Wullie F. Frame - The Piper (1904)

Wullie F. Frame sings “The Piper” on Edison Bell 6194, recorded in early 1904.

Wullie F. Frame, who called himself “The Man You Know,” was born in Castle Bank, Partick, in 1848 or 1849--around the time of the famous Glasgow riots.

He worked in the family grocery business but made the transition to theater by 1867.

He became conductor of his local Presbyterian Church Choir in 1870 which he continued to do for some 10 years, during which time he also became a paper salesman.

In 1889 he was in London, performing in the top music halls to great acclaim. He helped pave the way for Harry Lauder.

He was considered to be the Scotch Dan Leno in certain quarters.

In 1898, he went on a six month tour to the USA and Canada, and although 65 years old when the Great War broke out in 1914, he joined the Seymour Hicks Concert Party and went to the front to entertain the troops in December of that fateful year.

He died in 1919, aged 71.