David Essex
David Essex's first notable acting role was the lead in the stage musical, … Read Full Bio ↴David Essex's first notable acting role was the lead in the stage musical, Godspell in 1971. Two years later, he starred in the film That'll Be The Day (1973) and recorded a major hit single, "Rock On" (which he wrote himself), in the same year. A second single, "Lamplight", also reached the British Top 10.
In the 1970s, Essex emerged as one of the UK's top performers. His biggest hits during this decade included a pair of Number One singles : "Gonna Make You A Star" (1974), a satirical look at his success; and "Hold Me Close" (1975), a cheerful singalong. He also appeared in Stardust, a 1974 sequel to That'll Be The Day; the title song was another Top 10 hit. In 1976, Essex covered the Beatles song, “Yesterday”, for the musical documentary All This and World War II.
Essex's pop idol looks gave him a strong female fan base and his British tours created scenes of hysteria reminiscent of Beatlemania. According to the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X 'he was voted the number one British male vocalist in 1974, and was a teen idol for more than a decade'.
In 1978, he appeared on Jeff Wayne's concept album, a musical version of The War of the Worlds, as the Artilleryman. The two album set remains a bestseller.
In the same year, Essex played the character Che, loosely based on Che Guevara, in the original production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Evita, and his recording of the show's "Oh What a Circus" reached Number 3. Two years later, he starred in the film Silver Dream Racer; and the soundtrack song "Silver Dream Machine" was yet another Top 10 hit in the UK singles chart. In 1985, he wrote and starred as Fletcher Christian in the West End musical Mutiny!, based on the novel Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall. The score produced two more hit singles, including "Tahiti," his tenth Top 10 success.
Essex has continued to perform in all areas of show business, to varying degrees of success. A 1989 sitcom, "The River", achieved good ratings. In 1991, a compilation entitled His Greatest Hits reached Number 13; a 1993 album, Cover Shot, peaked at Number 3. His autobiography, A Charmed Life, was published in 2002, and became a bestseller.
In 1999, Essex was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. He still tours the UK on a yearly basis and releases albums through his website. Surprisingly, despite his long and thriving British career, he remains largely unknown in the United States. "Rock On" reached Number 5 in 1974, and was his only Billboard Top 40 hit single.
The grandson of an Irish Traveller, Essex told Jake Bowers of the BBC's Rokker Radio, a programme for Gypsies and Travellers, on 30th July 2006, that he has always been openly proud of his Traveller roots, but that having moved to the US, Essex has said he feels it inappropriate for him to continue as Patron of Britain's National Gypsy Council, which works for equal rights, education, and services for Romany and Irish Travellers.
In 2005, he appeared as a guest vocalist on Saint Etienne's album Tales from Turnpike House. Also that year, he appeared in the Channel 4 documentary Bring Back...The Christmas Number One.
Essex was due to join the cast of soap opera EastEnders, in early 2006, as new character Jack Edwards. However, the role was expanded beyond the three weeks planned, and Essex was unable to commit the time. The role instead went to Nicky Henson.
A model and recording of Essex is featured in the museum of West Ham United Football Club. In the recording, he explains his reasons for supporting West Ham and his love of the team. He remains a popular, hard working and respected star, who has nevertheless not achieved a more global presence.
In the 1970s, Essex emerged as one of the UK's top performers. His biggest hits during this decade included a pair of Number One singles : "Gonna Make You A Star" (1974), a satirical look at his success; and "Hold Me Close" (1975), a cheerful singalong. He also appeared in Stardust, a 1974 sequel to That'll Be The Day; the title song was another Top 10 hit. In 1976, Essex covered the Beatles song, “Yesterday”, for the musical documentary All This and World War II.
Essex's pop idol looks gave him a strong female fan base and his British tours created scenes of hysteria reminiscent of Beatlemania. According to the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X 'he was voted the number one British male vocalist in 1974, and was a teen idol for more than a decade'.
In 1978, he appeared on Jeff Wayne's concept album, a musical version of The War of the Worlds, as the Artilleryman. The two album set remains a bestseller.
In the same year, Essex played the character Che, loosely based on Che Guevara, in the original production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Evita, and his recording of the show's "Oh What a Circus" reached Number 3. Two years later, he starred in the film Silver Dream Racer; and the soundtrack song "Silver Dream Machine" was yet another Top 10 hit in the UK singles chart. In 1985, he wrote and starred as Fletcher Christian in the West End musical Mutiny!, based on the novel Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall. The score produced two more hit singles, including "Tahiti," his tenth Top 10 success.
Essex has continued to perform in all areas of show business, to varying degrees of success. A 1989 sitcom, "The River", achieved good ratings. In 1991, a compilation entitled His Greatest Hits reached Number 13; a 1993 album, Cover Shot, peaked at Number 3. His autobiography, A Charmed Life, was published in 2002, and became a bestseller.
In 1999, Essex was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. He still tours the UK on a yearly basis and releases albums through his website. Surprisingly, despite his long and thriving British career, he remains largely unknown in the United States. "Rock On" reached Number 5 in 1974, and was his only Billboard Top 40 hit single.
The grandson of an Irish Traveller, Essex told Jake Bowers of the BBC's Rokker Radio, a programme for Gypsies and Travellers, on 30th July 2006, that he has always been openly proud of his Traveller roots, but that having moved to the US, Essex has said he feels it inappropriate for him to continue as Patron of Britain's National Gypsy Council, which works for equal rights, education, and services for Romany and Irish Travellers.
In 2005, he appeared as a guest vocalist on Saint Etienne's album Tales from Turnpike House. Also that year, he appeared in the Channel 4 documentary Bring Back...The Christmas Number One.
Essex was due to join the cast of soap opera EastEnders, in early 2006, as new character Jack Edwards. However, the role was expanded beyond the three weeks planned, and Essex was unable to commit the time. The role instead went to Nicky Henson.
A model and recording of Essex is featured in the museum of West Ham United Football Club. In the recording, he explains his reasons for supporting West Ham and his love of the team. He remains a popular, hard working and respected star, who has nevertheless not achieved a more global presence.
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David Essex Lyrics
A Winter The nights are colder now Maybe I should close the…
Alice Inner space. I fall Down. Aware na kousagi no you…
All The Fun Of The Fair Roll on up see the main attraction Get your money ready…
America Flew out of London for the New York City Ooh, look…
Brave New World Artilleryman: We're gonna build a whole new world for oursel…
Bright Eyes Is it a kind of dream floating out of the…
Bring In The Sun Finger of light reaches through the red curtain High on the…
Circles 'Eah Ah Why I love you for a reason Why I love you…
City Lights Walk on city light Walk on in the night Run on down…
Coconut Ice Heather Lynn come over here Come on lets walk out Buy some…
Coming Home Yesterday, ahah, I felt like crying Got to go, make a…
Corner of the Sky Everything has its season Everything has its time Show me…
Dance Little Girl Dance little girl yer mine now Dance little girl you know…
Everlasting Love Hearts go astray, leaving hurt when they go. I went away…
Fall at Your Feet I'm really close tonight And I feel like I'm moving inside…
Falling Angels Riding Well my friend and i lived together in the same street…
For Emily Whenever I May Find Her What a dream I had Pressed in organdy Clothed in crinoline o…
Ghostbusters Ghostbusters! If there's something strange in you neighborho…
Gone Make You A Star Oh is he more, too much more than a pretty…
Good Ol' Rock & Roll Like a schoolboy shakin' and quakin' [You feel them up for…
Heart On My Sleeve If I were an actor on the silver screen And all…
Here It Comes Again Heh heh, da do do da da da da da…
High Flying Adored High flying, adored, so young, the instant queen A rich beau…
Hold Me Close Hold me close, don't let me go, oh no I,…
I Can't Let Maggie Go She makes me laugh, she makes me cry With a twinkle…
I Know I know I know you love me Yes you do I know I know…
If I Could If I could, love you forever If I could love you…
Imperial Wizard Free the people - don't make em wait, Pity the…
Lamplight I, sat down She gonna get a lamplight eh eh eh eh…
Light My Fire And another one bites the dust Oh why can I not…
Little Miss Sweetness Now? I've, been, looking at you You've been looking back…
Love Oh Love People all over the world (everybody) Join hands (join) Star…
Missing You Not too long ago you were somebody there I didn′t know…
Missing You (Magic) Not too long ago you were somebody there I didn't know…
MYFANWY Kind o'er the kinderbank leans my Myfanwy, White o'er the…
Ocean Girl I bought this airline ticket For an island in the sun Two…
Oh What A Circus Salve regina mater misericordiae Vita dulcedo et spes nostra…
On And On You're like a song A song dat come and go Beneath the…
Ooh Darling Ooh darling, ooh darling You got the key To undo me yeah …
Ooh Love Ooh, ah Ah, ooh, ah Well you pick out loose pocket But …
Out Here On My Own Sometimes I wonder where I've been, Who I am, Do I…
Out on the Street Out on the street there People are moving Winning and losi…
Pretty Thing Oh is he more, too much more than a pretty…
Rock On Hey, kid, rock and roll Rock on, ooh my soul Hey, kids,…
Rolling Stone Well I look like your brother [that's alright] You don't fe…
Save the People When wilt thou save the people? Oh God of mercy, when? Not…
Separate Lives You called me from the room in your hotel All full…
Silver Dream Machine I've a dream, silver dream machine Here am I, I'm going…
Silver Dream Machine - Original Version I've a dream, silver dream machine. Here am I, I'm going…
St. Elmo Growin' up you don't see the writing on the wall. Passin'…
Stardust Ah, look what they've done to the rock 'n' roll…
Streetfight Yeahhhhhh I'm cold mama, mama, ma mama now I'm cold mama…
Tell Him No Oh my my dear Tell him no, no no no Tell him…
The Sun Ain Loneliness is the coat you wear A deep shade of blue…
There's Something About You Oh there's something about you baby Something that's hard t…
Turn Me Loose Oh Turn me loose, turn me loose I say This is the…
We All Insane Everyday and I'm sick of tryin' Gonna make it on my…
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow Tonight you're mine, completely You give your soul so sweetl…
Window Look out your window mama Look out your window see me…
Won't Get Burned Again Yes my yeah yeah Once bitten but a, too shy Say I…
You're In My Heart With every look, with every touch With every kiss, you're in…