- published: 30 Jun 2015
- views: 8235
Tommy Steele OBE (born Thomas William Hicks, 17 December 1936, Bermondsey, London), is an English entertainer. Steele is widely regarded as Britain's first teen idol and rock and roll star.
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 eighteen years old, he was diagnosed as suffering with cardiomyopathy. However, according to his autobiography, Bermondsey Boy: Memories of a Forgotten World, he failed the medical because he had flat feet. While on leave or during dock strikes, he played guitar and banjo and sang in The 2i's Coffee Bar and the Cat's Whisker where hand-jiving was devised, two coffee houses in Soho, both as a solo performer and with Wally Whyton's Vipers Skiffle Group. When a ship Steele was serving on docked in Norfolk, Virginia, he heard Buddy Holly and fell in love with rock and roll, turning his back on the British skiffle craze. He was discovered by freelance photographer John Kennedy, who believed Steele could be Britain's answer to Elvis Presley. Later co-manager Larry Parnes was incorrectly credited with creating the stage name 'Tommy Steele.' It was Steele who adapted the surname of his Scandinavian paternal grandfather, Thomas Stil-Hicks (pronounced Steel-Hicks), adding another E to the spelling.[citation needed]
Actors: Peter Rogers (producer), John Boxer (actor), Yvonne Axeworthy (miscellaneous crew), Charles Lamb (actor), Herbert Smith (producer), Hilda Fenemore (actress), Norman Hudis (writer), Mark Daly (actor), Cyril Chamberlain (actor), Bill Shine (actor), Tommy Steele (actor), Patrick Westwood (actor), Bryan Coleman (actor), Stuart Levy (producer), Lisa Daniely (actress),
Plot: This is the story of the early life and rise to fame of 'Tommy Steele' (qv). His manager wanted him to be a tough rock'n'roller and so challenge 'Elvis Presley' (qv) but Tommy is too nice. He becomes famous anyway !!
Keywords: character-name-in-title, rock-musicGreat! Real great! Fabulous! More than most.
I want you to know that I really go for you.
Cool! Real cool! You send me. Out of this world.
I want you to know that I really go for you.
Knock! Knock, knock!
Who's that there? Open the door!
I want you to know that I really go for you.
This is no build up. This is no build up.
My book is filled up, and every word is true, true, true
This is no build up. This is no build up.
I get so grilled up over you, you, you.