Lizbeth Webb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lizbeth Webb
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Webb in Bless the Bride (1947)
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| Born |
Betty Ethel Holton
30 January 1926 Reading, Berkshire, England
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| Died | 17 January 2013 (aged 86) London, England
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| Occupation | Soprano, actress |
| Years active | 1943–1969 |
| Spouse(s) | Donald H. Parker Col. Sir Guy Campbell, Bt. (deceased 19 July 1993) |
Betty Ethel Holton (born January 30, 1926 – died January 17, 2013), known as Lizbeth Webb, was a talented English singer and actress. People called her "the champagne soprano" because of her clear, bright voice. She is especially remembered for singing the popular song "This Is My Lovely Day."
Lizbeth Webb started her career singing with dance bands and for British soldiers during World War II. After the war, she became a star in London's West End musicals. She was known for her lively performances in shows like Bless the Bride, Gay's the Word, and Guys and Dolls. She later married Sir Guy Campbell and mostly left the stage to raise her children. She returned for one last show, The Merry Widow, in 1969.
Early Life and Start in Music
Lizbeth Webb was born in Reading, Berkshire, England. She was the youngest of three children. Sadly, her mother passed away when Lizbeth was very young. She was adopted by her aunt and uncle, and her name became Betty Webber.
As a child, she went to schools in Caversham, Berkshire. She was good at sports like rowing and swimming. From a young age, she also took singing lessons.
She began her singing career as a teenager. She sang with popular bands and on BBC radio during World War II. She performed for soldiers and often sang live broadcasts every day. She appeared on many radio shows, including Workers Playtime and Friday Night Is Music Night. She sang with famous conductors like Mantovani and Richard Tauber.
Lizbeth also took part in special broadcasts. She sang German light music, sometimes in German, to help share positive stories about life in Britain during the war.
Becoming a West End Star
In 1946, a theater producer named Charles B. Cochran discovered Lizbeth. He changed her stage name to Lizbeth Webb. She first became an understudy and then took over the main role in the musical Big Ben.
The next year, she got a starring role in the hit musical Bless the Bride. She played Lucy Willow, a character who leaves her boring fiancé to run off with a brave Frenchman. One of her songs from the show, "This Is My Lovely Day," became incredibly popular. It was one of the most requested songs on the BBC. The song's popularity grew even more because it was linked to the wedding of Princess Elizabeth (who later became Queen Elizabeth) and Prince Philip in 1947. Another popular song she sang in the show was "I Was Never Kissed Before." Bless the Bride was a big success, running for over two years. Lizbeth became known as "The Champagne Soprano" for her lively and energetic performances.
Lizbeth also performed in pantomime shows, playing roles like Dick Whittington and Cinderella. A famous composer, Ivor Novello, wrote the role of Linda especially for her in his musical Gay's the Word. This show was another hit in 1951. She was praised for her beautiful singing of the songs.
In 1953, she played Sarah Brown in the first London production of Guys and Dolls. This performance was even broadcast as a special Royal Variety Performance. That same year, she also performed for the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth. Lizbeth continued to entertain soldiers in different countries, even performing in Korea while under attack in 1953.
Family Life and Later Years
In 1956, Lizbeth Webb married Colonel Guy Campbell. He later inherited a special family title, becoming a Baronet. Lizbeth and Guy had two sons: Lachlan and Rory. Lachlan became an artist, and Rory became a classical singer.
Lizbeth mostly stopped performing in the late 1950s to focus on raising her children. However, she still made guest appearances on radio and TV comedy shows. In 1969, she returned to the stage to star in The Merry Widow.
She and her husband lived in Spain for a few years before moving back to England. Her husband passed away in 1993, and Lizbeth moved to London.
In 2004 and 2005, two CDs of her songs were released. They were called My Lovely Day With Lizbeth Webb – The Champagne Soprano and Lizbeth Webb: With a Song In My Heart.
Lizbeth Webb passed away in 2013 at the age of 86.
