Billy Fury from Liverpool, England began music lessons, on the piano, at age 11. He got his first guitar at age 14. By 1955, the skiffle music boom had begun in England and Fury was leading his own local group, while still working on a tugboat and/or as a stevedore. By 1958, he had won a talent competition and had begun to write his own songs.
In a story which was legend among the British youth of the period, Fury was discovered by impressario Larry Parnes on October 1, 1958. That night, Fury attended a performance of The Larry Parnes Extravaganza, hoping to offer his songs to Marty Wilde, one of the featured performers and a well-known rock-&-roll star because of his appearances on the television series, "Oh Boy!" Fury did get backstage, and was seen by Parnes while performing one of his own songs for Wilde. Parnes booked Fury to appear on the Extravaganze that same night and the rest, as they say, is history - the applause which Fury received earned him a permanent spot on the tour and Parnes as his agent. Parnes' established proceedure was to give his singers stage names representing emotions and attributes: Marty Wilde, Johnny Gentle, Vince Eager. Thus, Ronald Wycherley became Billy Fury.
By the British standards of the day, Fury's early performances were so suggestive that a curtain was brought down on one of his shows. This forced Fury to restrain himself from his more overtly sexual stage moves. Fury's recording career began in early, 1959, with "Maybe Tomorrow," a song which he had written and which charted soon after its release. Fury's television debut came soon after in "Strictly For Sparrows." After that, Fury became a fixture on musical showcases such as "Oh Boy!"
After a string of hit singles, Fury cut his debut album, "The Sound of Fury," in 1960. Fury's back-up players included Joe Brown, one of England's few serious rockabilly players at that time, and drummer Andy White, who later played on the original release version of The Beatles' debut single "Love Me Do." The album sold well and has been re-released a half-dozen times since, including a CD version in the early 1990s. In an interview during the '70s, Keith Richards declared "The Sound of Fury" one of the greatest rock 'n roll albums of its era.
In 1960, DECCA Records decided to soften Fury's sound, at least on his singles, and Fury's early 60's recordings took on a more sophisticated air. "Talkin' In My Sleep" and "Don't Worry," backed by The Four Kestrels, were two results of this change. "Halfway to Paradise," in 1961, began Fury's brief assault on the top of the charts. The orchestrated "Halfway to Paradise" hit #3. A few months later, "Jealousy" reached #2; "I'd Never Find Another You" reached #5. By 1962, Fury was England's top rock-n-roll attraction, backed by the legendary Tornadoes of "Telstar" fame, appearing regularly on television. During this time, he also ventured to America where he got to meet Elvis Presley on the set of "Girls, Girls, Girls." (Many considered Fury to be the closest that England came to producing its own Elvis Presley, capable of dark, brooding, sexual performances, as well as gentle, vulnerable ballads.)
It was the arrival of another group from Liverpool, The Beatles, which ended Fury's dominance of the British teen music scene. (Interesting aside - The Beatles had tried, and failed, to become Fury's back-up during one of his tours.) Nonetheless, Fury continued to chart records into 1964. During that summer, he starred in a semi-autobiographical movie, "I've Got a Horse." Later the same year, he got his own television show. By 1965, however, Fury's health had begun to deteriorate and his records seldom charted better than the mid-20s.
Fury left DECCA Records in 1966 and signed a five-year contract with EMI's Parlophone Records. During those five years, Fury saw some very modest success but nothing like the frenzied stardom of his first seven years in music.
Fury underwent heart surgery in 1970 and in 1971, but resumed performing in 1972. England's rock-n-roll revival during the mid-70s saw the re-release of "The Sound of Fury," as well as other parts of Fury's catalog. During those years, Fury toured England with his one-time idol Marty Wilde. When he wasn't performing, Fury looked after his other interests, including wildlife preservation.
Another heart operation, in 1976, essentially ended Fury's musical career although there were still occasional recordings and television appearances. In 1978, Fury re-recorded his classic songs for K-Tel; in the early '80s he recut his old hits yet again for Polydor, which, by that time, owned DECCA Records. In 1981, a single, "Be Mine Tonight," just missed the British charts.
On March 4, 1982, Fury collapsed and nearly died while working on his farm. Nonetheless, that summer, he again went back on tour and placed the singles "Love Or Money" and "Devil Or Angel" on the English charts. Plans were made for a new album and a national tour, but Fury was found unconscious in his home on January 28, 1983. He died that same day in hospital.
A posthumous single, "Forget Him," charted in England later that same year. Numerous re-issues, as well as releases of previously unreleased material, have continued to appear in the compact disc era, most recently the "40th Anniversary Anthology," a double CD set and Beat Goes On's two-on-one CD of "We Want Billy" and "Billy."
On 10 April 1983, a tribute concert for Billy was held at the Beck Theatre in Hayes, Middlesex. All the artists performed for free and the money raised was donated to the Billy Fury memorial fund for research into heart disease. On the bill were such names as Marty Wilde with his daughter Kim Wilde, Joe Brown, Alvin Stardust, Dave Berry, Helen Shapiro, and John Miles.[citation needed]
In 1999 a TV documentary about Billy called Halfway to Paradise was broadcast on the BBC channel. It was narrated by Ian Dury.
Between 1999 and 2000 the song "Wondrous Place", a favourite of Fury's (he re-recorded it at least three times during his career), later received wide airplay on British television when it was used as the theme for a Toyota Yaris car advertisement.
On 19 April 2003 a bronze statue of Fury was unveiled by Jack Good at the National Museum of Liverpool Life. The sculpture, by Tom Murphy, a Liverpool sculptor, was donated by 'The Sound of Fury' fan club after the money was raised by fans.
In 2005 Spencer Leigh from BBC Radio Merseyside published a biography book about Billy Fury called Wondrous Face – The Billy Fury Story.
In 2008 a biographical documentary film Billy Fury His Wondrous Story was released on DVD.
Eight of his EMI recordings remained unreleased on mainstream CD until June 2010, when they appeared on a 29-track issue, The Complete Parlophone Singles, released by Peaksoft (PEA009). The singer's estate licensed the tracks to benefit his memorial fund, which finances equipment purchases for hospital heart units.
In November 2011, further co-operation between the estate and Peaksoft resulted in the issuing of a second CD, The Lost Album (PEA014), which attempted to construct the format of an album recorded by Fury in 1967–71, but which was never released.
In 2010 Camden Council, London, named a small formerly nameless road Billy Fury Way in his honour. It starts just off Finchley Road near Finchley & Frognal station and runs to West Hampstead Station. He had recorded at the nearby Decca Studios. The alleyway was decorated with a large mural of his face (at the West Hampstead end), which was unveiled and blessed on Friday 29 July 2011.
Play It Cool was released for the first time on DVD on 10 February 2014.
Gonna Type a Letter
Billy Fury Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bye-bye-bye-bye baby we're through
Well, on every date you teased me so
I can't take it no more, I'm a-gonna go
Gonna go, honey I'm a-gonna go Every word in black and white
Baby, you know you didn't treat me right
Through the alphabet A to ZBaby you was wrong to me
Wrong to me, baby you was wrong to me I'm a-gonna leave you high and dry
Ain't a-gonna kiss you
Ain't gonna miss you, goodbye! I don't tie much, but I guess it will do
Baby, you made a-me cry for you
I don't tie much, but I'll give my way
Baby I'm a-going far away
Far away, far away, a-baby going far away I'm a-gonna leave you high and dry
You made a-me lonesome, you made a-me cry
Ain't a-gonna kiss you
Ain't gonna miss you, goodbye! I'm a-gonna leave this very day
Well, honey I'm a-going far away
You messed a-me 'round and you made a-me sore
Oh baby, I don't a-care no more
Don't a-care, don't a-care
Baby, don't a-care no more
Don't a-care, don't a-care
Baby, don't a-care no more!
In "Gonna Type A Letter," Billy Fury sings about his decision to leave his lover and end their relationship. The lyrics suggest that the relationship was tumultuous and that his lover has been mistreating him. Fury is clear in his intentions to end things and move on by typing a letter "every word in black and white" to communicate his final decision. The chorus echoes his feelings of frustration and disappointment with his lover, as he repeats "You made me lonesome, you made me cry. Ain't gonna kiss you, ain't gonna miss you, goodbye!" By singing this song, Fury takes on the role of an empowered individual who is no longer willing to put up with a poor relationship.
The lyrics in "Gonna Type A Letter" seem to be about a romantic relationship that is coming to an end, they highlight the frustrations and hurt feelings that can come with such situations. However, the song is also an anthem to the idea of standing up for oneself in a relationship. Fury's repeated refrain of "Ain't gonna kiss you, ain't gonna miss you, goodbye!" highlights his autonomy and reclamation of self-respect, in response to what he perceives as mistreatment in his relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a-gonna type a letter to you
I'm going to write you a letter
Bye-bye-bye-bye baby we're through
We're breaking up
Well, on every date you teased me so
You teased and taunted me on every date
I can't take it no more, I'm a-gonna go
I can't handle it anymore, I'm leaving
Gonna go, honey I'm a-gonna go
I'm leaving, honey
Every word in black and white
Every word will be clear in the letter I'm writing
Baby, you know you didn't treat me right
You know you mistreated me
Through the alphabet A to Z
From A to Z, you were wrong to me
Baby you was wrong to me
You were wrong to me, baby
Wrong to me, baby you was wrong to me
You were wrong to me, baby
I'm a-gonna leave you high and dry
I'm leaving you alone
You made a-me lonesome, you made a-me cry
You made me feel lonely and cry
Ain't a-gonna kiss you
I'm not going to kiss you
Ain't gonna miss you, goodbye!
I won't miss you, goodbye!
I don't tie much, but I guess it will do
I don't care much, but I'll make do
Baby, you made a-me cry for you
You made me cry for you, baby
I don't tie much, but I'll give my way
I don't care much, but I'll do what I want
Baby I'm a-going far away
I'm going far away, baby
Far away, far away, a-baby going far away
I'm going really far away
I'm a-gonna leave you high and dry
I'm leaving you alone
You made a-me lonesome, you made a-me cry
You made me feel lonely and cry
Ain't a-gonna kiss you
I'm not going to kiss you
Ain't gonna miss you, goodbye!
I won't miss you, goodbye!
I'm a-gonna leave this very day
I'm leaving today
Well, honey I'm a-going far away
I'm going far away, honey
You messed a-me 'round and you made a-me sore
You messed me up and hurt me
Oh baby, I don't a-care no more
I don't care anymore, baby
Don't a-care, don't a-care
I don't care, I don't care
Baby, don't a-care no more
I don't care anymore, baby
Don't a-care, don't a-care
I don't care, I don't care
Baby, don't a-care no more!
I don't care anymore, baby!
Contributed by Cameron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@stuart1003
Still listening in 2021! Passing this stuff on to my children, keeping great music alive. R.I.P Ronald!
@ritchiegmailritchiegmail5851
True king of British rock n roll
@anthonybarnett8716
Love this track .one of his best
@josephineapicella4595
Been listening to this since 1978 just love it music music music at its best!!!!!
@alainzilka1018
Fantastique morceau 👏👏
@ritchiegmailritchiegmail5851
Got this as my ringtone cool🇬🇧
@johnthrussell1377
Fantasticrecord great voice
@richardreese5412
You probably know now, it IS '59! And it's excellent! Thanks for sharing!
@johnstill9490
I now remember this, by Billy. Must confess I'd forgotten!! Love it! "CLIFF" was terrific...so was "BILLY". Both had wonderful stage presence...BUT...I reckon Billy was more understanding of ROCKABILLY...more 'natural'
@jackiemann20
The best rock n roll star Britain produced, IMO :-D