<P> The song was written in the then small French fishing village of Le Lavandou -- now a favourite resort for British holidaymakers and second - home owners -- shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War . According to Maschwitz , the title was `` stolen '' from a story by Michael Arlen . The song had its first performance in the summer of 1939 in a local bar , where the melody was played on piano by Manning Sherwin with the help of the resident saxophonist . Maschwitz sang the words while holding a glass of wine , but nobody seemed impressed . In the spring of 2002 , an attempt was made to find the bar where this song was first performed : it was hoped that a blue plaque could be set up . With the help of the local tourist office , elderly residents were questioned , but it proved impossible to identify the venue . </P>
<P> The song was written in the then small French fishing village of Le Lavandou -- now a favourite resort for British holidaymakers and second - home owners -- shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War . According to Maschwitz , the title was `` stolen '' from a story by Michael Arlen . The song had its first performance in the summer of 1939 in a local bar , where the melody was played on piano by Manning Sherwin with the help of the resident saxophonist . Maschwitz sang the words while holding a glass of wine , but nobody seemed impressed . In the spring of 2002 , an attempt was made to find the bar where this song was first performed : it was hoped that a blue plaque could be set up . With the help of the local tourist office , elderly residents were questioned , but it proved impossible to identify the venue . </P>
who sang a nightingale sang in berkeley square first
who sang a nightingale sang in berkeley square first
Maschwitz
Maschwitz