Billy 'Uke' Scott

Billy "Uke" Scott (12 March 1923 – 23 November 2004) was a British music hall star, who inspired three generations of ukulele players, composing, singing and writing a "teach-yourself" ukulele manual. William Scott was born in Sunderland. As a child, he took piano lessons and then became a singer with a jazz band. He made his variety debut aged 13 at the Empire Theatre, Newcastle.During World War II, Scott worked for ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association) and established himself as a versatile artist. He appeared in the films Rainbow Round the Corner (1943) with the organist Robin Richmond and A Night of Magic (1944).After the war, Scott was in demand with a busy schedule in variety and pantomime, especially on the Moss Empires touring circuit, and making his mark on the BBC radio programme Workers' Playtime. He supported Gracie Fields, Will Hay and Tommy Trinder and for a time he was Max Miller's pianist. Miller recorded Scott's song, "Down By the Old Turnstile".

Scott's signature tune was "He's Only Singing for One", and his songs, of which from more than 100 he composed, 30 were published, included "I've Got a Girlfriend", "You Go On With Your Show" and "What Is the Good of a Good Girl?" He liked light-hearted songs about topical activities and subjects such as "A Nice Prefabricated Home" and "BINGO". In the 1950s, many variety theatres were being converted to Granada bingo halls and Scott mourned their closure in "Pro's Lament", sung to the tune of "Granada",

His preferred choice of instrument was the traditional wooden ukulele because of its sweet sound, rather than the more strident banjolele favoured by George Formby - though he played both.