Web Page No 2748

 

9thJanuary 2021

 

1^st Picture: David Whitfield Early picture

2^nd Picture: The Wonderful World of Davis Whitfield album cover.

3^rd Picture: David Whitfield Statue

4^th Picture: Plaque by the statue

 

David Whitfield

David Whitfield was born on 2nd February 1925 in Hull and was at one time one of the most popular British male tenor vocalist. He became the first British artist to have a UK No.1 single in the UK and in the United States with "Cara Mia", featuring Mantovani and his orchestra. He died on 15^th  January 1980 from a brain haemorrhage in Sydney, Australia, while on tour at the age of 54.

He was born in Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire and sang in the choir at his church during his childhood and entertained his fellow members of the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Whilst in the navy, as well as singing for his and his shipmates’ pleasure, he started spending more time ashore in the Far East, entertaining the Force’s establishments. One of the more regular bookings ashore in 1948/49 was in Hong Kong with a nine-piece band formed by Ken Cochrane. David was the interval cabaret turn, but soon had to increase his repertoire… because he very quickly became more popular. The band leader was looking to create a cabaret show, and he enrolled a group of singers [called Tex Winter and the Tumbleweeds] from serving naval personnel. David was one of these recruits, and this is where his singing career really started to take off, a world away from his native Hull.

After the war, he appeared on Hughie Greene’s  Opportunity Knocks, a talent show on Radio Luxembourg. His first recording to reach the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart was "Bridge of Sighs", written by Billy Reid. "Answer Me" (later recorded with different lyrics as "Answer Me, My Love") reached number one in the UK.

He had other hits in the 1950s, and was the most successful British male singer in America during that period. In addition, he was the first British male vocalist to earn a gold disc and the third overall. He was also the first to reach the Top Ten of the Billboard Top 100, and the first artist from Britain to sell over a million copies of a record in the US.

All of his hits were released by the Decca record label in the UK. His only album to reach the UK Albums Chart was The World of David Whitfield, which reached Number 19. He used orchestras, including those of Stanley Black, fellow Decca artist Mantovani and Roland Shaw, as backing accompaniment.

His most popular recordings were:

"Answer Me" – his first UK chart topper.

"Cara Mia" – with Mantovani which earned him that gold disc and gave him his second Number One in the UK Singles Chart.

"My September Love".

"I'll Find You" – the theme music to the 1957 film, Sea Wife, starring Joan Collins and Richard Burton.

"William Tell" – the theme music to the TV series, The Adventures of William Tell.

"Cara Mia" spent ten weeks at the pole position in the UK, making it one of the biggest selling British records in the pre-rock days. That recording co-credits Mantovani and his Orchestra and Chorus. He appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and the 1954 Royal Command Performance and continued to perform regularly across the globe, while still living in Hull.

Many of his singles were issued on LP and have been reissued in recent years on CD compilations under licence. There were three 45rpm EP specials (1959–60), one entitled "The Good Old Songs" and the other two featuring numbers from "Rose Marie" and "The Desert Song," two musical shows in which Whitfield toured. On leaving Decca he recorded two singles for HMV (1962–63). His last LP, made for Philips in 1975 and entitled Hey There! It's David Whitfield, included his third recording of "Cara Mia" (he had already recorded a stereo re-make for Decca in 1966 for an album entitled Great Songs for Young Lovers). His last single was for Denman, a coupling of "Land of Hope and Glory" and "When You Lose the One You Love" (1977).

He died from a brain haemorrhage in Sydney, Australia, while on tour at the age of 54.

A statue in the memory of Whitfield was unveiled outside of the New Theatre in Hull on 31^st August 2012, before the opening night of a show celebrating the life and music of his music.

 

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Peter

 

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On this day 9^th January 1960 – 1965

 

On 09/01/1960 the number one single was Why - Anthony Newley and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was not listed and the box office smash was North by Northwest. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.The big news story of the day was Aswan Dam foundation stone laid.

 

 

On 09/01/1961 the number one single was I Love You - Cliff Richard & the Shadows The top rated TV show was Emergency Ward 10 (ATV) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 was Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was Sunday Night at the London Palladium (ATV).

 

 

On 09/01/1962 the number one single was Moon River - Danny Williams and the number one album was Blue Hawaii - Elvis Presley. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was Avalanche buries 16 villages in Peru.

 

 

On 09/01/1963 the number one single was The Next Time/Bachelor Boy - Cliff Richard & the Shadows and the number one album was Black & White Minstrel Show - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was Sylvia Plath publishes her only novel The Bell Jar.

 

 

On 09/01/1964 the number one single was I Want to Hold Your hand - The Beatles and the number one album was With the Beatles - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Steptoe & Son (BBC) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was Anti-US demonstrations over Panama Canal.

 

 

On 09/01/1965 the number one single was I Feel Fine - The Beatles and the number one album was Beatles For Sale - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.