Geordie Ridley

Gateshead’s George “Geordie” Ridley was a singer, mimic and comic songwriter whose works include The Blaydon Races and Cushie Butterfield. His performances combined song with vividly drawn comic characters, and he first performed The Blaydon Races in 1862.

Ridley lived from 1835 to 1864, but the songs outlasted his short performing career and became part of Tyneside’s musical identity. The Animals singer Eric Burdon has spoken of Ridley as his great-great-uncle and of the family connection between them.