Tony Rivers
Tony Rivers, born Douglas Anthony Rivers on 21 December 1940 in Shildon, County Durham,[1] is a singer best known for singing with the groups Tony Rivers and the Castaways and Harmony Grass. He also sang on albums by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Roger Daltrey, Shakin' Stevens and Cliff Richard.
Rivers went to Raine's Foundation School in Bethnal Green. After working at Butlins’ Holiday Camp in Clacton, he joined a group called The Cutaways and they became Tony Rivers and the Castaways. They made six singles for EMI between the years 1963-1966 but did not have a hit.[2] In 1968 the band disbanded and Rivers formed Harmony Grass with former bandmates. Their single "Move in a Little Closer Baby" hit #24 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1969. They released one album, This Is Us, on RCA, and did concerts in the UK (including at London's Marquee Club).[3] Rivers left to go solo in 1970.
Rivers started to do session work and performed many cover versions on the Top of the Pops records. He sang and arranged with/for Cliff Richard throughout the 70's up to the late 80's going on world tours and assisting with the production of records for Cliff during the period. He also worked on recordings and hits for artists as diverse as Steve Harley, Shaking Stevens, Sheena Easton, Soft Machine, UFO, Pink Floyd (The Final Cut), The Who and others. He is the voice of West Ham United for the hit I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles and the voice leading the Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? theme.[4]