I've read that 100,000 people attended his funeral so I figure he was far more beloved than Smeck or Edwards who both died uneventfully--Smeck in 1994 and Edwards in 1971.

The Brits seem to have more of an appreciating for the great musical figures of the past. After all, they still have the Eddie Cochran Society and America has never bothered to honor him at all. I'm sure they mourned Gene Vincent way more than America who didn't seem to notice his passing.

I do "When I'm Cleaning Windows" at open mics and when I say George Formby there's no reaction at all. Clearly, Americans have no idea who he is. I normally never introduce a song before I play but I try with "When You Wish Upon a Star" because I want people to know why I learned it on the uke--because Cliff Edwards was Ukulele Ike who was extremely popular in the 20s so it's my way of honoring him but I've stopped doing it because I can see nobody cares.