Al Bowlly was a Mozambican-born South African–British vocalist and jazz guitarist who rose to fame in the 1930s in Britain. He recorded over 1,000 songs, including his most famous hits: Midnight, the Stars and You, Goodnight, Sweetheart, Close Your Eyes, and The Very Thought of You. Bowlly began his music career with a dance band led by Edgar Adeler and later worked with several popular bands, including Roy Fox and Ray Noble. Despite struggling with vocal problems and a wart in his throat, Bowlly continued to make recordings and perform in films throughout his career.