Agnetha Faltskog is 70 this week. Whether you’re an Abba fan f not, you have to admit they never made a bad record. Just a shame that bland UK radio only really ever seem to play Dancing Queen. Many of their songs are written about real situations and this one, given the divorce that was going on, is heartbreaking. It was their penultimate number in 1980.
Last week Roger was 84.
He was born in Nairobi, Kenya alhough his parents were from Staffordshire. He came to the UK in 1959 and moved to Bangor North Wales where he studied zoology and marine biology of which he gained a B.Sc.
He performed folk songs at the Uni. He originally signed with Fontana records under the name Rog Whittaker and then to Columbia using his full name. His first hit was the self-penned Durham Town (The Leavin’) in 1969. His biggest hit was the Last Farewell which reeached number two in 1975. Eleven years later he returned to the chart as part of a duet with Des O’Connor on The Skye Boat Song which reached a respectabe number 10.
He has been married to Natalie since 1964 and they have six children and, currently, 11 grandchildren. In 2012, the family moved to the south of France where they currently live.
Here’s Roger live with some great whistling and three of his most well-known songs.
Andreas Johnson celebrates his 50th birthday this week.
He was born in Bjärred, Sweden and came from a musical family as both his parents were jazz musicians.
In February 2000, he charted his first of two hits, Glorious reached number four and the follow-up, The Games We Play stalled at number 41 three months later.
Glorious reached the top 10 in Belgium, Sweden, Ireland, Norway and was most successful in Italy where it reached number three. The song continues to earn him money as it’s been used in a number of TV adverts most notably for Vauxhall, Volvo and Nutella chocolate spread.
Let’s remember and enjoy this hit from 20 years ago.
It was 50 years ago this week that Tammi Terrell passed away.
She began her career in 1962 after she was discovered by the R&B singer Luther Dixon. She was enlisted to record demos for The Shirelles and later joined James Brown’s Revue show. On her 20th birthday, she signed a contract with Motown records and it was Berry who changed her name from her real name, Thomasina Winifred Montgomery to Terrell.
She was involved in a very abusive relationship with James Brown and after leaving him accepted a marriage proposal from Temptations lead singer David Ruffin only to find out he was already married.
Her biggest success came in 1968/69 when she, like Diana Ross, became one of Marvin Gaye’s regular singing partners. They charted six duets the biggest being their later hit, The Onion Song although Tammi didn’t actually sing on the record due to ill health. The female vocal on that track was Valerie Simpson.
In 1969, she was diagnosed with brain cancer and in early 1970, she was confined to a wheelchair and suffered from blindness. She slipped into a coma which she never came out of and died on 16th March 1970, aged just 24.
Let’s remember this lady by the wonderful duet with her closest friend, Marvin Gaye.
This is cracking, do you agree?
Karen Carpenter would have been 70 this week.