Profile of Billy Fury on Famous Like Me

Billy Fury (April 17, 1940 – January 28, 1983) was a British pop singer and songwriter of the 1950s to 1980s.

Born Ronald Wycherley, he was spotted at a gig in Liverpool by impressario Larry Parnes, who christened him Billy Fury. He started touring and released his first hit for Decca, "Maybe Tomorrow", in 1959. By March 1960, he hit UK No.9 with his own composition "Colette", followed by "That's Love" and his first album The Sound Of Fury (1960), which featured a young Joe Brown on lead guitar. After further hits and sacking his band The Blue Flames — which included keyboardist Georgie Fame — Fury concentrated less on Rock 'n' Roll and more on mainstream ballads such as "Halfway To Paradise" and "Jealousy" (both 1961, both of which reached number 2 in the British Singles Chart).

After he appeared in the movie I've Gotta Horse (1965) and more UK hits, Fury began a lengthy absence from the charts in 1966 and underwent surgery for heart problems which led to his abandoning touring. During this period, Fury wrote and recorded many tracks not commercially released until after his death. In 1973, he came out of retirement to play rock 'n' roller Stormy Tempest in the movie That'll Be The Day.

In 1981 and 1982, Fury recorded a 'comeback' album The One And Only (released posthumously) with Shakin' Stevens' producer Stuart Coleman and several singles. He recorded a live performance for the television show Unforgettable promoting the new album but also playing some old hits. Despite being aware of the health risks, he embarked on a final tour and died following a final performance at the Beck Theatre in Hayes, Hillingdon, which now features a plaque commemorating Fury's final performance. Bass player Roger Cover remarked that Billy knew he was going to die but wanted to press on with the tour anyway. Stuart Coleman said that Billy 'wanted to go out in a blaze of glory'.

He was a keen amateur birdwatcher.

Notes

• Despite spending many weeks on the charts, Billy Fury never achieved a number one single.
• The song Wondrous Place was a great favourite of Billy's, so he recorded it at least four times during his career. It later received much airplay when used on British television as the theme for a Toyota Yaris car advertisement in 1999 and 2000
• Billy spent much of his spare time helping to run a horse sanctuary with Lee Everett-Alkin, Kenny Everett's ex-wife.
• Turn Your Lamp Down Low (recorded in 1965 with backing band the Gamblers) was one of the earliest examples of a British act recording a track in the reggae style, (with the emphasis on the second and fourth beats of each bar).

External Links

• Billy Fury at the Internet Movie Database
• A fan website

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