Singer
Before landing a singing career, Steele tried his hand at a number of odd jobs and had a brief spell as a merchant seaman. Like many singers of his era he never did National Service, having failed the medical examination because, at 18 years old, he was diagnosed as suffering with Cardiomyopathy. While on leave or during Dock strikes, he played guitar and banjo and sang in The 2i's Coffee Bar in Soho, both as a solo performer and with Wally Whyton's Vipers Skiffle Group. He was discovered by manager Larry Parnes, who believed Steele could be Britain's answer to Elvis Presley. Parnes is widely credited with creating the stage name 'Tommy Steele.'
Steele shot quickly to fame in the UK as the frontman for a skiffle band, The Steelmen. Steele and other British singers would pick known hits from the United States, record their cover versions of these songs and release them in the UK before the American versions could enter the charts. Most of Steele's 1950s recordings were covers of American hits, such as "Singin' the Blues" and "Knee Deep in the Blues". Although Steele never proved a serious threat to Elvis's popularity in the UK, he did admirably well on the 1950s British pop charts and "Singing the Blues" got to Number 1. Guy Mitchell was no. 1 with "Singing the Blues" on 7/12/56 and Tommy Steele on 14/12/56.
Discography
Partial discography.
Singles
With the Steelemen
Rock With the Caveman/ Rock Around the Town - UK charts no.13 (Decca 1956)
Doomsday Rock/ Elevator Rock (Decca 1956)
Singing The Blues/ Rebel Rock - UK charts no. 1 (Decca 1956)
Knee Deep in the Blues/ Teenage Party. - UK charts no.15 (Decca 1957)
Butterfingers/ Cannibal Pot - UK charts no. 8 (Decca 1957)
Shiralee/ Grandad’s Rock - UK charts no.11 (Decca 1957)
Water, Water/ A Handful of Songs. - UK charts no. 5 (Decca 1957)
Hey You!/ Plant A Kiss - UK charts no.28 (Decca 1957)
Happy Guitar/ Princess - UK charts no.20 (Decca 1958)
Nairobi/ Neon Sign - UK charts no. 3 (Decca 1958)
Only Man on the Island/ I Puts the Lightie On. - UK charts no.16 (Decca 1958)
Solo
It’s All Happening/ What Do You Do? (Decca 1958 )
Come On, Let’s Go/ Put a Ring on Her Finger. - UK charts no.10 (Decca 1958)
A Lovely Night/ Marriage Type Love (Decca 1958)
Hiawatha/ The Trial (Decca 1959)
Tallahassee Lassie/ Give, Give, Give - UK. charts no.16 (Decca 1959)
You Were Mine/ Young Ideas (Decca 1959)
Little White Bull/ Singing Time. - UK charts no. 6 (Decca 1959)
What A Mouth/ Kookaburra - UK charts no. 5 (Decca 1960)
Happy Go Lucky Blues/ Girl with the Long Black Hair (Decca 1960)
Must Be Santa/ Boys and Girls. - UK charts no.40 (Decca 1960)
My Big Best Shoes/ The Dit Dit Song (Decca 1961)
Writing on the Wall/ Drunken Guitar - UK charts no.30 .(Decca 1961)
Hit Record/ What A Little Darling (Decca 1962)
Where Have All the Flowers Gone?/ Butter Wouldn’t Melt in Your Mouth (Decca 1963)
He’s Got Love/ Green Eye (Decca 1963 )
Flash Bang Wallop/ She’s Too Far Above Me (Decca 1963)
Egg and Chips/ The Dream Maker (Columbia 1963)
Half A Sixpence/ If the Rain’s Got to Fall (RCA 1965)
Fortuosity/ I’m a Brass Band (Vista 1967)
King’s New Clothes/ Wonderful Copenhagen (Pye 1974)
Half A Sixpence/ If the Rain’s Got to Fall (Safari 1984)
Singing the Blues/ Come On, Let’s Go (Old Gold 1985)
Actor
With Petula Clark in Finian's RainbowThe increase in home-grown musical talent during the 1960s allowed Steele to progress to a career in stage and film musicals, leaving behind his pop idol identity. In the West End he appeared in the title role of Hans Christian Andersen. On film, he recreated his London and Broadway stage role in Half A Sixpence, and played character roles in The Happiest Millionaire and Finian's Rainbow, although many critics found his personality to be somewhat overwhelming on screen. In this latter film, probably his best known appearance in the movies, he co-starred with Petula Clark and Fred Astaire.
In 1983, Steele directed and starred in the West End stage production of Singin' in the Rain at the famed London Palladium. In 1991 he toured with Some Like It Hot the stage version of the Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe film. In 2003, after a decade-long hiatus, save his one man shows An Evening With Tommy Steele and What A Show!, he toured as Ebenezer Scrooge in a production of Scrooge: The Musical, an adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Following this triumphant return, he reprised his role at the Palace Theatre, Manchester over Christmas 2004, and brought the production to the London Palladium for Christmas 2005.
Filmography
The Tommy Steele Story (1957)
The Duke Wore Jeans (1957)
Tommy the Toreador (1959)
Light Up the Sky! (1960) known as Skywatch in the US
It's All Happening (1963) known as The Dream Maker in the US
Half a Sixpence (1967)
The Happiest Millionaire (1967)
Finian's Rainbow (1968)
Twelfth Night (1969) (made for TV)
Where's Jack? (1969)
The Yeomen of the Guard (1978)
Quincy's Quest (1979)
Author and Other Talents
In the early 1980s, Steele wrote and published a book titled The Final Run, a novel about World War II and the evacuation of Dunkirk.
He also wrote a children's novel, entitled Quincy, about a reject toy trying to save himself and his fellow rejects in the basement of a toy store from the furnace the day after Christmas. This was turned into a film in 1979, which Tommy played Quincy and Mel Martin playing Quincy's girlfriend doll, Rebecca.
He has developed a talent as a sculptor and two of his major works are on public display; Bermondsey Boy at the Rotherhithe Civic Centre and Eleanor Rigby which he sculpted and gave to the City of Liverpool as a tribute to The Beatles.
A UK Daily Mail article 26 Aug. 2006 previewing Tommy's new autobiography (see below) states that Tommy has another sculpture featuring two rugby players on display at England's rugby stadium at Twickenham. Also that Tommy is an artist of some note and has exhibited at the Royal Academy.
His autobiography came out in September 2006 and is entitled 'Bermondsey Boy: Memories of a Forgotten World.' (London: Joseph)
Credit: wikipedia
Must Be Santa
Tommy Steele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Santa's got a beard that's long and white
Who comes around on a special night
Santa comes around on a special night
Special Night, beard that's white
Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Clause
Who wears boots and a suit of red
Santa wears boots and a suit of red
Who wears a long cap on his head
Santa wears a long cap on his head
Cap on head, suit that's red
Special night, beard that's white
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Clause
Who's got a big red cherry nose
Santa's got a big red cherry nose
Who laughs this way HO HO HO
Santa laughs this way HO HO HO
HO HO HO, cherry nose
Cap on head, suit that's red
Special night, beard that's white
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Clause
Who very soon will come our way
Santa very soon will come our way
Eight little reindeer pull his sleigh
Santa's little reindeer pull his sleigh
Reindeer sleigh, come our way
HO HO HO, cherry nose
Cap on head, suit that's red
Special night, beard that's white
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Clause
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen
Reindeer sleigh, come our way
HO HO HO, cherry nose
Cap on head, suit that's red
Special night, beard that's white
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Clause
The song "Must Be Santa" by Tommy Steele is a cheerful and upbeat tune that celebrates the magic and joy of the Christmas season, specifically through the figure of Santa Claus. The lyrics emphasize Santa's iconic features and qualities, from his long white beard and red suit to his jolly laugh and trusty reindeer. The repetition of the phrase "must be Santa" throughout the song serves to reinforce the idea of Santa's mystical presence and the excitement and anticipation that surround his arrival on Christmas night.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's got a beard that's long and white
Santa's iconic beard can be defined by its lengthy and snowy appearance.
Who comes around on a special night
Santa Claus famously comes once a year, bringing gifts and spreading holiday cheer.
Special Night, beard that's white
The night in question is special, and Santa's distinguishable trait - his white beard - remains prominent.
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Clause
The repetition of 'Must be Santa' points out that all the features mentioned are quintessential to Santa Clause’s existence.
Who wears boots and a suit of red
Santa's festive wardrobe features a pair of boots and a red outfit.
Who wears a long cap on his head
Santa's trademark is the cap he wears to finish his seasonal outfit.
Cap on head, suit that's red
Special night, beard that's white
Santa's clothing style dovetails with his essentials: the white beard and the special night of the year.
Who's got a big red cherry nose
Santa's nose is described as sizable and brilliantly red.
Who laughs this way HO HO HO
Santa's jolly laughter is unique, symbolized by the traditional phrase 'HO HO HO.'
HO HO HO, cherry nose
Cap on head, suit that's red
Special night, beard that's white
The description of Santa's appearance repeats, emphasizing the image and continuing to reinforce his image in the listener's mind.
Who very soon will come our way
As per tradition, Santa Claus will arrive shortly during Christmas time.
Eight little reindeer pull his sleigh
The famous reindeer – Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen – pull Santa's classic reindeer sleigh.
Reindeer sleigh, come our way
HO HO HO, cherry nose
Cap on head, suit that's red
Special night, beard that's white
The magic of Christmas is conveyed in these extensive descriptions of the classic Santa Claus imagery.
Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Clause
The song concludes with the same refrain, ensuring that the listener doesn't forget who is behind all the sights and sounds of Christmas.
Writer(s): H. Moore, B. Fredricks
Contributed by Blake J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@benfisher1376
This is something from a very different time. It's so innocent and simple.
@abigalebuss359
Happy Birthday Tommy Steele!
@abigalebuss359
The only time that I ever heard this before was when Mitch Miller and his gang sang this. I was thrilled to hear Tommy Steele without a group of kids singing this when I finally got his double album of greatest hits that I'd wanted for years🎅
@lizdoyle7158
EXCELLENT 🌟FABOULOUS🌟 AWESOME 🌟
🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅
@davidwalsh3439
A great little number also a small hit for Joan Regan.
@davyboy232
Bob Dylan recorded this too