Dear Wendy,

You've really grabbed my attention!  Hope you get this.

First of all, yes, the book I received is indeed the one you mentioned.

I'm afraid there is probably very little I can tell you beyond what is written in the book.  All the rest is family legend, and how much of it is true I have no way of knowing.  As far as I am aware all the family members who might have been able to help are now dead, and I am getting pretty ancient myself!

Briefly stated the family legend in our branch of the family is that The Great Vance is a distant family, relative born out of wedlock.  Nonetheless custom decrees among our branch of the family, that at least one male member of any current offspring must have the name 'Vance' in his honour.  My late brother who died about thee weeks ago was named 'Christopher Ranulf Vance Glanville' for example.

When I first took up the zither-banjo about 60 years ago, I recall a discussion between my Aunt Marie, and my mother Ivy, about the Great Vance having taken up the zither-banjo shortly before he died on stage at the Sun Music hall in 1888.  Both were quite knowledgeable about Vance and banjos, and they declared my banjo which they wrongly thought to be a Windsor (it was, in fact, a Banrnes & Mullins probably made by Windsor) was NOT what Vance played, and he played one made by William Temlett Senior.

That's all I know.  But if I can help you in any way, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Kindest regards,

Jake.   

Dear Wendy,

Thank you so much for your kind words, your message, and your interest.  I do so agree that it is vitally important to get as much info on record whilst people are still alive.

I too share your fascination with Alfred Peck Stevens aka The Great Vance.  I should stress however that what follows is purely hearsay and word of mouth, but I do have a very good memory despite my age, and can remember what people have told me extremely well.

It seems that Alfred Peck Stevens was the offspring of one Vance Glanville, an itinerant Dublin Irishman living in London in the 1830's (?) who immediately skedaddled off to America leaving his lady friend to bear the consequences of the pregnancy.  Young Alfred took his mother's name, declaring that 'Peck Stevens' was his father's name as well.  It was, of course a serious matter in the 19th Century to be born out of wedlock, and most of those who were did their best to hide it.

When he was looking for a stage name as his fame progressed, he eventually decided upon his real father's name Vance Glanville, but reversed it in order not to make things too obvious.  And so 'Alfred Glanville Vance' entered the scene, and stayed with him until the day he died.

Have you seen the 1944 B&W film Champagne Charlie?  I presume you have.

I have another younger brother in Texas, but I don't think he knows anything.  I'll ask him anyway.

Kindest regards,

Jake.