- Dickie Valentine
-
Dickie Valentine Birth name Richard (Maxwell) Bryce Born 4 November 1929
Marylebone, London, EnglandDied 6 May 1971 (aged 41)
Glangrwyney, near Crickhowell, WalesGenres Rock and roll, pop Occupations Singer, guitarist Instruments Vocals, guitar Years active 1957 – late 1960s Labels Pye Records
Decca RecordsDickie Valentine (4 November 1929[1] – 6 May 1971)[2] was an English pop singer in the 1950s.
Contents
Career
Early life
Valentine was born Richard Maxwell (his birth father was Dickie Maxwell), though Valentine was known as Richard Bryce as his mother later married Bryce and gave her young son the same name. He was born in Marylebone, London.[1] He lived with his paternal grandmother Rose Maxwell for a period of time until his mother met and married Bryce. His father Dickie (Richard) in fact also worked in the entertainment/music business and although not a constant in the younger Dickie's life, the "musicality" genes were unmistakably Maxwell, along with his movie star looks—a strong family "look" that continues today with his children and grandchildren (on the male side especially).
His first acting job was at age three, when he appeared in the Jack Hulbert/Cicely Courtneidge film Jack's the Boy.
He first trained as a singer during his work as a child actor, and during that time developed a flexible vocal style and skills as an impersonator of famous singers. He was overheard singing by actor-singer Bill O'Connor while working as a call boy at Her Majesty's Theatre, and encouraged him to take lessons. Since he could not afford them, O'Connor paid for them.
He sang in clubs and learned stagecraft to help gain confidence and experience. While he was in his late teens, he was singing at the Panama Club one night when music publisher Sid Green saw him and brought him to the attention of Ted Heath.[3]
Breakthrough
On February 14, 1949, Valentine, who at the time was relatively unknown, was signed by Ted Heath to join his band, Ted Heath and his Music, as a singer to work alongside Lita Roza and Denis Lotis. [4] He was voted the Top UK Male Vocalist in 1952 while singing with the Ted Heath Orchestra, the most successful of all British big bands,[5] and again after going solo in 1954.
In November of 1954, Valentine was invited to sing at the Royal Command Performance, and in February of 1955 he was top billed at the London Palladium. Not only did he sing, he also did jokes and impersonated many people, including Johnnie Ray, Frankie Laine, Mario Lanza, and Billy Daniels.[6] He recorded two number one hits, "Christmas Alphabet" and "Finger of Suspicion". His first chart-topper came only two months after his marriage to Elizabeth Flynn at Caxton Hall, which caused scenes of hysteria and was widely expected to sound the death knell to his career.[5] In fact, 1955 was by far his best chart year, with two number ones and three other Top Ten hits.[5] While his second number one saw Valentine playing King Canute to Bill Haley's incoming tide of rock and roll, "Christmas Alphabet" marked the first time in the UK that a song created for the Christmas market hit number one.[5] In April 1955, Valentine again topped the bill at the London Palladium for two weeks, a month after winning the male vocalist category in the NME poll.[7] He went on to win this title consecutively from 1953 to 1957.[8]
In 1961, he had a television series Calling Dickie Valentine. In 1966 Valentine partnered with Peter Sellers on the ATV sketch show The Dickie Valentine Show.[9]
Although his fame began to wane during the 1960s, he remained a popular live performer until his death.
Death
Traveling to his next gig at the Double Diamond Club in Caerphilly, Wales, he was killed outright in a car crash on a single lane bridge at Glangrwyney, near Crickhowell, Wales on 6 May 1971, at the age of 41, together with pianist Sidney Boatman and drummer Dave Pearson, aged 42.[10]
Contrary to a commonly held belief, no other vehicle was involved, neither were drink nor drugs. The Coroners Inquest revealed the car in which the three were traveling to have been driven in excess of 90 mph at time of impact, and that Valentine—who was driving his wife Wendy's Hillman Avenger, with which he was unfamiliar, (he was awaiting delivery of his new customized car)—had lost control of the vehicle while attempting to take a (clearly marked) dangerous bend. Valentine had traveled on that stretch of road many times and was familiar with the hazards. It was thought Valentine's attention might have been distracted by conversation with his friends, in addition to tiredness (the crash having happened at 04.20am). It was also noted that there was heavy fog at that time.[11]The Coroner returned a verdict of 'Death by misadventure'.[1] He is interred at Slough Crematorium.[12]
Personal life
He married Elizabeth Flynn, a professional ice skater, in 1964. They had two children together: Richard and Kim. They would divorce in 1967. He married actress Wendy Wayne next in 1968. Had it not been for the tragic car accident, Wayne and Valentine would have done a 20-week Summer Season at the Water Splash in Jersey.[13]
Discography
- "Broken Wings" - (1953) - UK Singles Chart No. 12
- "All The Time and Everywhere" - (1953) - No. 9
- "In a Golden Coach (There's a Heart of Gold)" - (1953) - No. 7
- "Endless" - (1954) - No. 19
- "Mister Sandman" - (1954) - No. 5
- "Finger of Suspicion" - (1954) - No. 1 $
- "A Blossom Fell" - (1955) - No. 9
- "I Wonder" - (1955) - No. 4
- "Christmas Alphabet" - (1955) - No. 1
- "The Old Pi-anna Rag" - (1955) - No. 15
- "Christmas Island" - (1956) - No. 8
- "Snowbound for Christmas" - (1957) - No. 28
- "Venus" - (1959) - No. 20
- "One More Sunrise (Morgen)" - (1959) - No. 14
$ Dickie Valentine with The Stargazers[14]
Filmography
See also
- List of Christmas number one singles (UK)
- List of number-one singles from the 1950s (UK)
- List of artists under the Decca Records label
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
- List of stage names
References
- ^ a b c Allmusic.com biography by Sharon Mawer
- ^ Discogs.com
- ^ Pallett, Ray (2011). ""The Last of the Dance Band Crooners: Dickie Valentine"". Memory Lane (Jeanette and Ray Pallett) (172): 22. ISSN 0266-8033.
- ^ "Memory Lane", p.21
- ^ a b c d Rice, Jo (1982). Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd.. p. 23. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
- ^ "Memory Lane", pp.22-23
- ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 13. CN 5585.
- ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 226. CN 5585.
- ^ "Memory Lane", p.23
- ^ "Memory Lane", p.23
- ^ "Memory Lane", p.23
- ^ "Memory Lane", p.24
- ^ "Memory Lane", p.24
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 579. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
External links
Year Film Role Notes and awards 1932 Jack's the Boy Lord Babs Minor Role (uncredited) 1954 The Ed Sullivan Show 1955 Sunday Night at the London Palladium 1956 Val Parnell's Startime 1957 Six-Five Special Salute to Show Business The World Our Stage 1958 The 6.5 Special 1959 The Anne Shelton Show Oh Boy! Drumbeat 1960 Life with the Lyons Spectacular 1961 Alfred Marks Time Calling Dickie Valentine Showtime Thank Your Lucky Stars also was featured in 1963, 1964, and 1965 1964 The Ed Sullivan Show 1965 The Ed Sullivan Show 1966 The Ed Sullivan Show Persondata Name Valentine, Dickie Alternative names Short description Date of birth 4 November 1929 Place of birth Date of death 6 May 1971 Place of death Categories:- 1929 births
- 1971 deaths
- English male singers
- English pop singers
- English crooners
- Road accident deaths in Wales
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
