Cliff Edwards, I believe, had the first hit version of "Singin' in the rain" - try the audience with that one...

He died bankrupt after a lifetime of drug and alcohol abuse. He had a great talent - he also recorded songs which were considered slightly risqué at the time - a little like George Formby.

My two favourite Formby songs are "In a little Wigan garden" and "The Lancashire Toreador".