Cliff Richard, dubbed the “British Elvis Presley,” is one of the most famous pop singers, having sold over 250 million records during his career. He has the third-highest number of UK number one singles and was knighted for his contributions to the music industry. Additionally, he is the first Western pop star to perform in Russia. Today, he is revered as a god of rock and roll, particularly in the United Kingdom, and enjoys unprecedented popularity. He is one of the few artists whose career and life have been free of controversy, whether related to alcoholism, drug abuse, or relationships. He maintains an immaculate appearance and is quite proud of it. “I’ve always maintained that I’m the most radical rock ‘n’ roll singer Britain has ever seen,” he once stated in an interview. I was the only one who did not spit, swear, or prostitution. I was not a drug user. I did not become inebriated. I abstained from soulless sex.” Truly, his life is free of controversy or rumors. He has always been forthright about his relationships and has vowed to remain a perpetual bachelor for the rest of his life. Read on to learn more about Richard’s life and career.
Childhood & Adolescence
Cliff was born as Harry Rodger Webb to Rodger Oscar Webb, an employee of an Indian Railways catering service, and Dorothy Marie Dazely, a dormitory matron at Lucknow’s La Martiniere Girls’ School.
He received his elementary education at St. Thomas’ Church School, Howrah, following his family’s relocation to Calcutta in 1945.
In 1948, following India’s independence, the family relocated to Tilbury, Essex, England. They lived in Carshalton, Surrey, until 1949, when his father took a job with ‘Thorn Electrical Industries’ in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire. He attended Kings Road Junior Mixed Infants School in this area.
He later attended Cheshunt Secondary Modern School, graduating in 1957. He began his career as a temporary clerk for Atlas Lamps and was given a guitar by his father when he was sixteen.
Prior to joining the Dick Teague Skiffle Group in 1957, he formed his own band Quintones vocal group.
Career of Cliff
Soon after joining the rock and roll group ‘Drifters,’ he adopted the stage name Cliff Richard during a 1958 visit to the Regal Ballroom in Ripley, Derbyshire.
His debut single, ‘Schoolboy Crush-Move It,’ was an immediate success, peaking at No. 2 in the UK charts. He wrote ‘High Class Baby’ and ‘Livin’ Lovin’ Doll’ between late 1958 and early 1959.
He made his film debut in 1959 with ‘Serious Charge’. Later on, the band’s name was changed to ‘The Shadows’. He starred in the 1961 film ‘The Young Ones,’ which was a box office smash; the film’s title song achieved enormous popularity and sold over a million copies.
In 1965, he released ‘On My Word,’ which was another massive hit, peaking at number one in the UK charts. It was followed in 1967 by another chart-topping single, ‘The Day I Met Marie,’ which also charted in the United Kingdom. He appeared in the film ‘Two a Penny’ the following year, portraying Jamie Hopkins, who becomes involved in drug dealing.
The band ‘The Shadows’ disbanded in 1968, but Richard continued to produce chart-topping singles.
Additionally, he made his final film appearance in 1973’s ‘Take Me High’. ‘The Shadows’ also reformed this year. Until recently, he was not well received in the United States, and his fame was confined to the United Kingdom.
However, in 1976, his album ‘I’m Nearly Famous’ became a worldwide hit, reviving his career, which had stalled following the arrival of the ‘Beatles.
Another of his chart-topping singles was 1979’s ‘We Don’t Talk Anymore,’ which sold over 5 million copies worldwide.
In 1980, he collaborated with Olivia Newton-John on the duet ‘Suddenly,’ which peaked at no. 20 in the UK. In 1986, he collaborated with Sarah Brightman on the duet ‘All I Ask of You’ for the hit musical ‘The Phantom of the Opera.
Throughout the 1980s, he remained one of the most popular singers, with the majority of his songs reaching number one.
In 1996, on a rainy day during the Wimbledon Championships, he entertained the crowd at Centre Court. In 2001, he released his debut studio album, ‘Wanted,’ and followed it up with another chart-topping album, ‘Cliff at Christmas.’
On 14 June 2004, he performed at the London Palladium with ‘The Shadows.’ On November 12th, 2007, he released ‘Love… The Album,’ a collection of his older and new songs.
In 2008, he released ‘And They Said It Wouldn’t Last (My 50 Years in Music),’ an eight-CD box set commemorating his 50th year in the music industry. He joined ‘The Shadows’ the following year to perform at the ‘Royal Variety Performance’.
Richard and ‘The Shadows’ released their studio album ‘Reunited’ in September 2009, marking their first collaboration in forty years.
In 2011, he collaborated with some of the most popular R&B and soul singers in America to record the album ‘Soulicious,’ which was released in October of that year.
He was one of the performers at the Diamond Jubilee concert on June 4, 2012, near Buckingham Palace.
Significant Works of Cliff
His single ‘Living Doll’ was a huge hit, topping the UK Singles Chart twice and selling over 2 million copies worldwide.
The singer’s soundtrack album, ‘The Young Ones,’ peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart, selling over a million copies in the country.
‘Wired for Sound,’ released in 1981, was also a major success, spending nearly 25 weeks on the UK album charts and selling over a million copies worldwide.
Awards and Accomplishments
On June 17, 1995, he was appointed Knight Bachelor for his contributions to music. He was ranked 56th in the BBC’s 2002 list of the ‘100 Greatest Britons’. He was knighted by the Portuguese in 2006 and appointed ‘Commander of the Order of Prince Henry’.
Personal History and Legacies
Richard remained single after one of his previous relationships did not result in marriage. When questioned about this, he stated, “I’ve experienced a few false alarms.” I’ve been in love, but marriage is a significant commitment, and being an artist requires a significant amount of time.”
He leads an active life, and his sisters are his only surviving family members following his parents’ deaths. He is an active member of the non-profit organization ‘Tearfund’ and also advocates for same-sex marriage.
Estimated Net Worth
Cliff Richard’s net worth is $110 million dollars. Cliff Richard is a British pop singer, musician, performer, and actor. Cliff Richard is a singer, actor, producer, businessman, and philanthropist who has charted a #1 single in every decade for the last 60 years. He has sold more than 260 million albums worldwide and is the UK’s best-selling singles artist of all time.
Trivia
This legendary British singer was among the 30,000 demonstrators who gathered in London’s Trafalgar Square to protest the Swedish sex education film ‘Karlekens Sprak’.