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Cliff Richard Guides

Early Life/Biography

One of the most prolific acts in the history of music, Cliff Richard (born Harry Webb) has been entertaining crowds and producing records for fifty years. The only act to hold a number one single for in five consecutive decades, Richard has earned himself in the pantheon of music greats. Today, he's still writing and performing music and wowwing crowds with his classic take on pop-rock.

Born to British parents in India, Richards would spend the first eight years of his life overseas. Once back in England, Richard and his family found themselves falling on hard times. Although a decent student, Richards could only find employment as an inventory clerk after graduation.

However, his interest in skiffle music would change his life forever. With his father supporting him, Cliff Richard took up the guitar and formed his first band, the Quintones. Although that band wouldn't last long, it would lead to Richard creating The Drifters in 1958. Their first single topped out at number 2 on the UK charts, making the band a certified hit.

Although backed by The Drifters, Richard was the lifeblood behind the music. As sole owner to the rights of the music, The Drifters would indeed drift in and out, playing their own music while backing Richards as needed. After a name change to The Shadows, the group would often play their own music, both during jointly hosted live shows and on their own time.

The Cliff Richard and the Shadows would have multiple hit singles throughout the fifties and sixties in the UK. However, the Cliff Richard brand was more than just albums and hit radio songs. Much like Elvis Presley in America, Richard would star in a series of feature films showcasing him and The Shadows showing off their singing and dancing skills.

Richard remained popular throughout the 60s, although like many artists from the 50s, he suffered some fallout from the Beatlemania sweeping the globe. Around the same time, Richard rededicated himself to his Christian faith and began contemplating retirement rather than maintain a rock and roll life style that was contrary to his religious beliefs.

After making an official split from The Shadows in 1968, Richards found himself as the go-to man for Britain's entries into the international music competition, Eurovision. These songs were well regarded and almost always became substantial hits back home in the UK. Throughout the 60s and into the 70s Richard would continue to release singles, appear in films, and make guest appearances on television programs.

In the late 70s, producers would urge Richard to return to the harder sound he had prior to his religious conversion. Agreeing, his popularity reached new heights, including making his first real dent in the United States music scene. Although he would never turn his back on his beliefs, Richard was back doing what he had done best and reaping the rewards.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Throughout his decades long career, Cliff Richard would find himself working with a sundry of artists. However, there were a few he found himself working with time and again over the years. Here are a few of his most notable and lasting professional relationships on the stage.

The Drifters/The Shadows - Cliff's original backing band, Richard had an unusual relationship with these rockers. Unlike many acts of the day, Cliff Richard was the sole owner of his music. Although the act was often billed as Cliff Richard and the Shadows, the band members themselves had no right to the music and would receive no royalties.

Instead, they were a pay-for-play group who were given the opportunity to peruse their own work in addition to their job backing up Richard's music. During live performances during the Cliff Richards and the Shadows period, the band was usually allotted time to play their own work before or after playing the main set with Cliff.

Successful rock stars in their own right, the combination of The Shadows and Cliff Richard helped skyrocket both acts to new heights. Their unique sound enhanced by their, at the time, use of the Fender Stratocaster guitar went on to influence scores of rockers in the UK and US.

Olivia Newton-John - The young pop star and Cliff Richard found themselves regular collaborators in the late 70s and early 80s. The two would meet when Newton-John worked as a back up singer for Richard on a live concert recording in Japan. The two would form a friendly working relationship and when Newton-John's start began to rise, Richard's would begin to work more frequently with her.

In the early 70s, Newton-John would regularly appear on It's Cliff Richard, the weekly television show. The two would sing duets and provide comic banter. The two would also work together non-musically when they co-starred in the television movie, The Chase.

Their most famous collaboration, however, was on the musical Xanadu. Although not a critical success, the soundtrack was a commercial hit. Richard sang alongside Newton-John on the Top 20 hit Suddenly. This would be the last major collaboration between the two until 1989 when Cliff Richard and Olivia Newton-John would come together again for a multiple night performance which sold out Wembley Stadium.

Richard still regularly collaborates with friends and contemporaries. Most recently he has recorded an album dedicated to duets and reunited with The Shadows.

Cliff Richard's Discography

With more than a 130 separate releases, Cliff Richard is officially the most prolific musical artist of the modern era. Since beginning his career over fifty years ago, he has sold more than 250 million records. Here's just a taste of some of his highlights over the years.

Move It/Schoolboy Crush - Cliff's first big hit, Move It almost never received the marketing push it would have taken to put him in the limelight. Schoolboy Crush, a cover, was planned to be the first big single from Richard, but fate intervened and the B-Side Move It was given top billing and soared up the charts and made him a household name.

Cliff Sings - Cliff's second major album after his initial release of Cliff, the bulk of the tracks on this record are made up of covers of American rock and roll acts such as Fats Domino and Elvis Presley. This album is remarkable today as a marker of how quickly Cliff's persona and catalog changed into a self-assured singer/songwriter.

Me and My Shadows - The first major release that was nearly all Cliff, Me and My Shadows is a classic rock and roll album. Hitting number 2 on the album charts, Me and My Shadows was another success for Richard. Although it never really found an audience, it had some minor successes in the United States as well, making this Richard's first appearance in the overseas music world.

The Young Ones - Cliff Richard's first number one album came from the soundtrack for the movie of the same name. Starring Richard and the rest of The Shadows, this musical-comedy helped secure Cliff superstar status.

Summer Holiday - Another movie soundtrack, Summer Holiday would produce three number one hits for Cliff. Released in 1963, this would be one of his last releases before The Beatles hit it big and changed the world of rock and roll forever.

Good News - Cliff's first Gospel album, this release marked a new direction for this versatile superstar.

I'm Nearly Famous - This 1976 album marked Cliff's return to the A-List. Both a critical and popular success, I'm Nearly Famous was a worldwide success. The album resulted in his first ever Top 10 US single in addition to its multiple chart toppers in the UK.

Cliff would also score major hits with his duet Suddenly with Grease star Olivia Newton-John and his re-recording of his previous hit Living Doll. Other notable singles include a duet with opera singer Sarah Brightman featuring music from the musical Phantom of the Opera and We Don't Talk Anymore, another major international hit.

Cliff Richard's Awards

Throughout his career, Cliff Richard has been the recipient of numerous awards and honours. Here are just a few of his many accolades .

The Brit Awards – Richard's has been the winner of three Brit Awards. The first was an honorary award in 1977 proclaiming him the Best Male Solo Artist of the Last 25 Years. He would win again in 1982, this time for his contemporary contribution to music with his award for Best Male Solo Artist. He would win yet another Brit award in 1989 for Outstanding Contribution to Music.

All Time Singles Sales – Cliff Richard has officially sold more singles than any other UK musical act in history. Beating even The Beatles, Cliff's decades of hard work paid off and he is now officially honored as one of the greats of his time.

Eurovision – Two of Richard's songs have placed in the annual Eurovision contest. It is generally acknowledged that his second place finisher, Congratulations, only received runner-up due to vote fixing from the 1968 judge's panel.

Having sold over 250 million albums over 50 years in the business, Cliff Ricahrd's is a true British icon and a music pioneer. Even today, this father of modern rock and roll is going strong and still touring and producing new music.

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