Ricky Valance

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Ricky Valance was born David Spencer, on 10 April 1939, in Ynysddu, near Wattsville, South Wales.

He bucked the trend, in that the 1950s, and early 1960s 'death songs' were almost automatically denied Airplay by the BBC. Due to this, Mark Dinning's, "Teen Angel" sank without trace, whilst other American death records were not released in Britain.

Ray Peterson's original version of "Tell Laura I Love Her" was not originally released in Britain. But EMI, found a Welsh singer, formerly named David Spencer, to cover the banned song. His name was changed to Ricky Valance, after Ritchie Valens, who had died with Buddy Holly, and The Big Bopper, about 18 months earlier.

The recording was banned by the BBC, but reached the number one spot in on the UK Singles Chart in September, 1960. Ricky Valance was the first Welshman to reach the top spot, but was unable to replicate this feat again.