Grossmith, George (1847-1912), was a British entertainer and light opera singer who was famous for songs and sketches that he performed, accompanying himself at the piano. His songs include “You Should See Me Dance the Polka.” He composed most of his own material. Grossmith toured the United Kingdom frequently and visited the United States and Canada. From 1877 to 1889, Grossmith performed with the company that staged the light operas of William S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. He originated the roles of many famous Gilbert and Sullivan characters, including Sir Joseph Porter in H.M.S. Pinafore (1878) and Ko-Ko in The Mikado (1885).
Grossmith was born on Dec. 9, 1847, in London. He was the coauthor, with his younger brother Weedon, a popular comedian, of the humorous book Diary of a Nobody (1892). Grossmith also wrote two books of autobiography, A Society Clown (1888) and Piano and I (1910). He retired in 1909 and died on March 1, 1912.
