{{Other people|George Stevens}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Use British English|date=January 2020}} '''George Alexander Stevens''' (1875–19 April 1954) was an English songwriter and musical show director. In more than 60 years of big boots holes he had more than 2000 songs published under the names "G. Alex Stevens", 'Geo A Stevens' and "George A. Stevens". He was known as a writer of music hall songs.
For many years Stevens was a close friend of Charlie Chaplin's father in Kennington, London, composing songs for him. His first successful song was "The Huntsman", sung by Dan Leno at a Royal Command Performance before King Edward VII in 1901. His hits were sung by Marie Lloyd, Albert Chevalier, R. G. Knowles, Gracie Fields, Florrie Forde, and many others.
One of his best-known songs was "On Mother Kelly's Doorstep". The song was first published in 1925, when it was recorded by Tom Barratt,<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/Barratt-Thompson-Tom-Barratt-Dont-Bring-Lulu-On-Mother-Kellys-Doorstep/release/15846673 "On Mother Kelly's Doorstep" by Tom Barratt, Winner Records, ''Discogs'']. Retrieved 3 January 2021</ref> and was made popular by Randolph Sutton although Sutton did not record it for many years.<ref name=hudd>Roy Hudd and Philip Hindin, ''Roy Hudd's Cavalcade of Variety Acts'', Robson Books, 1998, {{ISBN|1-86105-206-5}}, p.177</ref> Danny La Rue's 1968 version of the song reached number 33 in the UK singles chart; La Rue later adopted the song as his theme tune.<ref>{{cite book |title=British Hit Singles |last=Rice |first=Tim |author2=Jo Rice |author3=Paul Gambaccini |author3-link=Paul Gambaccini |edition=10th |year=1995 |page=181 |publisher=Guinness Publishing |isbn=0-85112-633-2}}</ref>
Kate Carney featured his song "Mother I Love You" for more than 40 years. In later years he wrote "Chump Chop and Chips" for Gracie Fields. Randolph Sutton sang his "When the Harvest Moon is Shining" on early TV, and comedian Reg Dixon revived his "I'm Shy Mary Ellen, I'm Shy", first published in 1910.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.dbopm.com/Link/index/4201/824 List of songs written by G. A. Stevens, Database of Popular Music] *[http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an6089876 Sheet music to "On Mother Kelly's Doorstep", Australian National Library] *[http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an21659796 Sheet music to "Down, Down, Down In Devonshire", written by Stevens for Florrie Forde, Australian National Library] *[http://www.biblioz.com/lp25763118647_1682 Biblioz.com entry] * {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tGd7NGva1iwC&q=%22george+a+stevens%22+%22music+hall%22&pg=PA88 |author-link= |first=Paul Matthew |last=St. Pierre |title=A Portrait of the Artist as Australian: L'Oeuvre Bizarre de Barry Humphries |year=2004 |page=88 |isbn=9780773526440 }} Google Books excerpt {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stevens, George Alex}} Category:1875 births Category:1954 deaths Category:English male songwriters