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Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard in 2006.
Cliff Richard in 2006.
Background information
Birth name Harry Roger Webb
Born 14 October 1940 (1940-10-14) (age 67)
Lucknow, United Provinces, British India
Origin London, England
Genre(s) Rock and roll/Pop/Gospel
Occupation(s) Singer/Songwriter
Instrument(s) Vocals, Guitar
Years active 1958 - Present
Label(s) EMI, Decca, Columbia, Epic, Rocket, Papillon
Associated acts The Shadows
Website CliffRichard.org

Sir Cliff Richard, OBE (born Harry Roger Webb on 14 October 1940[1]) is an English singer, actor and businessman. Events 1066 - Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings - In England on Senlac Hill seven miles from Hastings, the forces Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Lucknow is also a mansion in New Hampshire Lucknow ( लखनऊ لکھنؤ Lakhnaū) is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure This article is about the canonical books of the New Testament A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music The EMI Group is a British music company comprising the major record company EMI Music – which operates several labels and is based in Kensington in Decca Records is a British Record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company Epic Records is an American Record label. It is owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment. A rocket or rocket vehicle is a Missile, Aircraft or other Vehicle which obtains Thrust by the reaction of the The Shadows are an English instrumental and vocal Rock and roll group active from the 1950s to the 2000s The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. Events 1066 - Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings - In England on Senlac Hill seven miles from Hastings, the forces Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works A businessperson (also businessman or businesswoman) is someone who is employed at usually a profit-oriented enterprise, or more specifically someone

With his backing band The Shadows, Richard dominated the British popular music scene in the late 1950s and early 1960s, before and during the The Beatles' first year in the charts. The Shadows are an English instrumental and vocal Rock and roll group active from the 1950s to the 2000s The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 A conversion to Christianity and subsequent softening of his music led to his having more of a pop than rock image. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. He never achieved the same impact in the United States despite several chart singles there, but he has remained a popular music, film, and television personality in the UK and he retains a following in other countries. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

During six decades, Cliff Richard has charted many singles, and holds the record (with Elvis Presley) as the only act to make the UK singles charts in all of its decades (1950s–2000s). According to his website, he has sold more than 250 million records. [2] On the British charts, Richard has had more than 120 singles, albums and EPs make the top 20, more than any other artist. An album or record album is a collection of related audio or Music tracks distributed to the public An extended play ( EP) is a Vinyl record, CD, or Music download which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify [3]

Contents

Biography

1940–1958: Childhood

Cliff Richard was born at the King George Hospital, Victoria Street, Lucknow, British India in 1940 to Roger Oscar, a steward, and Dorothy Marie (born Dazely) Webb. Lucknow is also a mansion in New Hampshire Lucknow ( लखनऊ لکھنؤ Lakhnaū) is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British He is known to have mixed Indian and White ancestry [4] He was christened on 2 November 1940 at St Thomas' Roman Catholic Church, Dehradun, India. Dehradun (देहरादून, also sometimes spelled Dehra Doon, is the capital city of the state of Uttarakhand (earlier called Uttaranchal India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country In 1947, following Indian independence, the family moved to Britain. The term " Indian independence movement " is diffuse incorporating various national and regional campaigns agitations and efforts of both Nonviolent and Militant

The Webbs moved from comparative wealth in India, where they had servants, to a lower standard of living in England. For three years the Webbs stayed with relatives until 1951, when they were allocated a council house in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, where Harry attended the local Cheshunt Secondary School which was later renamed Cheshunt School. For the Australian village of the same name see Cheshunt Victoria Cheshunt (pronounced) is a town in the Broxbourne district of Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of Cheshunt School is a Secondary school and Sixth form for boys and girls located in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, UK.

1958–1963: Success and stardom

Beginning as a member of a skiffle group, Harry Webb became lead singer of the rock and roll group, the Drifters (not to be confused with the U.S. group of the same name). Skiffle is a type of Folk music with Jazz, Blues and Country influences usually using homemade or improvised instruments such as the Washboard Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African The Drifters were a long-lived American Doo wop / R&B vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1962 though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today Before their first large scale appearance, at the Regal Ballroom in Ripley in 1958, they adopted the name "Cliff Richard and the Drifters". The four members were Webb, Ian "Sammy" Samwell on guitar, Terry Smart on drums and Norman Mitham on guitar. Ian Samwell (19 January 1937 &mdash 13 March 2003 was an English Musician, Songwriter and Record producer, best known as the writer of None of the other three played with the later and better known Shadows, although Samwell wrote songs for Richard's later career. The Shadows are an English instrumental and vocal Rock and roll group active from the 1950s to the 2000s

In summer 1958 Richard obtained a recording contract with EMI's Columbia label for himself only, leaving the band behind. The EMI Group is a British music company comprising the major record company EMI Music – which operates several labels and is based in Kensington in He remained with EMI until signing with Decca in 2004. Decca Records is a British Record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Richard recorded his first single on 24 July 1958. Events 1132 - Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily. Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. However, producer Norrie Paramor had little faith in the band and brought in two session men, Ernie Shear and Frank Clarke, to provide lead guitar and bass. Norrie Paramor ( 15 May 1914 - 9 September 1979) is best known as a Record producer, but was also a Composer, Arranger

For his debut session, Paramor provided Richard with "Schoolboy Crush", a cover of an American record by Bobby Helms. In Popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition ( Performance or Recording) of a previously recorded commercially released Bobby Helms (born Robert Lee Helms 15 August 1933 – 19 June 1997) was an American Singer who enjoyed his peak success Richard was permitted to record one of his own songs for the B-side; this was "Move It", written by the Drifters' Samwell on a number 715 Green Line bus on the way to Richard's house for a rehearsal. A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of 7 inch Vinyl records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s " Move It " is a song recorded by Cliff Richard and the Drifters (the UK band that would evolve into The Shadows)

There are a number of stories about why the A-side was replaced by the intended B-side. One is that Norrie Paramor's young daughter raved about the B-side; another was that influential TV producer Jack Good, who used the act for his TV show Oh Boy!, wanted the only song on his show to be "Move It". The primary role of a television producer is to control all aspects of production ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking Jack Good (born 7 August 1931, Greenford, London) is a Icon painter and television and Record producer A television program (US television programme (UK or television show (U Oh Boy! was the first teenage all-music show on British TV airing in 1958 - 1959. [5]

The single went to #2 on the UK charts. Music critics Roy Carr and Tony Tyler wrote that it was the first genuine British rock classic, followed by Johnny Kidd and the Pirates's "Shakin' All Over". Johnny Kidd and the Pirates were a British Rock and roll group led by singer/songwriter Johnny Kidd (real name Frederick Heath) Shakin' All Over is a Rock and roll song originally performed by Johnny Kidd and the Pirates. John Lennon was quoted as saying that "Move It" was the first English rock record. John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (born " Move It " is a song recorded by Cliff Richard and the Drifters (the UK band that would evolve into The Shadows)

In the early days, Cliff Richard was marketed as the British equivalent to Elvis Presley. As did previous British rockers such as Tommy Steele and Marty Wilde, Richard adopted Presley-like dress and hairstyle. Tommy Steele OBE (born 17 December 1936 in London England) is an English entertainer Marty Wilde (born Reginald Leonard Smith 15 April 1939, Greenwich, South London) is an English Singer and Songwriter In performance he struck a pose of rock attitude, rarely smiling or looking at the audience or camera. His late 1958 and early 1959 follow-up singles, "High Class Baby", Lionel Bart's "Living Doll" were followed by "Mean Streak" which carried a rocker's sense of speed and passion. Lionel Bart ( August 1, 1930 &ndash April 3, 1999) was an English composer of songs and musicals, best known for " Living Doll " is a popular song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows (then still The Drifters) Mean Streak is a wooden Roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio, United States. It was on "Living Doll" that the Drifters began to back Richard on record. By that time the band's lineup had changed with the arrival of Jet Harris, Tony Meehan, Hank Marvin, and Bruce Welch. Jet Harris (born Terence Harris 6 July 1939, Honeypot Lane Kingsbury, North London, England) was the bass guitarist of Daniel Joseph Anthony 'Tony' Meehan ( 2 March 1943 &ndash 28 November 2005) was one of the founder members of the British group Brian Robson Rankin (born 28 October 1941) Newcastle upon Tyne, known by the Stage name Hank B Bruce Welch (born Bruce Cripps 2 November 1941 in Bognor Regis, Sussex, England) is an English Guitarist, The group was obliged to change its name to "The Shadows" after legal complications with the U. S. Drifters.

The Shadows were not a typical backing group. They would become contractually separate from Richard, and the group received no royalties for records backing Richard. In 1959, The Shadows (then still the Drifters) landed an EMI recording contract of their own, for independent recordings. That year, they released three singles, two of which featured double-sided vocals and one of which had instrumental A and B sides. In 1960, they recorded and released "Apache". Reaching the top of the charts in more than one country, the single set the Shadows on a path of their own. They thereafter had several major hits, including five UK #1s. The band also continued to appear and record with Richard and wrote many of his hits. On more than one occasion, a Shadows instrumental replaced a Richard song atop the British charts.

Richard's fifth single "Living Doll" triggered a softer, more relaxed, sound. Subsequent hits, the #1s "Travellin' Light" and "I Love You" and also "A Voice in the Wilderness" and "Theme for a Dream" cemented Richard's status as a mainstream pop entertainer along with contemporaries such as Adam Faith and Billy Fury. Travellin' Light is a UK number-one single by Cliff Richard and The Shadows. I Love You is a UK number-one single of 1960 by Cliff Richard and The Shadows, written by Shadows' rhythm guitarist Bruce Welch. " A Voice in the Wilderness " is a two-part episode from the first season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. Terence (Terry Nelhams-Wright, known as Adam Faith (23 June 1940 East Acton, London &mdash 8 March 2003 Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Billy Fury (born Ronald William Wycherley, 17 April 1940 - 28 January, 1983) was an internationally successful British Throughout the early sixties his hits were consistently in the top five.

Typically, The Shadows closed the first half of the show with a 30-minute set of their own, then backed Richard on his show-closing 45-minute stint. The Shadows are an English instrumental and vocal Rock and roll group active from the 1950s to the 2000s Tony Meehan and Jet Harris left the group in 1961 and 1962 respectively and later had their own chart successes. The Shadows added bass players and took on Brian Bennett on drums. Brian Laurence Bennett (born 9 February 1940, in Palmers Green, North London, England) is a Drummer, Pianist

In the early days, Richard sometimes recorded without The Shadows in order to cater to other styles. Even after the Beatles' rise he continued to achieve hits, although more often with an orchestra rather than The Shadows: a revival of "It's All In The Game" and "Constantly". " It's All in the Game " was a 1958 hit for Tommy Edwards. A session under the direction of Billy Sherrill in Nashville yielded two more top two hits: "The Minute You're Gone" and "Wind Me Up" in 1965. Billy Sherrill (born Phil Campbell, Alabama, November 5 1936) was a record producer and arranger who is most famous for his association with Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar.

Cliff Richard and The Shadows never achieved hit status in the United States. In 1960 they toured the U. S. and were well-received; however, lacklustre support and distribution from the record company proved costly, and the chance was lost. The band appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, which was crucial for The Beatles', but these performances did not help them gain success in North America. The Ed Sullivan Show was an American television Variety show that ran from June 20, 1948 to June 6, The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960

Richard and The Shadows appeared in films, most notably The Young Ones, (the title song being his biggest hit up to "Mistletoe and Wine"); Summer Holiday (which featured a slimmed-down Richard with visible dancing skills), Wonderful Life and Finders Keepers. The Young Ones (US title "Wonderful to Be Young!" is a British musical released in 1961, featuring singer Cliff Richard. The Young Ones is a single by Cliff Richard and The Shadows. The song written by Sid Tepper and Roy C A hit single is a recorded track or single that has become very popular Mistletoe and Wine is a popular single by Cliff Richard. Written by Jeremy Paul, Leslie Stewart and Keith Strachan, it was originally performed Summer Holiday is a British musical released in February 1963 featuring singer Cliff Richard in his best-known film Finders Keepers is a 1966 film directed by Sidney Hayers, written by Michael Pertwee and starring Cliff Richard. These films created their own genre known as the "Cliff Richard musical" and led to Richard being named the number one cinema box office attraction in Britain for both 1962 and 1963. A genre (ˈʒɑːnrə also /ˈdʒɑːnrə/ from French "kind" or "sort" from Latin: genus (stem gener-) is a loose set The irreverent 1980s TV sitcom The Young Ones took its name from Richard's 1962 movie, and also made references to the singer. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic A British sitcom is a Situation comedy (sitcom produced in the United Kingdom. The Young Ones was a popular British sitcom, first seen in 1982, on BBC2. In 1966, Richard and the Shadows appeared as marionettes in the Gerry Anderson film Thunderbirds Are GO. For a detailed article on collaborations with Sylvia Anderson see Sylvia and Gerry Anderson; the separated strands aren't working - GA is the common thread throughout This article is about the 1966 movie For the 2004 song by Busted, see Thunderbirds/3am.

1964–1975: Changing circumstances

As with the other existing rock acts in Britain, Richard's career was affected by the sudden advent of The Beatles and the Mersey sound in 1963 and 1964. The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 However, his popularity was established enough to allow him to weather the storm and continue to have hits in the charts throughout the 1960s, albeit not at the level that he had enjoyed before. Nor did doors open to him in the U. S. market; he was not considered part of the British Invasion, despite four Hot 100 hits (including the top 25 "It's All In The Game") between August 1963 and August 1964, and the U. The British Invasion was the term applied by the news media — and subsequently by consumers — to the influx of Rock and roll, beat and pop performers S. public had little awareness of him.

Although baptised as an Anglican Christian, Richard did not appear to practise the faith in his early years. However, in 1964, he became an active Christian and this conversion has become an important aspect of his life. Standing up publicly as a Christian affected his career in several ways. Initially, he believed that he should quit rock 'n roll, feeling he could no longer be the rocker who had been called a "crude exhibitionist" and "too sexy for TV" and a threat to parent's daughters. However, by the time Richard converted, his image had become tamer due to his film roles and well-spoken manners on radio and TV. Richard intended at first to 'reform his ways' and become a teacher, but Christian friends advised him not to abandon his career just because he had become a Christian. Soon after, Cliff Richard re-emerged, performing with Christian groups and recording some Christian material. He still recorded secular songs with the Shadows, but devoted a lot of his time to Christian work, including appearances with the Billy Graham crusades. William Franklin Graham Jr KBE (born November 7 1918 better known as Billy Graham, is an evangelist and an Evangelical Christian As time progressed, Richard balanced his faith and work, enabling him to remain one of the most popular singers in Britain as well as one of its best-known Christians. He was a leading figure in the Nationwide Festival of Light during 1971, protesting against the commercial exploitation of sex and violence in Britain, and advocating the teaching of Christ as the key to recovering moral stability in the nation. The Nationwide Festival of Light was a Grassroots movement formed by British Christians concerned about the development of the Permissive society

Cliff Richard's first serious acting role took place in the 1968 film Two a Penny, in which he played a young man who gets involved in drug dealing while questioning his life after his girlfriend changes her attitude. The illegal drug trade or drug trafficking is a global Black market consisting of the cultivation manufacture distribution and sale of illegal Drugs He released the live album "Cliff in Japan", which featured Olivia Newton-John as backing singer and John Farrar on guitar (Farrar would later be Newton-John's producer). Olivia Newton-John, AO, OBE (born September 26 1948) is a Grammy Award -winning and Golden Globe -nominated English-born John Farrar (Fâr/ə/ born on 8 November, 1946 in Melbourne Australia, is a music producer, Songwriter, Singer

Also in 1968 he sang the UK's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest: "Congratulations" by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter; it lost by just one point to Spain's La La La. Bill Martin (born William Wylie Macpherson, 9 November 1938, Govan, Glasgow) is a Scottish Songwriter, Phil Coulter (born 19 February 1942 is a Northern Irish Songwriter, Pianist and Music producer, arranger and director Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. According to John Kennedy O'Connor's The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History, this was the closest yet result in the contest and Richard locked himself in the toilet to avoid the nerves of the voting. [6]

Nevertheless, "Congratulations" was a huge hit throughout Europe and yet another No. 1 in April. In 1973 he sang the British entry Power to All Our Friends; the song finished third, close behind Luxembourg's "Tu Te Reconnaîtras" and Spain's "Eres Tú". " Power to All Our Friends " is a song by Cliff Richard. Tu te reconnaîtras ( You'll recognize yourself) sung in French by Anne-Marie David representing Luxembourg, was the winning song at the This time, Richard took valium in order to overcome his nerves and his manager was almost unable to wake him for the performance. [7] Richard also hosted the BBC's qualifying heat for the Eurovision Song Contest, "A Song for Europe," in 1970, 1971 and 1972 as part of his BBCTV variety series. He presented the Eurovision preview programmes for the BBC in 1971 and 1972.

After the Shadows split in 1968, Richard continued to record. He had already become accustomed to the Shadows' absence, and was able to record in a variety of settings. Although many of his earliest fans regretted that Richard had tried out songs which were not strictly in the rock 'n roll genre, most had got used to his habit of recording rockier material with the Shadows, while producing more middle-of-the-road material at other times; this versatility extended Richard's career prospects.

During the 1970s, Richard took part in television shows, such as It's Cliff, many of which also starred Hank Marvin and Una Stubbs. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. Brian Robson Rankin (born 28 October 1941) Newcastle upon Tyne, known by the Stage name Hank B Una Stubbs (born 1 May 1937 in Hinckley, Leicestershire) is an English actress and former Dancer. These shows, for a time, branded Cliff Richard as a television personality more than a recording artist. In 1972, he made a short BBC television comedy film called The Case with appearances from comedians and his first-ever duets with a woman, Olivia Newton-John. A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience primarily by making them laugh Olivia Newton-John, AO, OBE (born September 26 1948) is a Grammy Award -winning and Golden Globe -nominated English-born In 1973 he starred in the film Take Me High. Take Me High is a 1973 English Feature film, directed by David Askey, written by Christopher Penfold and starring

1976–1994: Comeback

In 1976 the decision was made to repackage Cliff Richard as a "rock" artist. That year he produced the landmark album I'm Nearly Famous, which included the successful but controversial guitar-driven track Devil Woman (Richard's first true hit in the United States) and the ballad Miss You Nights. " Devil Woman " is song by Terry Britten and Christine Holmes and a 1976 hit single recorded by Cliff Richard for his album I'm Richard's fans were excited about this revival of a performer who had been a part of British rock from its early days. Many music names such as Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Elton John were seen sporting I'm Nearly Famous badges, pleased that their boyhood idol was getting back into the heavier rock in which he had begun his career. James Patrick Page, OBE (born 9 January 1944 is an English Guitarist, Composer and record producer Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945 is an English Blues-rock Guitarist, singer Songwriter and Composer Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 is an English pop / rock Singer, Composer

Notwithstanding this, Richard continued to release Gospel-tinged albums in parallel with his rock and pop albums, for example: Small Corners from 1978 contained the single Yes He Lives. Despite his 1976 comeback, this single failed to chart in the United Kingdom. In 1980, the singer officially changed his name by deed poll from Harry Webb to Cliff Richard. For the legal document of the same name see Deed poll. Deed Poll is a German -made Film, 2004 [8]

In 1979, Richard teamed up with the producer Bruce Welch for the pop hit single We Don't Talk Anymore, which hit #1 in the UK and #7 in the U. The Shadows are an English instrumental and vocal Rock and roll group active from the 1950s to the 2000s " We Don't Talk Anymore " was a UK number one single for four weeks in August 1979 for Cliff Richard. S. The record gave Richard the distinction of becoming the first act to reach the Hot 100 in the 1980s who had also reached the Hot 100 in each of the three previous decades. The song was quickly added onto the end of his latest album Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile. It was his first time at the top of the UK singles chart in over ten years, and the song would become his biggest-selling single ever. At long last he had some extended success in the United States following Devil Woman: the follow-up Dreaming also reached the top ten, peaking at #10. His 1980 duet Suddenly with Olivia Newton-John was a Top 20 hit in America. Richard continued with a string of top ten albums, including I'm No Hero, Wired For Sound, Now You See Me, Now You Don't, and, marking his 25th year in show business, Silver. For the EP by Jesu see Silver (EP. For the album by Starflyer 59 see Silver. The singles chart also saw his most consistent period of top twenty hits since the mid 1960s, with three of them on the Hot 100 at the same time at the end of 1980. His 1985 single "She's So Beautiful" reached #17 in the UK. 1987 saw Richard record his Always Guaranteed album, which became his best selling album of all new material. Cliff Richard 's album Always Guaranteed was released in 1987 It contained the two top ten hit singles, "My Pretty One" and "Some People". " My Pretty One " is a single released by Cliff Richard in 1987. Richard concluded his thirtieth year in music in spectacular chart style, reaching number one on the British singles chart with "Mistletoe and Wine", while simultaneously holding the number one positions on the album and video charts with the compilation Private Collection summing up his biggest hits from 1979-1988. Mistletoe and Wine is a popular single by Cliff Richard. Written by Jeremy Paul, Leslie Stewart and Keith Strachan, it was originally performed A private collection is a privately owned collection of works usually a collection of art. "Mistletoe and Wine" was his biggest seller to that point.

In 1986, Richard teamed up with The Young Ones to re-record his smash hit "Living Doll" for the charity Comic Relief. The Young Ones was a popular British sitcom, first seen in 1982, on BBC2. " Living Doll " is a popular song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows (then still The Drifters) Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character or scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work often to relieve tension Along with the song, the recording contained comedy dialogue between Richard and The Young Ones. The release went to no. 1. That same year he opened in the West End as a rock musician called upon to defend Earth in a trial set in the Andromeda Galaxy in the multi-media Dave Clark musical Time. West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London 's "Theatreland" Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. Multimedia is media and content that utilizes a combination of different content forms. Dave Clark born December 15, 1942 in Tottenham, London, is an English musician Time is a musical with a book and lyrics by Dave Clark and David Soames music by Jeff Daniels and additional songs by David Pomeranz.

Further top ten albums included Stronger in 1989, which included the UK No. 2 hit "Best Of Me", and UK No. 3 "Just Don't Have The Heart" written and produced by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman , From a Distance in 1990, and yet another number one with The Album in 1993. Mike Stock ( Margate, Kent, England, December 3, 1951) is a British Songwriter and Record producer Matt Aitken (born 25 August 1956 in Coventry England) is a British songwriter and record producer brought up in Astley Greater Manchester Peter Alan Waterman OBE (born 15 January 1947) is an English Record producer, occasional Songwriter, Radio and The song " From a Distance " was written in 1985 by American Singer-songwriter Julie Gold. The Album, also known as ABBA - The Album, is the fifth Album by Swedish pop group ABBA, released in 1977 The next few years saw Richard concentrate on bringing the musical Heathcliff to the stage. Heathcliff was the brain child of singer Cliff Richard based loosely on the novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, though The production was a resounding success, but the time it took seemed to take a toll on his reinvigorated chart status. Back in the UK during the next years and throughout the 1980s, Richard remained one of the best-known music artists in the country. In the space of a few years he worked with Elton John, Mark Knopfler, Julian Lennon, Freddie Mercury, Stevie Wonder, Phil Everly, Janet Jackson, Sheila Walsh, and Van Morrison. Mark Knopfler OBE (born August 12 1949 Glasgow, Scotland) is a British Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, John Charles Julian Lennon (born 8 April 1963) known universally as Julian Lennon, or by many fans Jude, is an English Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991 was a Zanzibar -born British Musician, best known as the lead Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13 1950 name later changed to Stevland Hardaway Morris) is an The Everly Brothers ( Don Everly, born Isaac Donald Everly February 1 1937 Brownie Muhlenberg County, Kentucky Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16 1966 is an American recording artist and entertainer Sheila Walsh, DMin (born July 5, 1956 in Glasgow Scotland) is a popular Scottish -born Vocalist, Songwriter George Ivan Morrison OBE (generally known as Van Morrison) (born 31 August 1945 is a Grammy Award -winning Northern Irish Singer, Richard also reunited with Olivia Newton-John. In 1989, he filled the Wembley Stadium for a few nights with a spectacular titled "The Event". original Wembley Stadium was a football Stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the Meanwhile, the Shadows later re-formed (and again split). They recorded on their own, but also reunited with Richard in 1978, 1984, and 1989-90 for some concerts. On June 14, 2004 Cliff Richard joined the Shadows onstage at the London Palladium. Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The London Palladium is a 2286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. The Shadows had decided to re-form for one final tour of the UK, with this concert heralded as their final ever concert as "Cliff and the Shadows. "

1995: Sir Cliff

Cliff Richard was knighted on 25 October 1995, the first rock star to be so honoured. Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 (Bob Geldof had received his honorary knighthood a full nine years earlier, but as a non-British citizen is not permitted to use 'Sir'). Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof, KBE, known as Bob Geldof (born 5 October 1951, is an Irish singer Richard was knighted ahead of Paul McCartney (1997) and Elton John (1998). Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942 is an English rock Singer, Bass guitarist songwriter Composer, Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 is an English pop / rock Singer, Composer In 1999, controversy arose regarding radio stations refusing to play his releases when EMI, Richard's label since 1958, refused to release his latest song, "Millennium Prayer". " The Millennium Prayer " is a 1999 charity single by Cliff Richard. Richard took it to an independent label, Papillon, which released the charity recording (in aid of Children's Promise). The single went on to top the UK chart for three weeks, his fourteenth No. 1, and the third highest-selling single of his career. Richard's next album (2001) was a covers project, Wanted, followed by another top ten album with Cliff at Christmas. Wanted is the 70th Studio album by British singer Cliff Richard, released by Papillion on 5 November 2001 The holiday album contained both new and older recordings, including the single "Santa's List", which reached No. 5 in 2003. Richard decamped to Nashville, Tennessee for his next album project in 2004, employing a writer's conclave to give him the pick of all new songs for the album Something's Goin' On. Something's Goin' On is the 76th Studio album by British singer Cliff Richard, released by Decca on 25 October 2004 in the UK Though the collection was critically well-received, it had disappointing sales. Nevertheless it was yet another top ten album, and produced three top fifteen singles: "Something's Goin' On", "I Cannot Give You My Love", with Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, and the lively "What Car". Barry Alan Crompton Gibb CBE (born 1 September 1946 is a singer songwriter and producer The Bee Gees were a singing trio of brothers — Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. Richard did not hide his disappointment with the album's lacklustre sales, and it was speculated that it might have been his last ever album of original songs.

Cliff Richard finished number 56 in the 2002 100 Greatest Britons list, sponsored by the BBC and voted for by the public. Adored especially by baby boomer women, many of whom camp out for his concert tickets, he has become a fixture of the British entertainment world and once led the Wimbledon Centre Court crowd in singing during a rain delay in 1996. Baby boomer is a term used to describe a person who was born during the Post-World War II baby boom between 1946 and 1964 The Championships Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon, is the oldest Tennis tournament in the world and is widely considered as the most prestigious The Ultimate Pop Star, a Channel 4 programme broadcast in 2004, revealed that Cliff Richard had sold more singles in the UK than any other music artist, ahead of the Beatles in second place and Elvis Presley in third. Channel 4 is a public-service Television and Radio broadcaster in the United Kingdom centred around a television channel of the same name which began

2006 saw Richard's album of duets, (another top 10 success) including newly-recorded material with Brian May, Dionne Warwick, Anne Murray, Barry Gibb and Daniel O'Donnell, plus some previously recorded duets with artists such as Phil Everly, Elton John and Olivia Newton-John. Brian Harold May, CBE Dionne Warwick (born Marie Dionne Warrick on December 12, 1940) is an acclaimed five-time Grammy Award -winning singer actress activist Anne Murray CC ONS (born Morna Anne Murray on June 20 1945 is a Canadian singer Daniel Francis Noel O'Donnell, Hon MBE (born December 12, 1961) is an Irish singer from County Donegal. The Everly Brothers ( Don Everly, born Isaac Donald Everly February 1 1937 Brownie Muhlenberg County, Kentucky Released to coincide with the UK leg of his latest world tour, the album "Here and Now" includes a number of lesser known, but fan-favourite songs including, My Kinda Life, How Did She Get Here, Hey Mr. Dream Maker, For Life, A Matter Of Moments, When The Girl In Your Arms, Every Face Tells A Story, Peace In Our Time and the Christmas single 21st Century Christmas, which debuted at No. 2 on the UK singles chart.

Richard's mother, Dorothy Webb, suffered from advanced Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease ( AD) also called Alzheimer disease or simply Alzheimer's, is the most common form of Dementia. In a September 2006 interview with the Daily Mail, he spoke about the difficulties he and his sisters had in dealing with their mother's condition. The Daily Mail is a British newspaper currently published in a tabloid format [9] On 18th October 2007 a statement on the star's website read, "We are sad to report that Cliff's mother, Dorothy, passed away early on 17 October; she was 87. "

Another compilation album, Love... The Album was released on November 12th. Love The Album is the 78th Studio album by British singer Cliff Richard, released by EMI on 12 November, 2007 in the UK Like Two's Company before it, this album includes both previously released material and newly-recorded songs, namely Waiting For A Girl Like You, When You Say Nothing At All, All Out Of Love, If You're Not the One and When I Need You (the latter was released as a single, reaching Number 38), (the album peaked at number 13). The concept of the project has divided fans who anticipate an album of new material.

"The most radical rock star ever"

Cliff Richard openly laments the lack of commercial support from radio stations and record labels. He spoke about this on the Alan Titchmarsh Show on ITV in December 2007, pointing out that while new bands needed airplay for promotion and sales, long-established artists like himself also relied upon airplay for the same ends. Alan Fred Titchmarsh, MBE DL (born 2 May 1949 is an English broadcaster particularly famous in the field of Gardening programmes on UK Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent He did note, however, that so-called eighties radio stations did play his records, and that this went some way to help sales and maintain his media presence. As noted in the recent BBC Radio 2 documentary "Cliff - Take Another Look", he points out that many documentaries charting the history of British music fail to even mention him. [10]

Cliff Richard's protracted chart success undermines radio stations' claims that he does not enjoy the support of their target audiences. Richard believes he is "the most radical rock star there has ever been". [11] Richard's premise is that his decision not to adopt the "sex, drugs and alcohol" image expected of rock stars, then and now, was the truly avant-garde choice.

Entrepreneur

Richard has become joint owner of the Arora International Hotel in Manchester, which opened in June 2004. He also owns property in the Algarve, Portugal, where he is involved in the production of wines at the Adega do Cantor (“Winery of the Singer”), a state-of-the-art winery in Guia, near Albufeira. The Algarve ( pron aɫ'gaɾv(ɨ is the southernmost region of mainland Portugal. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice Albufeira ( pron aɫbu'fɐjɾɐ is a Portuguese city and a municipality in the District of Faro, Algarve region In 2006, Cliff Richard received Portugal’s equivalent of a knighthood in recognition of his 40 years of personal and business involvement in that country.

He spends much of his time at his house in Barbados, and has lent it to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair at times. Barbados ( Portuguese word for bearded-ones, bɑrˈbeɪdoʊz -dɒs situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent Island nation Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair (born 6 May 1953 is a British Politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to [12].

Works

Chart accomplishments

The acts with the most aggregate time spent on the British record charts: Current rankings (by weeks):

  1. Elvis Presley (2,574)
  2. Cliff Richard (1,983)
  3. Queen (1,755)
  4. The Beatles (1,749)
  5. Madonna (1,660)
  6. Elton John (1,626)

Christmas songs

Cliff Richard has aimed for the Christmas number one single on several occasions, sometimes successfully. " Living Doll " is a popular song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows (then still The Drifters) Travellin' Light is a UK number-one single by Cliff Richard and The Shadows. Please Don't Tease is a UK number-one single of 1960 by Cliff Richard and The Shadows. I Love You is a UK number-one single of 1960 by Cliff Richard and The Shadows, written by Shadows' rhythm guitarist Bruce Welch. The Young Ones is a single by Cliff Richard and The Shadows. The song written by Sid Tepper and Roy C " The Next Time " was the first of three number one hit singles from the Cliff Richard musical Summer Holiday. " Bachelor Boy " (written by Bruce Welch and Cliff Richard) was a double 'A' side with " The Next Time " the first of three number one Summer Holiday is a song by Cliff Richard and The Shadows. It went to #1 in the UK The Minute You're Gone is a song by Cliff Richard. It went to #1 in the UK " Congratulations " is a Song written by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter as the UK entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1968 " We Don't Talk Anymore " was a UK number one single for four weeks in August 1979 for Cliff Richard. " Living Doll " is a popular song by Cliff Richard and the Shadows (then still The Drifters) Mistletoe and Wine is a popular single by Cliff Richard. Written by Jeremy Paul, Leslie Stewart and Keith Strachan, it was originally performed " Saviour's Day " is a popular song by Cliff Richard. " The Millennium Prayer " is a 1999 charity single by Cliff Richard. Queen were an English rock band formed in 1970 in London by guitarist The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 Madonna Louise Ciccone Ritchie (born August 16 1958 known as Madonna, is an American Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 is an English pop / rock Singer, Composer Each year record companies compete for the Christmas number one single spot on the British charts. His first Christmas number one (on some charts) was in 1960, but that single, "I Love You," was not a yuletide-themed song.

In later years, Richard often released songs with a Christmas or other religious theme:

He also featured on the 1989 Christmas number one by Band Aid II, thus appearing at the top of the charts for three consecutive Christmases. George Ivan Morrison OBE (generally known as Van Morrison) (born 31 August 1945 is a Grammy Award -winning Northern Irish Singer, Band Aid was a British and Irish charity supergroup, founded in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in order to raise money

Discography

Main article: Cliff Richard discography

Awards

Brit Awards

See also

References

  1. ^ Cliffennium, Volume 1, retrieved 2008-03-12.
  2. ^ Record sales from CliffRichard.org
  3. ^ Top Hits from EveryHit
  4. ^ actor, actress, singer and celebrity when they were young | childhoodCELEBS.com
  5. ^ Cliff Richard himself stated that the latter theory is correct; interviewed for the first episode of the BBC Four programme, Pop Britannia, broadcast on 4 January 2008.
  6. ^ O'Connor, John Kennedy. Richard say: Spain is the best of Eurovision Song Contest.
  7. ^ O'Connor, John Kennedy. The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History. Carlton Books, UK. 2007. ISBN 978-1-84442-994-3
  8. ^ UK National Archives
  9. ^ Daily Mail
  10. ^ BBC
  11. ^ BBC
  12. ^ ContactMusic.com

Bibliography

External links


Persondata
NAME Richard, Cliff
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Webb, Harry Rodger (birth name)
SHORT DESCRIPTION British singer
DATE OF BIRTH October 14, 1940
PLACE OF BIRTH Lucknow, United Provinces, British India
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
Events 1066 - Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings - In England on Senlac Hill seven miles from Hastings, the forces Lucknow is also a mansion in New Hampshire Lucknow ( लखनऊ لکھنؤ Lakhnaū) is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British
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