63-563: Lionel Bart (1 August 1930 – 3 April 1999) was an English writer and composer of pop music and musicals. He wrote Tommy Steele 's " Rock with the Caveman " and was the sole creator of the musical Oliver! (1960). With Oliver! and his work alongside theatre director Joan Littlewood at Theatre Royal, Stratford East , he played an instrumental role in the 1960s birth of the British musical theatre scene after an era when American musicals had dominated
126-530: A dual role in his second film vehicle, The Duke Wore Jeans , released in March 1958. The film's soundtrack topped the UK Albums Chart . In May 1958, Steele was hospitalised after being mobbed by fans at a concert at Caird Hall , Dundee , having had his right arm hurt, chunks of his hair pulled out and his shirt ripped off. Steele subsequently largely withdrew from performing concerts and increasingly worked in
189-591: A publicity stunt in which Steele performed at a staged debutante ball , getting the singer his first national press in The People under the headline " Rock 'n' roll has got the debs too!". Within weeks, Steele was headlining variety bills. Steele's first single, " Rock with the Caveman ", was one of the first British rock and roll hits, reaching number 13 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1956. He promoted
252-668: A Sixpence and played character roles in The Happiest Millionaire and Finian's Rainbow . In this last film, he played Og, the leprechaun turning human and co-starred with Petula Clark and Fred Astaire . In 1968, British exhibitors voted him the fourth most popular star at the local box office. The following year, he starred with Stanley Baker in the period drama Where's Jack? In April 1971, Steele starred in his own show, Meet Me in London , originating in Las Vegas before
315-504: A diagnosis of cardiomyopathy . Steele attended Bacon's College in Rotherhithe , south London. Through his paternal line, the full family name (Still-Hicks) influenced his future stage name, as he adapted it to become known professionally as Tommy Steele. Whilst working as a merchant seaman , Steele learned to play guitar and began performing country and calypso music , inspired most by Hank Williams . He has claimed that when
378-619: A factory; they had married in 1933, in Bermondsey. As a child, Steele spent time in hospital for porphyria . He dreamt of being a star performer after his parents took him to the London Palladium , but "didn't think you could be English and be a star". In 1952, at the age of 15, Steele joined the Merchant Navy , working on the Cunard line. He was not eligible for national service because of
441-404: A limited run at London's Adelphi Theatre . The London production was troubled when Steele demanded cuts to the first act on opening night. Singer Clodagh Rodgers refused to accommodate the cuts, and walked out fifteen minutes before the first night curtain. She was eventually replaced by Susan Maughan . In 1978, Steele performed in a TV movie version of Gilbert and Sullivan 's The Yeomen of
504-594: A loose band, the Cavemen. Usually with the Cavemen, Steele began playing in Soho bars, including " Blue Suede Shoes " and " Heartbreak Hotel " alongside country songs in his set. A performance backed by members of the Vipers Skiffle Group at the 2i's Coffee Bar was seen by John Kennedy, a photographer and publicity man who, within two weeks, got Steele a deal with Decca . With impresario Larry Parnes , Kennedy arranged
567-640: A new stage production of The Glenn Miller Story " which enjoyed two UK tours before heading for a summer season at the " London Coliseum ." He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1958 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre . In December 2019, he hosted a 'Magic of the Musicals' event at the British Film Institute, where he narrated and spoke about some of his favourite musical theatre film routines. Steele
630-547: A novel titled The Final Run about World War II and the evacuation of Dunkirk . He also wrote a children's novel, entitled Quincy , about a reject toy trying to save himself and his fellow rejects in the basement of a toy store from the furnace the day after Christmas. Released in 1981, it was based on his own television film, Quincy's Quest , from 1979, in which Steele played Quincy and Mel Martin played Quincy's girlfriend doll, Rebecca. Steele co-wrote many of his early songs with Lionel Bart and Mike Pratt , but he used
693-503: A number of UK hits under his new stage name Marty Wilde . Twenty-seven years after it became a number one hit for Cliff Richard, "Living Doll" was re-recorded by The Young Ones and Richard for Comic Relief , and spent another three weeks at number one. Bart's first professional musical was 1959's Lock Up Your Daughters , based on the 18th-century play Rape upon Rape by Henry Fielding . Following that, Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be , produced by Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop,
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#1732876250779756-551: A production of Scrooge: The Musical , an adaptation of Scrooge . Following this return, he reprised his role at the Palace Theatre , Manchester, over Christmas 2004 and brought the production to the London Palladium for Christmas 2005 and which toured over the next ten years. In 2008, at the age of 71, Steele toured in the lead role of the stage musical Doctor Dolittle . In 2015, Steele began touring as Glenn Miller in
819-464: A revue together called IYC Revue 52 . The following year the pair auditioned for a production of the Leonard Irwin play The Wages of Eve at London's Unity Theatre . Shortly afterward Bart began composing songs for Unity Theatre productions, contributing material (including the title song) to its 1953 revue Turn It Up , and songs for its 1953 pantomime, an agitprop version of Cinderella . While at
882-538: A share of the production royalties. At the peak of his career, Bart was romantically linked in the media with singers Judy Garland and Alma Cogan , though he was homosexual . His sexual preferences were known to friends and colleagues, but he did not announce them publicly until a few years before his death. Bart died at the Hammersmith Hospital in West London on 3 April 1999, of liver cancer. A memorial bench
945-460: A ship he was serving on docked in Norfolk, Virginia , U.S., he saw Buddy Holly perform and fell in love with rock and roll . The story conflicts with the known performances of Holly, making it appear impossible that it could have occurred as described. On shore leave in summer 1956, Steele met writer Lionel Bart and actor Mike Pratt at a Soho party. The trio began writing together and formed
1008-467: A soft string arrangement as a theme for Tania. In Germany, the original release featured an end title track cover version called Die Wolga ist Weit sung by Ruthe Berlé . Originally planning to use local Turkish music as Norman had used Jamaican music on Dr. No , Barry accompanied the film crew to Istanbul, however he found nothing suitable for the film. Recalling his visit to Istanbul, John Barry said, "It
1071-461: A specially recorded festive tale, The Christmas Mystery of Muchhope . This story was re-released for the festive period of 2022 with new edits and sound effects and a new story, 'The Magic of Christmas,' was written and recorded by Steele for a limited release for Christmas 2023. In June 2021, to celebrate his 65 years in the entertainment industry, his authorised biography, A Life in the Spotlight ,
1134-681: A three-day concert visit to Moscow , where The Tommy Steele Story was screened at the Kremlin . In his first colour film, Tommy the Toreador (1959), Steele proved "a real, true Danny Kaye ", according to its cinematographer Gilbert Taylor . A hit single from the film, " Little White Bull ", became a children's favourite after it was released in aid of a cancer research unit for children. Considered Britain's first rock and roll star, Steele has been described by AllMusic as "the English teenager who let
1197-662: Is a respected sculptor and four of his major works have been on public display. Bermondsey Boy at Rotherhithe Town Hall in London, was stolen in 1998: its whereabouts are unknown. Eleanor Rigby , which he sculpted and donated to the City of Liverpool as a tribute to the Beatles , stands in Stanley Street , Liverpool, not far from the Cavern Club . Union , featuring two rugby players,
1260-534: Is dedicated to him in Kew Gardens . A workshop of a musical based on Bart's life and using his songs, It's a Fine Life , was staged in 2006 at the Queen's Theatre , Hornchurch. A later version titled More! was presented in concert at Theatre Royal Stratford East in 2015 featuring Neil McDermott as Bart, Jessica Hynes as Joan Littlewood and Sonny Jay as Charlene, with an appearance by 1960s pop-star Grazina Frame , who
1323-596: Is on display at Twickenham Stadium . Trinity , designed during the regeneration of the docklands area in Bermondsey, stood outside the Trinity building in Bermondsey. When Steele lived in Montrose House , Petersham, Surrey , his life-sized sculpture of Charlie Chaplin as " The Tramp " stood outside his front door. He is also an artist of some note and has exhibited at the Royal Academy . In 1981, Steele wrote and published
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#17328762507791386-539: The 1979 New Year Honours , he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his work as an entertainer and actor. He was knighted in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to entertainment and charity. Steele's teen idol stardom was the subject of several contemporary parodies. On his album The Best of Sellers (1958), Peter Sellers portrays Cockney rock and roll star named "Mr. Iron" in
1449-490: The Variety charts in March 1964 with the title song becoming Unart Music's most recorded song. Other cover versions of the "James Bond Theme" were also released to coincide with the film. Barry also released different cover versions of the title song and " 007 " on his Ember records for the pop charts. The Roland Shaw Orchestra performed cover versions of most of the music of Barry's soundtrack on several albums. * Not heard in
1512-559: The West End . Best known for creating the book, music and lyrics for Oliver! , Bart was described by Andrew Lloyd Webber as "the father of the modern British musical". In 1963 he won the Tony Award for Best Original Score for Oliver! , and the 1968 film version of the musical won a total of 6 Academy Awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture . Some of his other songs include
1575-447: The "castration of early rock and roll". In 2009, the greatest hits collection The Very Best of Tommy Steele reached the Top 40 in the UK Albums Chart , the first UK chart entry for Steele in over 46 years. The increase in home-grown musical talent during the 1950s and 1960s allowed Steele to progress to a career in stage and film musicals, leaving behind his pop-idol identity. In 1957, he
1638-686: The BBC programme Six-Five Special (1957–58), though agent Ian Bevan restricted the singer's bookings in the belief that television "tends to cheapen an artist of that nature". He performed at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC's Third Annual Festival of Dance Music in April 1957 and topped the bill at the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium in November 1957. In 2008, theatre producer Bill Kenwright alleged that Elvis Presley
1701-484: The Bond soundtrack albums were issued in remastered form on CD. The album is different from the film with the album's recording of the main titles sounding slower and not featuring the organ played by Alan Haven . Several tracks on the album do not appear in the completed film. The album was the last of the Bond soundtrack albums to feature more than the usual six tracks per record side. The soundtrack album reached No. 28 on
1764-609: The Guard (misspelt as "The Yeoman..."), singing the role of the hapless jester Jack Point. In 1983, Steele directed and starred in the West End stage production of Singin' in the Rain at the London Palladium . In 1991, he toured with Some Like It Hot the stage version of the Billy Wilder film. In 2003, after a decade-long hiatus, save his one-man shows An Evening With Tommy Steele and What A Show! , he toured as Ebenezer Scrooge in
1827-468: The Toreador (1959), the latter spawning the hit " Little White Bull ". Steele shifted away from rock and roll in the 1960s, becoming an all-round entertainer. He originated the part of Kipps in Half a Sixpence in the West End and on Broadway , reprising his role in the 1967 film version . As an actor, he notably appeared in the films The Happiest Millionaire (1967) and Finian's Rainbow (1968) and as
1890-522: The Unity he was talent-spotted by Joan Littlewood , and so joined Theatre Workshop . He also wrote comedy songs for the Sunday lunchtime BBC radio programme The Billy Cotton Band Show . He first gained widespread recognition through his pop songwriting, penning numerous hits for the stable of young male singers promoted by artist manager and music publisher Larry Parnes . Bart's pop output in this period includes
1953-629: The chart-topper " Singing the Blues " (1957). Steele's rise to fame was dramatised in The Tommy Steele Story (1957), the soundtrack of which was the first British album to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart . With collaborators Lionel Bart and Mike Pratt , Steele received the 1958 Ivor Novello Award for Most Outstanding Song of the Year for "A Handful of Songs". He starred in further musical films including The Duke Wore Jeans (1958) and Tommy
Lionel Bart - Misplaced Pages Continue
2016-559: The entertainer Max Bygraves for £350 (Bygraves later sold them on for £250,000) to realise capital to finance the shows; Bart later estimated that this action lost him over £1 million. By 1972, Bart was bankrupt with debts of £73,000. A twenty-year period of depression and alcoholism ensued. He eventually stopped drinking, although the years of substance abuse seriously damaged his health, leaving him with diabetes and impaired liver function. He wrote Next Year in Jerusalem in 1975–1976, but it
2079-415: The film (as source music on a radio) and properly over the film's end titles. The title credit music is a lively instrumental version of the tune preceded by a brief Barry-composed " James Bond Is Back " then segueing into the " James Bond Theme ". On the original film soundtrack, Alan Haven played a jazzy organ over the theme but this version was not released on the soundtrack album. The tune also appears in
2142-409: The film. Barry had not only arranged and conducted the " James Bond Theme " from the previous film, but had already scored some films such as Beat Girl and Never Let Go . Barry's group also charted at No. 13 in the November 1962 UK charts with a different arrangement of the Bond theme from that heard in the film. The title song was sung by Matt Monro . Monro's vocal version is played during
2205-511: The genie out of the bottle, even if he wasn't the genie." Steele's rock and roll recordings have often divided critical opinion. In Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop (2013), Bob Stanley describes Steele's early singles as "charming and naïve, endearingly amateurish, with odd smudges of echo and strangely slurred vocals". In his 1970 book Revolt into Style: The Pop Arts in Britain , George Melly derided Steele’s films of being emblematic of
2268-453: The hits " Living Doll " (written for Cliff Richard ) and " Rock with the Caveman ", "Handful of Songs", "Butterfingers" and " Little White Bull " (all for Tommy Steele ). During this period, Steele and Mike Pratt were his songwriting partners. He won three Ivor Novello Awards in 1957, a further four in 1958, and two in 1960. He wrote the theme song for the 1963 James Bond film From Russia with Love , and worked with John Barry again on
2331-601: The lead in several West End productions of Singin' in the Rain . Also an author and sculptor, Steele remains active. He was knighted in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to entertainment and charity and was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in 2021. Steele was born Thomas Hicks in Bermondsey , London, in 1936. His father, Thomas Walter Hicks, was a racing tipster and his mother, Elizabeth "Betty" Ellen Bennett, worked in
2394-458: The mid 1960s he was as well known for his outlandish lifestyle, his celebrity friends, his excesses and his parties, as he was for his work. He was born Lionel Begleiter , the youngest of seven surviving children of Galician Jews, Yetta (née Darumstundler) and Morris Begleiter, a master tailor. He grew up in Stepney ; his father worked in the area as a tailor in a garden shed. The family had escaped
2457-496: The opening of a new production of Blitz! , which was then revived in London's West End in 1990 by the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the London blitz. In April 1991, he appeared on This Is Your Life . Cameron Mackintosh , who owned half the rights to Oliver! , revived the musical at the London Palladium in 1994 in a version featuring rewrites by Bart. Mackintosh gave Bart
2520-461: The pogroms against Jews by Ukrainian cossacks in Galicia . As a young man he was an accomplished painter. When Bart was aged six, a teacher told his parents that he was a musical genius. His parents gave him an old violin, but he did not apply himself and the lessons stopped. He started his songwriting career in amateur theatre, first at The International Youth Centre in 1952 where he and a friend wrote
2583-563: The pseudonym of Jimmy Bennett from 1958 onwards. On 7 November 2019, Steele was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the British Music Hall Society at a celebratory luncheon in Mayfair 's Lansdowne Club . Those paying tribute to his then 63 years and two days in show business included Tim Rice , Wyn Calvin and Bill Kenwright . In May 2020, Steele announced a new project which he had been working on titled Breakheart , which
Lionel Bart - Misplaced Pages Continue
2646-525: The score to the 1964 film Man in the Middle . His other hits include " Do You Mind ", recorded by both Andy Williams and Anthony Newley , whose recording reached number one on the UK charts on 30 March 1960 and was the 100th song to do so, "Big Time" (a 1961 cover by Jack Jones of his show tune from Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be ), "Easy Going Me" ( Adam Faith ), and "Always You and Me" (with Russ Conway ). Bart
2709-444: The second James Bond film, From Russia With Love . This is the first series film with John Barry as the primary soundtrack composer. John Barry, arranger of Monty Norman 's " James Bond Theme " for Dr. No , would be the dominant Bond series composer for most of its history and the inspiration for fellow series composer, David Arnold (who uses cues from this soundtrack in his own for Tomorrow Never Dies ). The theme song
2772-678: The single with his first television appearance, on bandleader Jack Payne 's BBC series Off the Record , and quickly became a national teen idol . Steele's success saw him dubbed "Britain's Elvis ", though his appeal has been characterised as less provocative than Presley's. A 1957 concert review by Trevor Philpott of Picture Post described Steele's act as possessing "not a trace of sex, real or implied", whilst Stephen Glynn has written that Steele's voice "was genial before threatening, his stage demeanour more playground skip than bedroom thrust". Steele's live performances were marked by frenzy from
2835-469: The sketch "The Trumpet Volunteer". Steele's rise to fame was satirised in the 1958 West End musical Expresso Bongo and its 1959 film adaptation starring Cliff Richard. There is a London Borough of Southwark blue plaque on Nickleby House, in the Dickens Estate in Bermondsey, commemorating Steele. From Russia with Love (soundtrack) From Russia with Love is the soundtrack for
2898-459: The teenage audience. His first album, Tommy Steele Stage Show , was recorded at a London concert the night before his twentieth birthday and issued in March 1957. "Doomsday Rock", Steele's second single, failed to chart after its apocalyptic theme drew controversy. His third, " Singing the Blues ", reached number 1 in January 1957, staving off a recording by Guy Mitchell for one week. Steele
2961-409: The theatre. He continued to record rock and roll over 1958 and 1959, finding chart success with covers of US hits, including " Come On, Let's Go " and " Tallahassee Lassie ". In September 1958, he appeared in the first episode of Oh Boy! , Jack Good 's ITV series which featured several new British rock and roll stars, including Cliff Richard and Marty Wilde . In August 1959, Steele undertook
3024-560: The theme song to the James Bond film From Russia with Love , and the songs " Living Doll " by Cliff Richard , "Far Away" by Shirley Bassey , " Do You Mind? " (recorded by both Anthony Newley and Andy Williams ), "Big Time" (a 1961 cover by Jack Jones of his show tune from Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be ), "Easy Going Me" by Adam Faith , "Always You And Me" by Russ Conway , and several songs recorded by Tommy Steele ("A Handful of Songs", "Butterfingers" and " Little White Bull "). By
3087-579: The time London's most expensive musical ever, had a run of 568 performances), but Twang!! (1965), a musical based on the Robin Hood legend, was a flop and La Strada (1969), which opened on Broadway after the removal of most of Bart's songs, closed after only one performance. By this time Bart was taking LSD and other drugs and was drinking heavily. Bart used his personal finances to try to rescue his last two productions, selling his past and future rights to his work, including Oliver! which he sold to
3150-492: Was also responsible for the discovery of two of Parnes' biggest stars. It was on his recommendation that Parnes went to see singer Tommy Hicks, whom he signed and renamed Tommy Steele, and Bart also suggested that Parnes see singer Reg Smith, who was then performing at the Condor Club. Although Parnes missed his performance, he went round to Smith's house and signed him up on the basis of Bart's recommendation. Smith went on to score
3213-418: Was among the first British pop stars to be heavily merchandised, with tie-in sweaters, shoes and toy guitars. Only a few months after his first chart presence, the singer was filming his life story; The Tommy Steele Story (1957) featured twelve new songs, written hastily by Steele, Bart and Pratt, that expanded the singer's repertoire to incorporate ballads and calypso music . The film's soundtrack
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#17328762507793276-509: Was an original cast member in Bart's Blitz! . Tommy Steele Sir Thomas Hicks OBE (born 17 December 1936), known professionally as Tommy Steele , is an English entertainer, regarded as Britain's first teen idol and rock and roll star. After being discovered at the 2i's Coffee Bar in Soho , London, Steele recorded a string of hit singles including " Rock with the Caveman " (1956) and
3339-527: Was available exclusively online throughout May. Announced via a specially recorded video during the COVID-19 lockdown, Breakheart was a seven-episode audio thriller, written by Steele and set during the Second World War. A new episode was released each day for a week culminating in the full story. Following the re-release of the complete version of Breakheart for the 2020 festive period, Steele also released
3402-430: Was composed by Lionel Bart of Oliver! fame and sung by Matt Monro . Following the decision of the producers not to use Monty Norman , though keeping his " James Bond Theme ", Harry Saltzman decided on using the then popular Lionel Bart of Oliver! fame. Bart was unable to read or write music, but he offered to compose the music and lyrics for a title song to the film. The producers chose John Barry to score
3465-442: Was like no place I'd ever been in my life. [The Trip] was supposedly to seep up the music, so Noel Rogers and I used to go 'round to these nightclubs and listen to all this stuff. We had the strangest week, and really came away with nothing, except a lot of ridiculous stories. We went back, talked to Lionel, and then he wrote 'From Russia with Love.'' The soundtrack's original recordings are thought to be lost and did not appear when
3528-412: Was made into a movie starring Ron Moody , Oliver Reed and Shani Wallis that won several Oscars , including best film. It is estimated that around this time Bart was earning 16 pounds a minute from Oliver! Bart's next two musicals, Blitz! (1962) (from which came the song "Far Away", a hit for Shirley Bassey ) and Maggie May (1964) had successful and respectable West End runs ( Blitz! , at
3591-544: Was not staged until 2021 in a virtual performance of the Jewish Music Institute featuring Maureen Lipman . In May 1977, an autobiographical musical called Lionel! opened in the West End at the New London Theatre . It was loosely based on Bart's early life as a child prodigy. Bart added some new songs for the show. The cast included Clarke Peters , Marion Montgomery and Adrienne Posta . The role of Lionel
3654-510: Was noted for encouraging the use of authentic Cockney accents on the London stage and bringing an end to censorship of British theatre. Oliver! (1960), based on Dickens's Oliver Twist , was a major success. The music for Oliver! was transcribed by Eric Rogers , who wrote and composed 21 scores for the Carry On films . Bart hummed the melodies and Rogers wrote the notes on his behalf as Bart could not read or write music. In 1968 Oliver!
3717-426: Was published by FontHill Media, written by fan and archivist Sebastian Lassandro. Steele and Winifred Anne Donoghue or Donoughue (born 1936) married at St Patrick's Catholic Church, Soho Square , London, in spring 1960. The couple have one daughter. In 2019, Steele was awarded the Freedom of the City of London . Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , the ceremony at Mansion House was delayed until 20 July 2021. In
3780-502: Was shared by a young Todd Carty and Chris Nieto. The show closed after six weeks. Bart continued writing songs and themes for films, but his only real success in his later years was "Happy Endings", a song he wrote for a 1989 Abbey National advertising campaign, which featured Bart playing the piano and singing to children. He received a special Ivor Novello Award for life achievement in 1986. In 1987, encouraged by long-time friend Barry Humphries , he travelled to Australia to attend
3843-478: Was taken on a tour of London by Steele in 1958, challenging Glasgow Prestwick Airport 's accepted status as the only place in the United Kingdom where Presley set foot. The unverified claim caused controversy, with Steele telling the media "I swore never to divulge what took place and I regret that it has found some way of 'getting into the light'. I can only hope he [Elvis] can forgive me." Steele starred in
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#17328762507793906-468: Was the first UK number one album by a British act, and the hit single "A Handful of Songs" received the 1958 Ivor Novello Award for Most Outstanding Song of the Year, Musically and Lyrically. By the end of 1957, Steele had bought a four-bedroomed house in South London for his parents and was reported to be earning more than British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan . Steele made several appearances on
3969-592: Was voted the seventh-most-popular actor at the British box office. In 1960, a tour of Australia had not been particularly successful and upon his return to England he received two offers, one to star in the play Billy Liar , the other to join the Old Vic Company. He chose the latter. In the West End , he appeared in She Stoops to Conquer , and played the title role of Hans Christian Andersen . On film, he recreated his London and Broadway stage role in Half
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