Billy Fury
| Billy Fury | |
|---|---|
 The Billy Fury statue at Albert Dock Liverpool |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ronald Wycherley |
| Born | 17 April 1940 Liverpool, England |
| Died | 28 January 1983 (aged 42) Paddington, London, England |
| Genres | Rock and roll, Rock, Pop, Rockabilly |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter, musician Actor |
| Instruments | Guitar, piano, drums |
| Years active | 1958–1983 |
| Labels | Decca, Parlophone Polydor |
| Associated acts | The Tornados Georgie Fame |
| Website | www.billyfury.com |
| Notable instruments | |
| Vocals | |
Billy Fury, born Ronald Wycherley (17 April 1940 - 28 January 1983),[1] was an internationally successful English singer from the late-1950s to the mid-1960s, and remained an active songwriter until the 1980s. Rheumatic fever, which he first contracted as a child, damaged his heart and ultimately contributed to his death.[2] An early British rock and roll (and film) star, he equalled The Beatles' record of 24 hits in the 1960s, and spent 332 weeks on the UK charts, without a chart-topping single or album.[1] Allmusic journalist, Bruce Eder, stated, "His mix of rough-hewn good looks and unassuming masculinity, coupled with an underlying vulnerability, all presented with a good voice and some serious musical talent, helped turn Fury into a major rock and roll star in short order".[2] Others have suggested that it was Fury's "Elvis Presley-influenced, hip-swivelling, and at times highly suggestive stage act."[3]
Contents |
[edit] Early years
Wycherley was born at Smithdown Hospital (later Sefton General Hospital, now demolished), Smithdown Road, Liverpool. He commenced music lessons on the piano before he was a teenager, and was bought his first guitar by the age of 14. Wycherley fronted his own group in 1955, but simultaneously worked full-time on a tugboat and later as a stevedore. He entered and won a talent competition, and by 1958 had started composing his own songs.[2] Wycherley first attended a concert in Birkenhead,[4] run by impresario Larry Parnes, in the hope of interesting famous singer Marty Wilde in some of the songs he had written. Instead, in an episode that has become pop music legend, Parnes pushed young Wycherley up on stage right away.[2] He was such an immediate success that Parnes signed him, added him to the tour, and renamed him 'Billy Fury'.[5] However, his early sexual and provocative stage performances received censure, and he was forced to tone them down.[2] In October 1959, the UK music magazine, NME, commented that Fury's stage antics had been drawing much press criticism.[6]
He released his first hit single for Decca, "Maybe Tomorrow", in 1959.[5] He also appeared in a televised play Strictly For Sparrows, and subsequently on Oh Boy![2] By March 1960, he reached #9 in the UK Singles Chart with his own composition "Colette",[1] followed by "That's Love" and his first album The Sound of Fury (1960),[5] which featured a young Joe Brown on lead guitar,[2] with backup vocals by The Four Jays.
After securing more hits and jettisoning his band The Blue Flames,[5] Parnes held auditions in Liverpool for a new group. Among those who failed were The Beatles,[2] who for the first time called themselves The Silver Beetles. They were offered the job for £20 a week on condition that they sacked their bassist Stuart Sutcliffe. John Lennon refused and the band left after Lennon had secured Fury's autograph.[citation needed] The Tornados were recruited as his backing band and toured and recorded with Fury from January 1962 to August 1963.
[edit] UK chart and film success
Fury concentrated less on rock and roll and more on mainstream ballads, such as "Halfway to Paradise" and "Jealousy"[5] (which reached #3 and #2 respectively in the UK Singles Chart in 1961). Fury confessed to the NME that "I wanted people to think of me simply as a singer - and not, more specifically, as a rock singer. I'm growing up, and I want to broaden my scope. I shall continue to sing rock songs, but at the same time my stage act is not going to be as wild in the future".[7] It was Decca's decision to mould Fury into a teen idol after his last self-penned song, "My Christmas Prayer", had failed to chart. 1962 and 1963 were Fury's best years chartwise. In 1962 Fury appeared in his first film, Play It Cool, modelled on the Elvis movies.[2] It featured Helen Shapiro, Danny Williams, Shane Fenton and Bobby Vee, who appeared with The Vernons Girls. The hit single from the film was "Once Upon a Dream". There were other notable performances by several British actors and performers such as Richard Wattis, Lionel Blair and Dennis Price.
Fury's We Want Billy! (1963) was one of the first live albums in UK rock history and featured renditions of his hits and cover versions of several R&B songs such as "Unchain My Heart".
In 1965 he appeared in the film I've Gotta Horse,[5] which also featured The Bachelors, Michael Medwin and Jon Pertwee. The album from the film was made available in stereo. Fury left Decca Records in 1966, after signing to a five year recording contract with Parlophone.[2]
Having had more UK hits, such as "It's Only Make Believe" and "I Will" (written by Dick Glasser, not to be confused with the Paul McCartney song), both in 1964, and "In Thoughts of You" (1965), Fury began a lengthy absence from the charts in 1967, and underwent surgery for heart problems in 1972 and 1976 which led to his abandoning touring.[2][5] Despite spending many weeks on the charts, Fury never achieved a number one single, but he remained popular even after his hits stopped. "I Will" became a U.S. hit for Dean Martin (1965) and for Ruby Winters (1977).
[edit] Later years
In 1973, Fury emerged from a period of semi-retirement to star as 'Stormy Tempest' in the film That'll Be the Day.[5] Also starring David Essex and Ringo Starr, it was roughly based on the early days of The Beatles. Starr was from the same Dingle area of Liverpool as Fury, and had originally played drums for Rory Storm & The Hurricanes, whom the Stormy Tempest group were said to be modelled upon.
In the mid 1970s Fury went out on the road with Marty Wilde, Away from the spotlight, he focussed on wildlife preservation.[2] Fury's health deteriorated and he underwent heart surgery notably in 1976.[5] In 1978 he was declared bankrupt. A new release, "Be Mine Tonight" (1981), failed to make an appearance in the UK Singles Chart. Worse was to follow in March 1981 when Fury, working on his own farm, collapsed and almost perished. He returned to touring later that year and his next two singles, "Love or Money" and "Devil or Angel", just dented the UK chart.[2] In 1981 and 1982, Fury was signed to Polydor Records by A&R man Frank Neilson and recorded a comeback album, The One And Only (released posthumously) with Shakin' Stevens' producer Stuart Colman. Due to his health, Fury did little touring to promote the new album. His last public appearance was at the Sunnyside, Northampton, in December 1982, where the website, billyfury.com, now sponsors a charity show every March. Fury recorded a live performance for the television show, Unforgettable, featuring six of his old hits although, at the request of his mother, only four of these were broadcast.
[edit] Personal life
Fury lived with Lee Middleton from 1959 to 1967, married Judith Hall in May 1969 and then he met heiress Lisa Voice (née Rosen), they both lived in London and sometimes on Billy's farm in Wales, from 1971 until his death.[8] Fury was a keen amateur birdwatcher.
[edit] Death
After returning from a recording session in London in the early hours of 28 January 1983, Billy Fury collapsed in his home in London during the night. His manager Tony Read found him unconscious the next morning. He was rushed to a hospital, but died later in the afternoon at 2.10pm. He was 42 years old. A week later his funeral was held at the St. John´s Wood Church in London. Among the mourners were Larry Parnes, Marty Wilde, Hal Carter and ex-Pirate Mick Green in addition to family members, friends and fans. After the service Billy was buried at Mill Hill cemetery. A track issued posthumously, "Forget Him", became his final single chart hit.
[edit] Legacy
In 2003 a bronze statue of Fury was unveiled at the National Museum of Liverpool Life.[1] The sculpture, by Tom Murphy, a Liverpool sculptor, was donated by 'The Sound of Fury' fan club after the money was raised by fans.
In 1999 and 2000 the song "Wondrous Place", a favourite of Fury's (he re-recorded it at least three times during his career) later received wide airplay on UK television when it was used as the theme for a Toyota Yaris car advertisement.
In 2007 a biographical documentary film Billy Fury His Wondrous Story was released on DVD .
Eight of his EMI recordings remained unreleased on mainstream CD until June 2010, when they appeared on a 29-track issue, The Complete Parlophone Singles, released by Peaksoft (PEA009). The singer's Estate licensed the tracks to benefit his memorial fund, which finances equipment purchases for hospital heart units.
In November 2011, further cooperation between the Estate and Peaksoft resulted in the issuing of a second CD, The Lost Album (PEA014), which attempts to construct the format of an LP recorded by Fury in 1967-71, but which was never released.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Year | Title | UK Albums Chart[1] |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | The Sound of Fury | #18 |
| 1960 | Billy Fury | - |
| 1961 | Halfway to Paradise | #5 |
| 1963 | Billy | #6 |
| 1963 | We Want Billy! ¶ | #14 |
| 1983 | The One and Only | #54 |
[edit] Compilation albums
| Year | Title | UK Albums Chart[1] |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | The Billy Fury Hit Parade | #44 |
| 2008 | His Wondrous Story - The Complete Collection | #10 |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | UK Singles Chart[1] | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | "Maybe Tomorrow" | #18 | Decca |
| 1959 | "Margo" | #28 | Decca |
| 1959 | "Angel Face" | - | Decca |
| 1959 | "My Christmas Prayer" | - | Decca |
| 1959 | "Collette" | #9 | Decca |
| 1960 | "That's Love" † | #19 | Decca |
| 1960 | "Wondrous Place"[9] | #25 | Decca |
| 1960 | "A Thousand Stars" | #14 | Decca |
| 1961 | "Don't Worry" ‡ | #40 | Decca |
| 1961 | "Halfway to Paradise" | #3 | Decca |
| 1961 | "Jealousy" | #2 | Decca |
| 1961 | "I'd Never Find Another You" | #5 | Decca |
| 1962 | "Letter Full of Tears" | #32 | Decca |
| 1962 | "Last Night Was Made for Love" | #4 | Decca |
| 1962 | "Once Upon a Dream" | #7 | Decca |
| 1962 | "Because of Love" | #18 | Decca |
| 1963 | "Like I've Never Been Gone" | #3 | Decca |
| 1963 | "When Will You Say I Love You?" | #3 | Decca |
| 1963 | "In Summer" | #5 | Decca |
| 1963 | "Somebody Else's Girl" | #18 | Decca |
| 1963 | "Do You Really Love Me Too? (Fools Errand)" | #13 | Decca |
| 1964 | "I Will" | #14 | Decca |
| 1964 | "It's Only Make Believe" | #10 | Decca |
| 1965 | "I'm Lost Without You" | #16 | Decca |
| 1965 | "In Thoughts of You" | #9 | Decca |
| 1965 | "Run to My Lovin' Arms" | #25 | Decca |
| 1966 | "I'll Never Quite Get Over You" | #35 | Decca |
| 1966 | "Don't Let a Little Pride Stand in Your Way" | - | Decca |
| 1966 | "Give Me Your Word" | #27 | Decca |
| 1967 | "Hurtin' is Loving" | - | Parlophone |
| 1967 | "Loving You" | - | Parlophone |
| 1967 | "Suzanne in the Mirror" | - | Parlophone |
| 1968 | "Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt" | - | Parlophone |
| 1968 | "Silly Boy Blue" | - | Parlophone |
| 1968 | "Phone Box" | - | Parlophone |
| 1968 | "Lady" | - | Parlophone |
| 1969 | "I Call for My Rose" | - | Parlophone |
| 1969 | "All the Way to the USA" | - | Parlophone |
| 1970 | "Why Are You Leaving?" | - | Parlophone |
| 1970 | "Paradise Alley" | - | Parlophone |
| 1972 | "Will the Real Man Stand Up?" | - | Fury Records |
| 1974 | "I'll Be Your Sweetheart" | - | Warner Bros. |
| 1981 | "Be Mine Tonight" | - | Polydor |
| 1982 | "Love or Money" | #57 | Polydor |
| 1982 | "Devil or Angel" | #58 | Polydor |
| 1983 | "Let Me Go, Lover!" | - | Polydor |
| 1983 | "Forget Him" | #59 | Polydor |
¶ - Billed as Billy Fury and The Tornados
† - Billed as Billy Fury with The Four Jays
‡ - Billed as Billy Fury with The Four Kestrels
[edit] References in popular culture
- His life was dramatised for BBC Radio in 1994, in a play called The Sound of Fury, with Anton Lesser playing the singer.
- Rock band Devilish Presley recorded a song "Billy Fury is Dead", for their 2008 Flesh Ride album. They were interviewed about it in the "Tributes" section of the "Official" Billy Fury website.[10]
- Bernie Taupin included the song, "Billy Fury", on his album, Tribe, released in 1986. Sound effects at the beginning of the song gave the impression that it is being played on a jukebox, and the "imaginary" vocalist sang about his desire to "be like Billy Fury" and have the trappings of a rock singer. Elton John appeared towards the end of the song contributing some backing vocals.
- In 1987 Fury was featured as the cover star of The Smiths' last single 'Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me'.
- In the 2009 film Telstar, directed by Nick Moran, Fury is played by Jon Lee.
[edit] Quotation
| “ | I have often been called the last of the rock and rollers - and quite frankly I take this as a compliment - but I don't agree with this tag line: there are a lot of great rock singers in this country. |
” |
NME - May 1963[11]
[edit] See also
- British rock and roll
- List of people from Merseyside
- List of Decca Records artists
- List of rockabilly musicians
- List of performers on Top of the Pops
[edit] Bibliography
- Halfway to Paradise (1996) - Spencer Lee
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 217. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Biography by Bruce Eder". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p4324/biography. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
- ^ Goldman, Lawrence et al. (editors) (2009) "Fury, Billy" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press, Oxford, England, electronic resource requires subscription, OCLC 56707601
- ^ BBC.co.uk biography of Fury
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Roberts, David (1998). Guinness Rockopedia (1st ed.). London: Guinness Publishing Ltd.. p. 124. ISBN 0-85112-072-5.
- ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 73. CN 5585.
- ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 95. CN 5585.
- ^ a b Billyfury.com - accessed July 2009
- ^ Label shot of original Billy Fury single
- ^ "The story. Your 60s site since 1998". Billy Fury. http://www.billyfury.com/. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
- ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 120. CN 5585.
[edit] External links
- Billy Fury at the Internet Movie Database
- Billy Fury at Allmusic
- Billy Fury biography
- Official website
- 'Sound of Fury' fan club
- Billy Fury In Thoughts Of You fan club
- The Billy Fury Story, a show featuring Fury's Tornados, former backing band founded in the 1970s
- BBC Archive - Mersey - BBC Interview with Fury
