Danny Williams (singer): Difference between revisions
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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Born in [[Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape|Port Elizabeth]], [[Eastern Cape]], South Africa,<ref name="AMG">{{cite web |first= |last= |url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p138310/biography|pure_url=yes}} |title=Biography by Linda Seida |publisher=Allmusic.com |accessdate=18 June 2009}}</ref> Williams won a [[talent contest]] at the age of 14 and joined a touring show called Golden City Dixies that played throughout South Africa.<ref name="AMG"/> In 1959, the show came to [[London]] where Williams impressed [[EMI]]'s [[Norman Newell]], who signed the young singer to a recording contract.<ref name="AMG"/> He was to spend most of his life in the United Kingdom, where at first he made a few moderately successful singles, mainly popular ballads, before scoring a number one hit with his cover version of "[[Moon River]]" in 1961.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> To this day, it remains his most famous record which he re-recorded for |
Born in [[Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape|Port Elizabeth]], [[Eastern Cape]], South Africa,<ref name="AMG">{{cite web |first= |last= |url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p138310/biography|pure_url=yes}} |title=Biography by Linda Seida |publisher=Allmusic.com |accessdate=18 June 2009}}</ref> Williams won a [[talent contest]] at the age of 14 and joined a touring show called Golden City Dixies that played throughout South Africa.<ref name="AMG"/> In 1959, the show came to [[London]] where Williams impressed [[EMI]]'s [[Norman Newell]], who signed the young singer to a recording contract.<ref name="AMG"/> He was to spend most of his life in the United Kingdom, where at first he made a few moderately successful singles, mainly popular ballads, before scoring a number one hit with his cover version of "[[Moon River]]" in 1961.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> To this day, it remains his most famous record which he re-recorded for his third self-titled album ''[[Danny Williams (album)|Danny Williams]]'', issued in the UK by Contour Records in 1972, and he also scored a No. 8 chart hit with "The Wonderful World of the Young" in April 1962. It led to his appearance in the film ''[[Play It Cool (film)|Play It Cool]]'' (1962), directed by [[Michael Winner]], and starring [[Billy Fury]] as pop singer Billy Universe. In 1963, Williams joined a 20-city tour which starred [[Helen Shapiro]] and featured [[the Beatles]] as a support act on the bill; like many other ballad singers of the day, he was swept away by the new [[beat group]] era. |
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Williams had no more major British hits, even though "[[White on White (song)|White on White]]" became popular abroad and was his only US [[Top 40|Top Ten]] hit, charting in 1964 (#9 [[Billboard Hot 100|Pop]], #3 [[Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks|MOR]].<ref>{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p138310/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}}|title=Allmusic ((( Danny Williams > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))}}</ref>) He continued to record for [[HMV]] until 1967 while working the [[nightclub]] circuit. In 1968, he had a [[nervous breakdown]] and was declared [[bankrupt]] two years later. However, he resumed his singing career in the early 1970s, achieving a Top 30 success with "Dancin' Easy" in 1977.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> In the early 1990s, he recorded for [[Prestige Records]] and subsequently starred in a [[Nat "King" Cole]] tribute show which made several British tours.<ref name="AMG"/> [[Compilation album|Compilations]] of his early recordings, including "Moon River", have been issued on CD. |
Williams had no more major British hits, even though "[[White on White (song)|White on White]]" became popular abroad and was his only US [[Top 40|Top Ten]] hit, charting in 1964 (#9 [[Billboard Hot 100|Pop]], #3 [[Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks|MOR]].<ref>{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p138310/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}}|title=Allmusic ((( Danny Williams > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))}}</ref>) He continued to record for [[His Master's Voice|HMV]] until 1967 while working the [[nightclub]] circuit. In 1968, he had a [[nervous breakdown]] and was declared [[bankrupt]] two years later. However, he resumed his singing career in the early 1970s, achieving a Top 30 success with "Dancin' Easy" in 1977.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> In the early 1990s, he recorded for [[Prestige Records]] and subsequently starred in a [[Nat "King" Cole]] tribute show which made several British tours.<ref name="AMG"/> [[Compilation album|Compilations]] of his early recordings, including "Moon River", have been issued on CD. |
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He died in December 2005 of [[lung cancer]], at the age of 63. Williams was married three times, and is survived by his two daughters (Natali and Melody Williams) and two sons, the actor [[Anthony Barclay]] and Michael Stewart. |
He died in December 2005 of [[lung cancer]], at the age of 63. Williams was married three times, and is survived by his two daughters (Natali and Melody Williams) and two sons, the actor [[Anthony Barclay]] and Michael Stewart. |
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Revision as of 03:48, 15 July 2019
Danny Williams (7 January 1942 – 6 December 2005[1]) was a South African-born British pop singer[1] who earned the nickname, "Britain's Johnny Mathis", for his smooth and stylish way with a ballad.[2] He is best known for singing his UK number 1 version of "Moon River" in 1961 and his US top ten hit, "White on White".
Career
Born in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa,[2] Williams won a talent contest at the age of 14 and joined a touring show called Golden City Dixies that played throughout South Africa.[2] In 1959, the show came to London where Williams impressed EMI's Norman Newell, who signed the young singer to a recording contract.[2] He was to spend most of his life in the United Kingdom, where at first he made a few moderately successful singles, mainly popular ballads, before scoring a number one hit with his cover version of "Moon River" in 1961.[1] To this day, it remains his most famous record which he re-recorded for his third self-titled album Danny Williams, issued in the UK by Contour Records in 1972, and he also scored a No. 8 chart hit with "The Wonderful World of the Young" in April 1962. It led to his appearance in the film Play It Cool (1962), directed by Michael Winner, and starring Billy Fury as pop singer Billy Universe. In 1963, Williams joined a 20-city tour which starred Helen Shapiro and featured the Beatles as a support act on the bill; like many other ballad singers of the day, he was swept away by the new beat group era.
Williams had no more major British hits, even though "White on White" became popular abroad and was his only US Top Ten hit, charting in 1964 (#9 Pop, #3 MOR.[3]) He continued to record for HMV until 1967 while working the nightclub circuit. In 1968, he had a nervous breakdown and was declared bankrupt two years later. However, he resumed his singing career in the early 1970s, achieving a Top 30 success with "Dancin' Easy" in 1977.[1] In the early 1990s, he recorded for Prestige Records and subsequently starred in a Nat "King" Cole tribute show which made several British tours.[2] Compilations of his early recordings, including "Moon River", have been issued on CD.
He died in December 2005 of lung cancer, at the age of 63. Williams was married three times, and is survived by his two daughters (Natali and Melody Williams) and two sons, the actor Anthony Barclay and Michael Stewart.
Discography
Albums
(Record label in parenthesis)
- 1962: Swinging for You (& Nelson Riddle) (HMV)
- 1966: Only Love (HMV)
- 1968: Danny Williams (Deram)
- 1972: Danny Williams (Contour)
- 1973: I'm a Song - Sing Me (Philips)
- 1975: To Know You Is to Love You (Philips)
- 1977: Anytime Anyplace Anywhere (Philips)
Singles
| Year | Title | Position UK |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | "We Will Never Be as Young as This Again" | 44 |
| "The Miracle of You" | 41 | |
| "Moon River" | 1 | |
| 1962 | "Jeannie" | 14 |
| "Wonderful World of the Young" | 8 | |
| "Tears" | 22 | |
| 1963 | "My Own True Love" | 45 |
| 1977 | "Dancin' Easy" | 30 |
Catalogue
(Record label in bold)
- His Master’s Voice
- 1959: "Tall a Tree / I Look at You"
- 1959: "So High, So Low / My Own True Love"
- 1960: "Youthful Years / It Doesn't Matter"
- 1960: "A Million to One / Call Me a Dreamer"
- 1961: "We Will Never Be as Young as This Again / Passing Breeze"
- 1961: "The Miracle of You / Lonely"
- 1961: "Moon River / A Weaver of Dreams"
- 1962: "Jeannie / It Might as Well Be Spring"
- 1962: "The Wonderful World of the Young / A Kind of Loving"
- 1962: "Tears / Tiara Tahiti"
- 1963: "My Own True Love / Who Can Say?"
- 1963: "More / Rhapsody"
- 1963: "The Wild Wind / Once Upon a Time"
- 1963: "A Day Without You / Secret Love"
- 1963: "How Do You Keep from Crying? / Now the Day Is Over"
- 1964: "White on White / After You"
- 1964: "Today / Lonely in a Crowd"
- 1964: "The Seventh Dawn / The World Around Me"
- 1964: "Forget Her, Forget Her / Lollipops and Roses"
- 1965: "The Roundabout of Love / I Wanna Be Around"
- 1975: "Go Away / Masquerade"
- 1965: "Lovely Is She / Gone and Forgotten"
- 1965: "And So We Meet Again / Violets for Your Furs"
- 1966: "I've Got to Find That Girl Again / Throw a Little Lovin' My Way"
- 1966: "Don't Just Stand There / Now and Then"
- 1966: "Since You Set Me Free, Baby / I Really Don't Know What Hit Me"
- 1966: "Rain (Falling from the Skies) / I'm So Lost"
- Deram
- 1967: "Never My Love / Whose Little Girl Are You"
- 1967: "Love Me / When You Were Mine"
- 1968: "Everybody Needs Somebody / They Will Never Understand"
- Ocean
- 1970: "Fare Ye Well - Separate Ways / A Girl Like You"
- Philips
- 1973: "I Will Touch You / Words of Romance"
- 1973: "So Begins My Life / Where Is the Love"
- 1974: "Hey Love / Life's a Roundabout"
- 1974: "Every Night I Cry Myself to Sleep / Natali"
- 1975: "Ebony Eyes / Believe in the Rain"
- Ensign
- 1977: "Dancin' Easy / No More Cane"
- 1977: "I Hate Hate / I Hate Hate (Disco Version)"
- Piccadilly
- 1980: "Daddy Write a Letter Soon / Give a Little Bit"
References
- ^ a b c d Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 603. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b c d e "Biography by Linda Seida". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
- ^ "Allmusic ((( Danny Williams > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))".
External links
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
