Alfred Lee

British pianist and songwriter (died in 1906). Lee is best-known for writing the music of two hits on which he collaborated with music hall performer George Leybourne, "Champagne Charlie" (1865) and "The Man On The Flying Trapeze" (1867). "The Man On The Flying Trapeze", inspired by the daring French trapeze artist Jules Léotard, who performed without safety net, became the theme song of comedian Walter O'Keefe, who recorded it in 1932. A W.C. Fields film with the same title (1935) added to the song's popularity, and it has been recorded by Don Redman And His Orchestra (1936), Eddie Cantor, Burl Ives, Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards, Spike Jones, Ian Whitcomb, Les Paul & Mary Ford, Bing Crosby (1962), Alvin And The Chipmunks, Crispin Hellion Glover, Graham Parker, and Bruce Springsteen.