Description
Book SynopsisIn the summer of 1956, while on shore leave from the Merchant Navy, Thomas Hicks was spotted playing a new type of music in a coffee bar in London. Having never heard anything like this 'rock' performed in Britain, he became an overnight sensation--never returning to his ship. He changed his name to Tommy Steele and for 65 years he has been Britain's greatest showman. In a remarkable career spanning radio, records, Broadway and Hollywood, Tommy Steele started the rock revolution in the UK before moving to lighter, family entertainment and becoming a well-loved household name. He received an OBE for Services to Entertainment in 1979 and a knighthood for Services to Entertainment and Charity in 2020. He has conquered the West End, Hollywood and Broadway; holds records for the longest-running one-man-show in the London's West End and also the record for most appearances at the hallowed London Palladium. However, his remarkable career has never been detailed accurately and comprehensively--until now. Authorised by Sir Tommy Steele himself, 'A Life in the Spotlight' offers readers a detailed insight into the career of an unrivalled entertainment legend, with countless facts, stories, details and anecdotes never before committed to print.
Table of Contents1 Ready to Rock 1956; 2 The Golden Year 1957; 3 Rockin' Around the World 1958; 4 A Handful of Steele 1959; 5 Stooping to Conquer 1960; 6 It's All Happening 1961-1962; 7 So, This Is Broadway? 1963-1965; 8 The Sixpenny Millionaire 1966-1967; 9 Looking to the Rainbow 1968-1969; 10 Wonderful Applause 1970-1979; 11 What a Glorious Feeling 1980-1989; 12 What A Star! 1990-1999; 13 Steele Going Strong 2000-2021; Finale; Appendix 1 'If A Picture Paints A Thousand Words'-The artwork; Appendix 2 'What a Picture!-Filmography; Appendix 3 'Tommy Steele and a Show'-The Television specials; Appendix 4 'Hit Record'-Discography; Appendix 5 'Come On In!'-The BBC radio series; Appendix 6 'An Evening with Tommy Steele'-The complete stage shows.
