George Ridley was born in Gateshead on 10th February, 1835. Perhaps the most well known of Tyneside composers, Ridley began his working life in a local pit, before moving to Messrs. Hawks, Crawshay and Co. After a near fatal accident prevented Ridley from carrying out any further manual work, he turned to performing as a means of support. Beginning his singing career at the Grainger Music Hall, Ridley went on to great success writing and performing his own songs such as 'Joey Jones' and 'Johnny Luik-Up the bellman'. Having never fully recovered from the injuries sustained at Hawks, Ridley's career was brief and after a short illness died aged thirty years on 9th September, 1864.
FARNE features a number of items by George Ridley, including one of only a handful of known surviving copies of 'George Ridley's new local song book' printed ca. 1863.
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