Billy Fury (born Ronald Wycherley, 17 April 1940 – 28 January 1983) was an … Read Full Bio ↴Billy Fury (born Ronald Wycherley, 17 April 1940 – 28 January 1983) was an English singer from the late 1950s to the mid 1960s, and remained an active songwriter until the 1980s. An early British rock and roll (and film) star, he equalled the Beatles' record of 24 hits in the 1960s, and spent 332 weeks on the UK chart, without a chart-topping single or album. Rheumatic fever, which he first contracted as a child, damaged his heart and ultimately contributed to his death.
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.
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.
Let's Paint The Town
Billy Fury Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Billy Fury:
A King for Tonight I don't need a kingdom, I don't need a throne Or…
a letter full of tears M-m-m-mm Here comes the mailman walking up the street And it…
A Thousand Stars A thousand stars in the skies Like the stars in your…
A Wonderous Place I found a place full of charms A magic world in…
Alright Goodbye Well, alright I told a lie And now you're leaving me So, …
angel face Your picture on my wall Your letter on my bed And, darling,…
Baby Well you can't be my lovin' baby, you ain't got…
Baby Do You Love Me Did my heart send me on a fool's errand? Will it…
Baby How I Cried I saw you walking with another You looked so happy by…
Begin The Beguine When they begin the beguine It brings back the sound of…
Cheat With Love [Chorus] Fall in love, fall in love, fall in love with…
Colette Oh Colette Half past eight Don't be late Don't forget we hav…
Cross My Heart I've heard the rumours spreading all over town They say im…
Devil Or Angel Devil or angel I can't make up my mind Which one you…
Do You Really Love Me Too Did my heart send me on a fools errand Will it…
Do You Really Love Me Too? Did my heart send me on a fool's errand? Will it…
Don't Jump Billy Sings The Bold Backing Group Sing Italic I was standi…
Don't Knock Upon My Door Don't knock upon my door Don't want you anymore Don't love y…
Don't Say It's Over (Bah doo) My heart is breaking for A way you love…
Don't Worry You don't know, how I feel You don't know my love…
Fool's Errand Did my heart send me on a fool's errand? Will it…
Forget Him Forget him, if he doesn't love you Forget him, if he…
Give Me Your Word Give me your wordyour love will never diegive me your…
Glad All Over You say that you love me (say you love me) All…
Gonna Type A Letter I'm a-gonna type a letter to you Bye-bye-bye-bye baby we're …
Halfway to Paradise I want to be your lover But your friend is all…
I Belong To You You smile at me, an angel Sings you speak my name And…
I Like Animals I like animals Much better than human beings Human beings al…
I Love How You Love Me I love how your eyes close whenever you kiss me And…
I Will I don't wanna be the one to say I'm gonna…
I'd Never Find Another You I'd never find another you Don't ever worry that I'll leave…
I'll Never Quite Get Over You They say that I’ll forget you soon That time can always…
I'm Lost Without You Friends, all ask me about you, You're gone, and they want…
I've Gotta Horse I'm as bright as a jumping beam Riding high if you…
In Summer When I get tired and feeling blue I think of all…
In Thoughts Of You In thoughts of you I'll spend my daysin thoughts of…
It's Only Make Believe People see us everywhere They think you really care But myse…
Jealousy Jealousy T'was only through jealousy Our hearts were broken …
King for Tonight I don't need a kingdom, I don't need a throne Or…
last kiss (Last kiss and then goodbye One kiss goodbye) Last kiss and…
Last Night Was Made For Love Last night a millions stars Smiled down on me Soft breeze ha…
Let Me Go Lover The breeze and I are saying with a sigh That you…
Letter Full of Tears M-m-m-mm Here comes the mailman walking up the street And it…
Like I've Never Been Gone Don't give your love to someone while I'm away, I want…
Lost Without You Friends, all ask me about you, You're gone, and they want…
Love Love Love Last night a millions stars Smiled down on me Soft breeze ha…
Magic Eyes All night, i only dream of you All day, the same…
Margo Margo, don't go i need you so Oh, please be mine…
Maybe Tommorrow I don't know how many stars there are Up in the…
My Advice Well, I gave you my advice But you don't care I told…
My Christmas Prayer Oh Lord, the snow is falling And the whole world kneels…
Nobody's Child As I was slowly passing, an Orphans home one day, I…
Nothin' Shakin' I'm finding out what love is all about And everyday I…
Once Upon a Dream Once, once upon a dream I met her Long ago but…
Phone Call (Oh Oh Oh Oh) oh honey how I pray That phone…
Play It Cool Play it cool baby Play it cool Don't forget that golden ru…
Please Don't Go You tell me that you love me baby, then you…
Please Love Me I love how your eyes close whenever you kiss me And…
Run To My Lovin' Arms When your pretty eyes are filled with tears And the sounds…
Since You've Been Song code: 125616 Early in the mornin' Before the crack…
Since You've Been Gone Song code: 125616 Early in the mornin' Before the crack of…
Since You’ve Been Gone Song code: 125616 Early in the mornin' Before the crack…
Sleepless Nights Sleepless nights, restless days Empty hours when you're away…
Somebobody Else's Girl Is it true what they're saying about you? Have you really…
Sweet Little Sixteen They're really rockin' in Boston In Pittsburgh, P a Deep in …
that Someday (Someday) Somehow (Somehow) I know we'll make a that…
That's All Right Well, that's all right, mama That's all right for you That…
That's Enough Baby, if you want me to love you Here's somethin' that…
That's Love Someday (Someday) Somehow (Somehow) I know we'll make a that…
That's Love - Mono Version Someday... (someday) Somehow ...(somehow) I know we'll make …
That’s Love Someday (Someday) Somehow (Somehow) I know we'll make a th…
The Hippy Hippy Shake For Goodness' sake I got the Hippy Hippy Shakes I got the…
The Last Kiss (Last kiss and then goodbye One kiss goodbye) Last kiss and…
This Diamond Ring Who wants to bu-you-uy this diamond ri-i-i-ing? She took it…
Time Has Come Time has come, honey, how I pray That soon you'll name…
Turn My Back on You Well I come along one day and I caught you Makin'…
Unchain My Heart I've heard the rumours spreading all over town They say im…
We Were Meant For Each Other we were meant for each other darling i know this is…
What Am I Living For What am I living for if not for you, What…
What'd I Say You smile at me, an angel Sings you speak my name And…
When Will You Say I Love You You smile at me, an angel singsyou speak my name,…
Where Do You Run Where do you run to hide the hurt Where do you…
Won't Somebody Tell Me Why Here am I all alone Wondering where all my dreams have…
Wonderous Place I found a place full of charms A magic world in…
wont somebody tell me why Here am I all alone Wondering where all my dreams have…
You Don't Know You don't know, how I feel You don't know my love…
You're Having the Last Dance with Me You can dance ev'ry dance with the guy who gives…
Your Words Give me your word your love will never die Give me…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Mike Quebec's Hepcats Hangout '50's Channel
Play It Cool, along with The Girl Can't Help It and Shake Rattle and Rock are among the most fun and music filled rockin' flicks ever! Classic!
MadAndyBeckman
Wonderful image of a free country.
cj original
LEGEND
Sean Phelan
Wish I born in the 60s. There all look to have fun
jiggermast
Then turn from the future, put your back to the present & face the past! .....I do, cause nothing ahead out there interests me in any way whatsoever!
Albert Tatlock
A Cinematic view of London, back in 1962 it was still a building site, all Gray and bombed out, to get a better idea of how it looked, watch hard day's night made in 1964, it was still a building site on the outskirts, people associate the shopping area with the city itself, Local authorities spend all the money where the shops are, but very few people actually live there, the place was still full of slums where most had outside toilets and crime was as rife as it was today, the only difference being you were more likely to get away with it back then and crime detection rates were far lower than in our modern cctv, DNA society...
Causal racism, beating up gays and anyone that didn't fit in was the norm, No minimum wage, lower pay, less Paid Holidays, longer working weeks, shorter life expectancy.
It wasn't until All those children where buried alive and died in Abefan Wales that Health and safety was brought in.
Prior to that, you worked on a building site with no hard hats, safety boots or safety harness, you got injured you were out of work, and likely replaced with little chance of compensation.
I was a building site inspector at the time and remember seeing a shadow burned on the wall of some unfortunate teenager who'd been electrocuted in an accident, a week later another young lad fell and broke both legs falling 30 feet to the ground whilst walking across a plank of wood between 2 steel structures.
These kinds of serious accidents were all too common back then, as was drink driving and nobody wore seatbelts either...
No it wasn't a better time to have lived, with 6 guys crammed in an open top car sat up on the back seats driving around a city, with no seatbelts.
I won't continue and say no crash helmets on motorbikes were worn either or many other thing's.
Many people died or were seriously injured and if you think that was good then that's your opinon, music was good because for us old people it brings back good memories of growing up in a world where we didn't know any better.
Perhaps you'd encourage your 16 or 17 year old grandkids to knock back 8 pints, get on his motorbike without a crash helmet and race around having a good time.
Or not bother with the sissy seatbelts and baby seats, you'll be ok.
And don't forget to get the water in your tin bath and he a crap in yet outside toilet, if you were lucky enough to have one and not have to share with other residents.
Yes some streets had a block of 6 toilets at one end for all the residents to use because they didn't actually have one's in their mouldy damp homes..
Jesus get a grip and stop seeing the past through rose tinted spectacles and blaming immigrants or other minorities just because you wish you were young again
Charlie Leigh
I went with a few mates to see Play it Cool. Afterwards we all thought we were Billy Fury, singing his songs and doing the moves. We must have appeared total prats to people in the street but we thought we were cool. Happy days
Karl Malden's nose
Ray brooks made to wear glasses in this film as they didn't want anyone stealing the limelight from Billy
Jackie Wood
i have seen the film my uncle got for my nan and i watched with her
Pete Nineteensixty
Cool hair!