.
- ↑ "The Stage". The Stage: 3. 10 November 1949.
- ↑ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. ISBN 978-0600576020
- ↑ "The Royal Variety Performance". Royalvarietycharity.org. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
- ↑ "AMR Top Singles of 1950". Top100singles.net. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ↑ "The Stage". The Stage: 5. 27 May 1954.
- ↑ "Lancashire Evening Post". Lancashire Evening Post: 1. 10 October 1956.
- ↑ "Birmingham Daily Gazette". Birmingham Daily Gazette: 5. 9 November 1956.
- ↑ "Daily Mirror". Daily Mirror: 10. 10 August 1973.
- ↑ "Port Talbot Guardian". Port Talbot Guardian: 18. 11 May 1962.
- ↑ "The Stage". The Stage: 5. 6 February 1964.
- ↑ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ↑ "bbc.co.uk". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ↑ "Daily Mirror". Daily Mirror: 12. 4 February 1967.
- 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 422. ISBN 978-1-904994-10-7.
- ↑ "Birmingham Daily Post". Birmingham Daily Post: 9. 10 August 1973.
- ↑ "Donald Peers". IMDb.com. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ↑ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ↑ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ↑ "Kinematograph Weekly". Kinematograph Weekly: 26. 21 February 1952.
- ↑ "Donald Peers obituary". Times, London, England 10 August 1973: 14. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 26 December 2016.
- ↑ "Dundee Courier". Dundee Courier: 3. 29 April 1950.
- ↑ "Dundee Courier". Dundee Courier: 6. 23 May 1950.
- ↑ "Dundee Courier". Dundee Courier: 4. 24 December 1951.
- ↑ "Birmingham Daily Gazette". Birmingham Daily Gazette: 2. 18 February 1954.
- ↑ "UK Sheet Music Charts (1940–1965)". popmusichistory. Archived from the original on 3 September 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- ↑ "DONALD PEERS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- ↑ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
Bibliography
- Peers, Donald (1951) Pathway, the autobiography, London Werner Laurie, 1951: ASIN B0017D2D0O
- Nobbs, George (1971) The Wireless Stars Wensum Books, ASIN: B01MCYF173
- Busby, Roy (1976) British Music Hall – An Illustrated Who's Who from 1850 to the Present Day Hofer Collins, ISBN 978-0236400539