Many Geordie songwriters used aliases, for whatever reason. This article lists many of these aliases, giving in some cases, where known, the real name, and in others, some of the songs or poems attributed to them.
Background
In the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly the early and middle 19th century, there was a plethora of songwriters. Nowhere was this more so than in the North East of England. Then, as today, numerous writers sold their works and received no acknowledgement.
This is illustrated with the dealings of James Catnach (printer and publisher) of Seven Dials in London, where the payment to the author was always the same – one shilling, unless the printer thought there was something exceptional, in which case he would "throw in a penny or two over" – and in all cases the works are printed as being anonymous with no credit to the writer..
In other cases some authors wishing anonymity, would use an alias, pseudonym, stage name or nickname. This article attempts to deal with many of these.
The aliases, pseudonyms, stage names and nicknames
Pseudonyms
Bailey
In Fordyce's Tyne Songster, the song "The Skipper's Fright" was attributed to "J. N.", but the Index shows it written by "Bailey".
The songs written by "Bailey" or "J. N." include :-
The Skipper's Fright, to the tune of Skipper Carr And Marky Dunn – appears in Fordyce's Tyne Songster page 322 Newcastle Market, to the tune of Adam and Eve – appears in Ross' Songs of the Tyne volume 7-page 13 Black, Geordy A stage name often used by Rowland Harrison, particularly when singing his own song Geordy Black Blind Willy – The nickname of William Purvis Bobby Cure (The) – One of the stage names of/characters played by George "Geordie" Ridley Cat Gut Jim – One of the stage names used or character played by Edward Corvan Clarinda Real name unknown Among the songs written by Clarinda are :- The Patriot Volunteers (or Loyalty Display'd) – appears in Bell's Rhymes of Northern Bards page 310 Corvan, Edward – sometimes used the alias "Cat Gut Jim" – see Edward Corvan Cosgrove James – used the alias J C Scatter – see James Cosgrove Edward Corvan – sometimes used the alias "Cat Gut Jim" – see Edward Corvan Geordie Real name unknown Among the songs written by Geordie is :- Shipley's Drop frae the Cloods, published in the Shields Gazette – appears in Allan's Tyneside Songs page 575 Geordy Black A stage name often used by Rowland Harrison, particularly when singing his own song Geordy Black George Ridley – Johnny Luik Up and The Bobby Cure are both stage name used by George Ridley Harry Haldane – An alias, used in most of his poetry and song writing, by Richard Oliver Heslop Harrison, Rowland – often uses the alias Geordy Black, particularly when singing the song Geordy Black Havadab The person using this alias is unknown other than that he is from Shieldfield and had at least two pieces printed in "The Weekly Chronicle". Among the songs attributed to Havadab are the following :- Gone – published in the Weekly Chronicle – appears in Allan's Tyneside Songs page 573 Ma Singin' Freend – published in the Weekly Chronicle – appears in Allan's Tyneside Songs page 573 Richard Oliver Heslop used the pseudonym "Harry Haldane" when publishing most of his poetry and songs Johnny Luik up – One of the stage names of/characters played by George "Geordie" Ridley Purvis, William – see William Purvis (Blind Willie) Ridley, George The Bobby Cure and Johnny Luik Up – are both stage name used by George Ridley – see George "Geordie" Ridley Rosalinda – originally named as "Bosalinda" Originally thought by Thomas Allan in his book Allan's Tyneside Songs to have possibly have been a Miss Harrey of Newcastle, it is now generally accepted as being a pen name used by Robert Gilchrist The following is attributed to the name of Rosalinda :- Pandon Dene – appears in Allan's Tyneside Songs on page 16, Bell's Rhymes of Northern Bards on page 59, Fordyce's Tyne Songster on page 156, France's Songs of the Bards of the Tyne on page 305, Marshall's Collection of Songs 1827 on page 145 and Ross' Songs of the Tyne volume 8-page 3 Rowland Harrison – often uses the alias Geordy Black, particularly when singing the song Geordy Black J. C. Scatter – stage name of James Cosgrove Songster The person using this alias is unknown. One of the songs written by "Songster" is :- Shields Races, sung to the tune of The de'il cam' fiddling through the toon – appears in France's Songs of the Bards of the Tyne page 492 By a Spectator The person signing their name as "by a spectator" is unknown, but wrote the following song :- Monkseaton Races – , 1812 – appears in Bell's Rhymes of Northern Bards page 307