Swann, Donald (Ibrahim) (1923–1994)

British composer, pianist, and entertainer. With his lyricist partner Michael Flanders, he created a series of witty revues 1956–67 with ‘Drop of a Hat’ in the title.

Early life Swann was born in Llanelli, Wales, but the family moved to London when Donald was three. He was sent to Westminster public school and had piano lessons at the Royal College of Music. At Westminster he met Flanders, and they occasionally performed together when the school was evacuated at the beginning of World War II. Swann spent a year at Oxford before joining the Friends' (Quakers) Ambulance Unit. On his return to Oxford after the war, he studied modern Greek and Russian. After Oxford he met Flanders again.

Career The songs they wrote together, including the popular ‘Hippopotamus’ and other funny animal numbers, were sung at various revues by such stars as Joyce Grenfell and Ian Wallace. Flanders and Swann's public debut as performers was in London in 1956 with the revue At the Drop of a Hat, which ran for over two years and also toured North America. At the Drop of Another Hat followed and toured many English-speaking countries. There were ‘Hats’ for over ten years. When the partnership ended in 1967, Swann tried his hand at more serious works – opera, a Te Deum, more songs – though none became quite so popular.