Harry Roger Webb, or Sir Cliff Richard, as he's known these days, was born in Lucklow, India, on the 14th October 1940.

He started in 1957 in a group called The Drifters. The band consisted of Terry Smart (drums), Ken Payre (guitar) and Ian Samuell (lead guitar). After a demo tape of the single "Breathless" was heard by Ronnie Paramor from EMI Records, he gave them an audition. Paramor was impressed with what he saw and heard and wanted to sign Cliff Richard, but without the rest of the group. However, Cliff stuck to his guns and persuaded the producer to sign all of them together. They soon recorded the single "Schoolboy Crush", though it turned out that the B-side "Move It" became the hit. Jack Good, an influential person in television, promoted the group and things started to look on the up when they made their debut appearance on his own television show with "Oh Boy". Later on the line up changed when Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch joined the band and they changed their name to The Shadows.

Cliff Richard's career shows a lot of similarities to Elvis Presley's. His appearance at that time was almost a copy of Elvis' and he also starred in various films like him. In 1959 "Living Doll" was released and went to the top of the U.K. charts.

In the 60s Sir Cliff enjoyed further success, especially with the hit "The Young Ones" and the film of the same title, and also various pantomime performances. The film actually broke box office records - believe it or not. His musical style then was complimented by the upbeat songs, such as "I Could Easily (Fall In Love With You)", "Summer Holiday" and "Batchelor Boy", but also the ballads "The Twelfth Of Never", "Constantly" and "The Minute You're Gone".

In 1968 he found himself back at the top of the charts with the Eurovision Song Contest entry "Congratulations". In the early 70s Cliff Richard was considered by many as a past performer and his only notable success at the time was another entry in the Eurovision Song Contest with "Power To All Our Friends".

1976 his old friend Bruce Welch of The Shadows was assigned to actually produce him. Although Cliff had played off and on with The Shadows over the past few years, his career became more of a solo project. The combination of the two proved a rewarding one, and the album "I'm Nearly Famous" was the result. Further hits, such as "Carrie" and "Wired For Sound" followed and paved his way back to the top flight throughout the 80s.

Sir Cliff Richard has also featured with various other artists, duetting with the likes of Elton John, Sarah Brightman, Olivia Newton John and Van Morrison, just to name but a few.

His direction in music industry took diverse changes in the late 80s and nineties. He re-recorded the hit single "Living Doll" with the comedy quartet The Young Ones and also starred in the musical "Time".

In 1995 he was honoured "Sir Cliff Richard" by the Queen and in 1996 fulfilled a lifetime ambition, appearing as Heathcliff in "Wuthering Heights".

Now, at the end of the 90s, he's back once again at the top of the charts with the "Lords Prayer" (to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne"). As a performer Cliff Richard is hard to beat, even though various radio stations across the U.K. are trying to 'topple' him by banning his songs from being aired. Yet facts and figures prove the disbelievers and anti-Cliffanatics all wrong. He has had 119 singles in the charts so far, 14 of them reaching the top spot. His career has spanned 4 decades and, speaking from personal experience, his concerts are well worth seeing, as he's certainly an energetic and great performer, specially considering he's approaching his 60th birthday next year.

 

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last updated: 9. 12. 99