Cliff Richard began his music career in 1958 with his friends in The Drifters and subsequently The Shadows. He became an adolescent idol like the British Elvis Presley. His 1959 UK No. 1 smash “Living Doll” was followed by numerous other hits, including “The Young Ones”, “Summer Holiday”, “Congratulations”, and “Devil Woman”.
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He appeared in musical films like The Young Ones, Summer Holiday, and Wonderful Life and hosted The Cliff Richard Show in the 1960s. Richard became a modern pop and rock vocalist in the 1970s and had several UK No. 1 successes like “We Don’t Talk Anymore”, “Wired for Sound”, and “Living Doll” (re-recorded with The Young Ones).
He released gospel albums like Good News, Small Corners, and Rock ‘n’ Roll Juvenile and grew more vocal about his Christian religion. Besides performing at the Billy Graham Crusades, he founded the Cliff Richard Organization, which supports Christian charities and projects.
Richard had more UK No. 1 successes in the 1980s, including “Daddy’s Home”, “Some People”, and “Mistletoe and Wine”. Along with Olivia Newton-John, Elton John, and The Shadows, he played at Live Aid, The Prince’s Trust, and Band-Aid.
He earned the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, the Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement, and the OBE from Queen Elizabeth II on his 30th anniversary in the music profession.
In the 1990s, Richard scored more UK No. 1 singles such as “Saviour’s Day”, “The Millennium Prayer”, and “21st Century Christmas”. His best-selling albums were Together with Cliff Richard, The Album, and Real as I Wanna Be.
He also performed country, soul, and dance and collaborated with Phil Everly, Janet Jackson, and Helmut Lotti. The VE Day Concert, Eurovision Song Contest, and Queen’s Golden Jubilee were among his famous performances.
Richard marked his 50th anniversary in music in the 2000s and became the only musician to have a UK No. 1 song in five decades. He also released hit albums like The Whole Story: His Greatest Hits, Something’s Goin’ On, and Reunited.
He also toured widely and played at the Royal Albert Hall, the Wembley Arena, and the Sydney Opera House. His other achievements included the Brit Award for Lifetime Achievement, the World Music Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, and a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II.
Richard struggled with false sexual assault charges, the loss of his close companion Cilla Black, and legal fights with the BBC and police in the 2010s. He conquered them and released Bold as Brass, Soulicious, and Rise Up.
He also performed and broke records for most UK Top 10 and Top 20 albums by a solo artist. He also won the Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Award, the Specsavers National Book Award, and the Portuguese Order of Merit.
In 2020, Richard will be active and relevant, releasing new tracks like Tracks: The Air That I Breathe, Cliff with Strings: My Kinda Life, and The Great 80 Tour: Live DVD. He is currently touring and has confirmed a 2022 UK tour to honor his 80th birthday.
He also supports the Cliff Richard Tennis Foundation, the Cliff Richard Charitable Trust, and the Cliff Richard Organization. He also has an influence on other artists like Robbie Williams, Gary Barlow, and Ed Sheeran.
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