Allan, N. Fraser

Allan, N. Fraser

Allan, N. (Norman) Fraser. Songwriter, pianist, fl Toronto 1911-40. Known to have been a pupil of W.O. Forsyth, Allan played piano for the Dumbells and, with his partner, the comedian Stanley Bennett, participated in some of that troupe's later productions. He wrote many songs, including some with Bennett ("Music in Canada," "Oh You Canadian Town," and "The Made in Canada Campaign Song") published 1914-16 by Musgrave. Other collaborators (lyricists) were Kenneth McInnis and Katherine Smith. Songs entirely by Allan included "Oh! You Harem Skirt" (Bell Piano 1911, his earliest title traced), "Canada, I Hear You Calling" (A. Cox 1916, from the musical Belles of Boo Loo), "Gee! I Wish I Was a Kid Once More" (Feist 1924, featured in the Dumbells' revue Ace High), and "Forever Pals We'll Be" (Harris 1942, his last-known published piece). A photo of Allan and Bennett, originally published in the Canadian Music Trades Journal (Mar 1923), appears in Roll Back the Years.