Michael Holliday
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| Michael Holliday | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Norman Alexander Milne |
| Born | 26 November 1924 , Liverpool |
| Died | 29 October 1963 (aged 38) |
Michael Holliday (26 November 1924 — 29 October 1963 [1]) was a British singer (real name Norman Alexander Milne) popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s, who sang in a very similar style to Bing Crosby.
Born in Liverpool and brought up in St Agnes Road, off Melrose Road, situated in an area of Liverpool called Kirkdale, he had a string of chart hits in the pre-Beatles era in the UK, including two number one singles, "The Story of My Life" and "Starry Eyed".
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[edit] Career
Michael Holliday's career in music began by winning an amateur talent contest, ‘New Voices of Merseyside’, at the Locarno Ballroom, West Derby Road, Liverpool. Then, while working as a seaman in the Merchant Navy, Michael was persuaded to enter a talent contest at Radio City Music Hall in New York … and again, he won. This inspired him to seek a career in show business. In 1951 he secured two summer season’s work as a vocalist with Dick Denny's band at Butlin's Holiday Camp, Pwllheli.
In March 1953 he joined the Eric Winstone Band, another Butlin’s contracted band that toured when the summer season's work was over. They also broadcast occasionally for BBC Radio.
In December 1954 Holliday wrote to the BBC requesting a TV audition. His audition came in April 1955 and he made his first TV appearance on The Centre Show on 22 July 1955. This TV performance was seen by Norrie Paramor, then head of A&R for EMI's Columbia record label. He was signed as a solo artist to EMI's Columbia label, by the record producer, Norrie Paramor.[2] He also sang "Four Feather Falls", the theme tune to the puppet based television program of the same name.
Holliday suffered from stage fright and had a mental breakdown in 1961; he committed suicide two years later, dying from a suspected drugs overdose in Croydon, Surrey.[3] His grave is at Anfield Cemetery, Priory Road, Liverpool.
Columbia released a tribute album in his memory which included a eulogy by Bing Crosby.[4]
Holliday's life is detailed in a 2004 biography by Ken Crossland, entitled The Man Who Would Be Bing.
[edit] UK singles, release dates and highest chart position
- "The Yellow Rose of Texas" / "Stein Song", (September 1955)
- "Sixteen Tons" / "The Rose Tattoo", (January 1956)
- "Nothin' To Do" / "Perfume, Candy And Flowers", (March 1956), #20
- "Hot Diggity (Dog Diggity Boom)" / "The Gal With The Yaller Shoes", (June 1956), #13
- "Ten Thousand Miles" / "The Runaway Train", (September 1956), #24
- "I Saw Esau" / "Yaller Yaller Gold", (January 1957)
- "My House Is Your House" / "Love Is Strange", (March 1957)
- "Four Walls" / "Wringle Wrangle", (May 1957)
- "All of You" / "It's The Good Things We Remember", (July 1957)
- "Old Cape Cod" / "Love You Darlin’", (September 1957)
- "The Story of My Life" / "Keep Your Heart", (January 1958), #1
- "In Love" / "Rooney", (February 1958), #26
- "Stairway Of Love" / "May I?", (May 1958), #3
- "I'll Always Be In Love With You" / "I'll Be Lovin' You Too", (June 1958), #27
- "She Was Only Seventeen" / "The Gay Vagabond", (September 1958)
- "My Heart is An Open Book" / "Careless Hands", (November 1958)
- "Palace Of Love" / "The Girls From The County Armagh", (February 1959)
- "Moments Of Love" / "Dearest", (May 1959)
- "Life Is A Circus" / "For You, For You", (August 1959)
- "Starry Eyed" / "The Steady Game", (November 1959), #1
- "Skylark" / "Dream Talk", (March 1960), #39
- "Little Boy Lost" / "The One Finger Symphony", (June 1960), #50
- "Catch Me A Kiss" / "Stay in Love", (November 1960)
- "The Miracle of Monday Morning" / "Remember Me", (February 1961)
- "Dream Boy Dream" / "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now", (June 1961)
- "Wishin' On A Rainbow / "I Don't Want You To See Me Cry", (April 1962)
- "Have I Told You Lately that I Love You?" / "It Only Takes A Minute", (September 1962)
- "Laugh and the World Laughs With You" / "Iron Fence", (February 1963)
- "Between Hello And Goodbye" / "Just To Be With You Again", (July 1963)
- "Drums / "Can I Forget You", (November 1963)
- "Dear Heart" / "My Year Of Love", (March 1964)
- "My Last Date (With You)" / "Always is a Long, Long Time", (June 1964)
[edit] See also
- List of British pop musicians of the 1950s
- List of British pop musicians of the 1960s
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
