David Whitfield

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David Whitfield was born on 2 February 1925 in Kingston upon Hull. He died on 16 January 1980 in Melbourne, Australia. He was a popular British male vocalist.

Contents 1 Career 2 UK single discography 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Career

Whitfield notched up a string of hits in the 1950s, and was the most successful UK male singer in the USA during the pre-rock years. The operatic-style tenor had a formidable, and largely female following, and he used a variety of popular orchestras of his day to supply him with his backing accompaniment.

He was the first ever UK vocalist to earn a gold disc; the first to have a hit placed in the Top Ten of the US Singles Chart; and the first artist from Britain to sell over one million copies of one disc in America.

His most popular recordings were:-

• Cara Mia - which earned him that gold disc and gave him his first Number One in the UK Singles Chart.
• Answer Me - a popular cover of Frankie Laine's big seller, and his other UK chart topper.
• My September Love - a big crowd pleaser.

Cara Mia spent ten weeks at the pole position in the UK, making it one of the biggest selling British records in the pre-rock days. That recording co-credits Mantovani and his Orchestra and Chorus. Like many others, Whitfield's work was usurped by the tidal wave of rock and roll. Nevertheless, when the hits dried up, he continued to perform regularly across the globe, despite keeping a home close to his roots in Hull.

He never managed to make the amount of money that his success would have brought him if it had happened ten years later. When he died, during a singing tour in Australia from a brain haemorrhage at the age of 54, he left only £3,000. But his renown was exemplified by the corresponding, four column obituary notice, afforded him in The Times.

[edit] UK single discography

• "The Bridge Of Sighs" - 1953 - Number 9
• "Answer Me" - 1953 - Number 1
• "Rags To Riches" - 1953 - Number 3
• "The Book" - 1954 - Number 5
• "Cara Mia" - 1954 - Number 1; Number 5 US
• "Santo Natale (Merry Christmas)" - 1954 - Number 9
• "Beyond The Stars" - 1955 - Number 8
• "Mama" - 1955 - Number 12
• "Ev'rywhere" - 1955 - Number 3
• "When You Lose The One You Love" - 1955 - Number 7
• "My September Love" - 1956 - Number 3
• "My Son John" - 1956 - Number 22
• "My Unfinished Symphony" - 1956 - Number 29
• "The Adoration Waltz" - 1957 - Number 9
• "I'll Find You" - 1957 - Number 27
• "Cry My Heart" - 1958 - Number 22
• "On The Street Where You Live" - 1958 - Number 16
• "The Right to Love" - 1958 - Number 30
• "I Believe" - 1960 - Number 49

[edit] References

• Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X
• The Guinness Book Of 500 Number One Hits - ISBN 0-85112-250-7
• The Book Of Golden Discs - 2nd Edition - ISBN 0-214-20512-6

[edit] External links

• The World's First David Whitfield website
• Unofficial David Whitfield website
• Hull website
• 45-RPM Music Website