Ricky Valance
| Ricky Valance | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | David Spencer |
| Born |
10 April 1939 Ynysddu, Monmouthshire, South Wales |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | Late 1950s–present |
| Labels | Columbia, Decca, Crystal |
Ricky Valance (born 10 April 1939) is a Welsh singer. He is best known for the number one single "Tell Laura I Love Her", which sold over a million copies in 1960.[1]
Life and career
Born David Spencer in Ynysddu, Monmouthshire, near Wattsville, South Wales, he is the eldest of seven children.[1] He joined the RAF at the age of 17.[1]
He started his musical career after leaving the military.[1] He performed in local clubs for a couple of years before he was discovered by an A&R representative from EMI, placed with the record producer Norrie Paramor and signed to EMI's Columbia label.[2] At the first recording session, Valance was given the chance to cover Ray Peterson's American hit, "Tell Laura I Love Her".[2] He was rewarded with a number 1 hit in September 1960, thanks to airplay on Radio Luxembourg.[2][3]
The BBC refused to play teenage tragedy songs like "Tell Laura I Love Her". Many American death rock records were simply never released in the United Kingdom.[4]
First Welshman at number one
Ray Peterson's original version of "Tell Laura I Love Her", which was co-written by Jeff Barry, was not released in the United Kingdom, because Decca Records considered it in bad taste.[4] EMI subsequently arranged for Valance to cover the song.[5] Valance thus became the first Welshman to reach the top spot - Shirley Bassey being the first Welsh female.
After topping the UK Singles Chart, Valance appeared in the 1961 A Song For Europe competition, hoping to represent the UK in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest. His song, "Why Can't We?", placed third out of the nine entries; the winner was "Are You Sure?" performed by the Allisons.
Further singles included "Movin' Away", "Jimmy's Girl" and "Six Boys".[1] Over 100,000 copies sold of "Jimmy´s Girl", and "Moving Away" made it to number one in Australia and Scandinavia, with 150,000 copies sold. In being unable to replicate his initial UK chart success, he thus remains a one-hit wonder.
Valance now lives in Cabo Roig on the outskirts of Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca in Spain, where he still performs on a regular basis. He also has a home in Blaenau Gwent in Wales.
UK singles
Columbia
- DB4493 - "Tell Laura I Love Her" / "Once Upon a Time" (1960)
- DB4543 - "Movin' Away" / "Lipstick on Your Lips" (1960)
- DB4586 - "Jimmy's Girl" / "Only the Young" (1961)
- DB4592 - "Why Can't We" / "Fisherboy" (1961)
- DB4680 - "Bobby" / "I Want to Fall in Love" (1961)
- DB4725 - "I Never Had a Chance" / "It's Not True" (1961)
- DB4787 - "Try to Forget Her" / "At Times Like These" (1962)
- DB4864 - "Don't Play No.9" / "Till the Final Curtain Falls" (1962)
Decca
- F12129 - "Six Boys" / "Face in the Crowd" (1965)
Crystal
- CR7004 - "My Summer Love" / "Abigail" (1969) (as Jason Merryweather)
See also
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
- List of Eurovision: Your Decision contestants
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "BBC Wales - Music - Ricky Valance". Bbc.co.uk. 2009-07-08. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Ricky Valance Biography - Music Artist Band Biographies - Artists Bands Bio - FREE MP3 Downloads". Music.us. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
- ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 579. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 53. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
- ↑ "BBC Wales - Music - Ricky Valance". Bbc.co.uk. 2009-07-08. Retrieved 2014-01-28.