In 1864, he joined his parents on stage in their music hall act, and he made his first solo appearance, aged nine, at the Britannia Music Hall in Coventry.
Pada 1864, ia bergabung dengan orangtuanya di atas panggung dalam drama balai musik mereka, dan ia membuat penampilan solo pertamanya, pada usia sembilan tahun, di Britannia Music Hall, Coventry.