Wayne Fontana

This article is about the musician. For the Pennsylvania politician, see Wayne D. Fontana.

Wayne Fontana
Birth name	Glyn Geoffrey Ellis
Born	28 October 1945 (1945-10-28)
Origin	Manchester, Lancashire, England
Genres	Beat, pop
Occupations	Singer
Years active	1962-present
Labels	Fontana
Associated acts	The Mindbenders
Website	waynefontanauk.com

Wayne Fontana (born Glyn Geoffrey Ellis, 28 October 1945, Manchester, Lancashire) is an English pop singer.

Biography

In 1963, he formed his backing group, the Mindbenders and got a recording contract. He remained under contract to Fontana Records after parting with The Mindbenders. However, Fontana got his stage name from Elvis Presley's drummer D. J. Fontana, rather than his record label. He soldiered on alone, using musicians under the name of the Opposition. Notably, Frank Renshaw (lead guitar) (born 22 June 1943, Wythenshawe, Manchester), Bernie Burns (drums), Roy 'Rossi' Henshall (bass), Rod Gerrard (guitar, ex Herman's Hermits, and Phil Keane (drums) amongst others. Sometimes they were billed as the Mindbenders, or just as the Wayne Fontana band. Fontana's most successful solo single release was also his last, "Pamela, Pamela", which reached Number 11 in the UK Singles Chart early in 1967.

In 2005, he fought off bankruptcy, but was arrested after police were called by bailiffs who went to his home in Glossop, Derbyshire. He poured petrol on to the bonnet of a car, and set it alight with a bailiff inside. Fontana was remanded in custody on 25 May 2007 in regard to the charge. He appeared at Derby Crown Court dressed as the lady of justice, with a sword, scales, crown, cape and dark glasses, claiming "justice is blind". He dismissed his lawyers. On 10 November 2007, he was sentenced to 11 months for setting fire to the car but was released because he had already served the equivalent of the term, held under the Mental Health Act 1983. After his release he settled in Spain.

In March 2011 Fontana was arrested at the Palace Theatre, Manchester after failing to appear in court in Wakefield, West Yorkshire over an unpaid speeding fine.

In the court, regarding this speeding fine, it was found that a ticket was never issued to Mr. Fontana. He returned home to Spain not aware that he had an outstanding speeding ticket. It was also determined in Magistrates court in Wakefield that points had been erroneously been added to Mr. Fontana's license, which were removed by the court.

All fines were paid at that time as well as any pending parking fines. That cleared the record with the British government.

Fontana continues to perform, notably in the 2008 Solid Silver Sixties Tour.

Discography

Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders

• "Hello Josephine" b/w "Road Runner" - 1963 - UK #46 (UK Fontana TF404)
• "For You, For You" b/w "Love Potion No. 9" - 1963 (UK Fontana TF418)
• "Little Darlin'" b/w "Come Dance With Me" - 1964 (UK Fontana TF436)
• "Stop Look and Listen" b/w "Duke of Earl" - 1964 - UK #37 (UK Fontana TF451)
• "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um" b/w "First Taste of Love" - 1964 - UK #5 (UK Fontana TF497)
• "Game of Love" b/w "Since You've Been Gone" - 1965 - UK #2, US #1 (UK Fontana TF535/US Fontana F-1503)
• "Game of Love" b/w "One More Time" - 1965 (US Fontana F-1509)
• "It's Just a Little Bit Too Late" b/w "Long Time Comin'"- 1965 - UK #20, US #45 (UK Fontana TF579/US Fontana F-1514)
• "She Needs Love" b/w "Like I Did" - 1965 - UK #32 (UK Fontana TF611/US Fontana F-1524)

Wayne Fontana (solo)

• "It Was Easier to Hurt Her" b/w "You Made Me What I Am Today" - 1965 - UK #36 (UK Fontana TF642/US MGM 13456)
• "Come on Home" b/w "My Eyes Break Out In Tears" - 1966 - UK #16 (UK Fontana TF684/US MGM 13516)
• "Goodbye Bluebird" b/w "The Sun's So Hot Today" - 1966 - UK #49 (UK Fontana TF737)
• "Pamela Pamela" b/w "Something Keeps Calling Me Back" - 1966 - UK #11 (UK Fontana TF770/US MGM 13661)
• "24 Sycamore" b/w "From A Boy To A Man" - 1967 (UK Fontana TF827/US MGM 13762) (huge hit in Australia)
• "The Impossible Years" b/w "In My World" - 1967 (UK Fontana TF866) (Australian hit)
• "Gina" b/w "We All Love the Human Race" - 1967 (UK Fontana TF889) (No.1 in Rio de Janeiro)
• "Storybook Children" b/w "I Need To Love You" - 1968 (UK Fontana TF911)
• "The Words of Bartholomew" b/w "Mind Excursion" - 1968 (UK Fontana TF933)
• "Never An Everyday Thing" b/w "Waiting For A Break In The Clouds" - 1968 (UK Fontana TF976)
• "Dayton Ohio 1903" b/w "Say Goodbye To Yesterday" - 1969 (UK Fontana TF1008/US Metromedia 133)
• "We're Building a Love" b/w "Charlie Cass" - 1969 (UK Fontana TF1054, early pressings)
• "Charlie Cass" b/w "Linda" (UK Fontana TF1054, later pressings) - 1969
• "Together" b/w "One Man Woman" (UK Warner Bros. K 16269) (hit in Australia) - 1973
• "The Last Bus Home" b/w "Give Me Just A Little Bit" - 1976 (UK Polydor 2058 758)

Albums

• Wayne One - 1966 (UK Fontana TL5351 (Mono)/STL5351 (Stereo))
• Wayne Fontana - 1967 (US MGM E 4459 (Mono)/SE 4459 (Stereo))

External links

• Official website
• Official Site (now defunct) archives at the Wayback Machine