Conway was born in Bristol, England. He had no formal piano training and sp… Read Full Bio ↴Conway was born in Bristol, England. He had no formal piano training and spent his early adulthood in the Navy. Conway was talent-spotted while playing in a London club, signed to Columbia Records and spent the mid 1950s providing backing for their artists including Gracie Fields and Joan Regan. However, the commercial potential of Conway's unique percussive piano style (which he attributed to a missing fingertip he had severed many years previously with a bread slicer) was too great for him to remain in the background for long. Conway recorded his first solo single in 1957, a novelty instrumental medley of pop standards.
1959 was Conway's annus mirabilis, with a cumulative total of 83 weeks on the UK Singles Chart. This included two self-penned number one instrumentals, "Side Saddle" and "Roulette", the latter deposing Elvis Presley's "A Fool Such As I".
Conway maintained a chart presence in the early 1960s, and was a fixture on light entertainment TV shows and radio for many years afterwards thanks to his instantly recognisable piano style. For some years his career was blighted by ill-health, and his later life was notable for charity work. He founded in 1990, along with his friend writer and broadcaster Richard Hope-Hawkins, the Russ Conway Cancer Fund and they staged in major theatre's charity gala shows that raised thousands of pounds and was donated to numerous cancer charities. Russ, who never married, died on 2000-11-16 [1]. Richard Hope Hawkins gave the main address at Russ's funeral held at the historic St Mary Redcliffe Church, Bristol. Elton John sent a wreath. In 2001 Richard devised, staged and directed a tribute to Russ at the Colston Hall, Bristol with an all-star cast. The money raised which was Β£18,000 was donated to St Peter's Hospice, Bristol.
1959 was Conway's annus mirabilis, with a cumulative total of 83 weeks on the UK Singles Chart. This included two self-penned number one instrumentals, "Side Saddle" and "Roulette", the latter deposing Elvis Presley's "A Fool Such As I".
Conway maintained a chart presence in the early 1960s, and was a fixture on light entertainment TV shows and radio for many years afterwards thanks to his instantly recognisable piano style. For some years his career was blighted by ill-health, and his later life was notable for charity work. He founded in 1990, along with his friend writer and broadcaster Richard Hope-Hawkins, the Russ Conway Cancer Fund and they staged in major theatre's charity gala shows that raised thousands of pounds and was donated to numerous cancer charities. Russ, who never married, died on 2000-11-16 [1]. Richard Hope Hawkins gave the main address at Russ's funeral held at the historic St Mary Redcliffe Church, Bristol. Elton John sent a wreath. In 2001 Richard devised, staged and directed a tribute to Russ at the Colston Hall, Bristol with an all-star cast. The money raised which was Β£18,000 was donated to St Peter's Hospice, Bristol.
Side Saddle
Russ Conway Lyrics
Instrumental
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@harrywix
Russ and Hank Marvin ruled! And boy could they compose and play...We were so lucky to have this music as kidsπ
@CarolM1968
My parents and grandparents use to love Russ Conway, so many happy memories from my childhood. It feels like there's no real 'entertainment' on TV these days, just endless reality TV and talent shows.
@williamrobertson9155
WAKEY WAKEY!!! He appeared on many occasions on the Billy Cotton Band Show ,alonside the likes of Kathy Kirby, Alma Cogan, Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen, Matt Munro,to name but a few, sad they are no longer with us, but their memories live on!!
@domburghman
Loved actually watching this amazing enertainer live some years ago in LondonPalladium
@jolinn8313
Mother would speak of Russ Conway as though he was family, can remember going to the pictures on the way in you could hear his music being played, a real joy
@jackiebell1533
My parents played this a lot at home, I grew up with this in my ears. Oh, the memories... Love it.
@Kazanskoe57
Yes Russ lost a top of one finger in a bread slicer when he was young. He was best mates with my father who us also a pianist and entertainer (although 84 yrs old now). My father was with Russ at his bedside when he passed away. They were also in the navy together. I have pictures of him with my brother and I circa 1956/7, when we used to call him 'Uncle Russ'
@oliviacranch3974
Russ Conway is my great-great uncle on my mum's side of the family. He is the one who inspired Elton John to play the piano, as well as me. His real name was Trevor Stanford.
@john111257
Kim love the info .xxx
@janethills3646
@@oliviacranch3974 thank you for sharing. Parade of the Poppets was played by Russ and was my first record x