Alvin Stardust

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Alvin Stardust (born Bernard William Jewry, 27 September 1942, Muswell Hill, North London) is an English pop singer and stage actor.

Contents

[edit] Career

Moving to Mansfield, Nottinghamshire at a young age, he made his stage debut in pantomime at the age of four. In the early 1960s he became known as Shane Fenton, and with his backing group, The Fentones, had a handful of hits in the UK Singles Chart.[1] His band based their sound on that of The Shadows. He also appeared in Billy Fury's movie, Play It Cool.

During the early 1970s, he became Alvin Stardust, as he tried to cash in on the glam rock bandwagon. His debut hit was "My Coo-Ca-Choo" in 1973. Stardust had other chart successes with the hits - "Jealous Mind" (UK No. 1), "You, You, You", "Red Dress" and "Good Love Can Never Die". In total, he amassed seven Top Ten entries, in a chart span for Jewry lasting almost 25 years.[2]

Stardust was part of the Green Cross Code road safety campaign with his famous tagline of "You must be out of your tiny minds" directing children to look both ways before they cross the road.

In 1985, Stardust participated in A Song for Europe, the UK qualifying heat of the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song "The Clock on the Wall". He finished in third place behind Vikki and Kerri Wells.

Moving into musical theatre, Stardust starred in the UK tour of Godspell; and played Uriah Heep in David Copperfield - The Musical; and Sir Billy Butlin in The Butlin Story at the London Palladium.

In 2005 Stardust starred as the Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, also at the London Palladium.

Stardust has numerous television appearances to his credit, and continues to tour as a performer and singer.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Shane Fenton & The Fentones

  • "I'm A Moody Guy" - 1961 - UK Singles Chart high - No. 22
  • "Walk Away" - 1962 - No. 38
  • "It's All Over Now" - 1962 - No. 29
  • "Cindy's Birthday" - 1962 - No. 19

[1]

[edit] Alvin Stardust

  • "My Coo-Ca-Choo" - 1973 - No. 2
  • "Jealous Mind" - 1974 - No. 1
  • "Red Dress" - 1974 - No. 7
  • "You You You" - 1974 - No. 6
  • "Tell Me Why" - 1974 - No. 16
  • "Good Love Can Never Die" - 1975 - No. 11
  • "Sweet Cheatin' Rita" - 1975 - No. 37
  • "Pretend" - 1981 - No. 4
  • "A Wonderful Time Up There - 1981 - No. 56
  • "I Feel like Buddy Holly" - 1984 - No. 7
  • "I Won't Run Away" - 1984 - No. 7
  • "So Near To Christmas" - 1984 - No. 29
  • "Got a Little Heartache" - 1985 - No. 55

[2]

[edit] Personal life

Stardust has been married three times: firstly to Iris Caldwell, who was an ex-girlfriend of both George Harrison and Paul McCartney, having grown up with them in Liverpool; and secondly to actress, Liza Goddard. He is now married to the actress Julie Paton.

His son Shaun became headteacher at Pate's Grammar School in 2006. His other son, Adam, is a drum and bass producer and DJ, known as Adam F. Stardust's third child Sophie, from his marriage to Liza Goddard, runs her own graphic design and printing business and lives in Norfolk with her partner and daughter. Stardust's fourth child, Millie Margaret May, was born in December 2000. The christening was covered by OK! magazine, with Sir Cliff Richard as one of the godparents. As Julie hailed from Swansea, a Welsh flavour was provided by a harpist and Welsh male voice choir, the Gwalia Singers from Swansea.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums, 19th, London: Guinness World Records Limited, p. 197. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
  2. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums, 19th, London: Guinness World Records Limited, p. 524. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

[edit] External links