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Bruce Welch OBE
Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a United Kingdom order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom....
, (born Bruce Cripps, 2 November 1941, Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis

Bognor Regis is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, on the south coast of England. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton, and southeast of the county town of Chichester....
, Sussex
Sussex

Sussex , from the Old English Su?seaxe , is a Historic counties of England in South East England England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex....
, England
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
) is an English
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
 guitarist
Guitarist

A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may perform solo pieces or play with ensembles and bands of a wide variety of genres....
, songwriter
Songwriter

File:Beethoven.jpgA songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics, as well the musical composition or melody to songs. One who writes only lyrics is a lyricist, while one who writes only music is a composer....
, producer
Record producer

In the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, Audio mixing and audio mastering processes....
 and singer, best known as a member of The Shadows
The Shadows

Nick-named: the Shads, The Shadows are the most successful United Kingdom instrumental and vocal group from the 1950s to the 2000s with an aggregate total of at least 64 UK hit singles....
.

Welch grew up with his Aunt Sadie in Chester le Street, County Durham
County Durham

County Durham is a Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England of Historic counties of England in North East England England. The county town is Durham.The largest settlement in the county is the town of Darlington....
. After learning to play the guitar
Guitar

The guitar is a musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles. It typically has six Strings , but Tenor guitar, Seven-string guitar, Eight-string guitar, Ten-string guitar, Eleven-string guitar, Twelve-string guitar, Thirteen-string guitar and doubleneck guitar string guitars also exist....
, he formed a Tyneside
Tyneside

Tyneside is a conurbation in northern England, which is home to over 80% of the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear. It includes Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Hebburn, Jarrow, North Shields, and South Shields — all settlements on the banks of the River Tyne, England....
 skiffle
Skiffle

Skiffle is a type of folk music with jazz, blues and country influences, usually using homemade or improvised instruments such as the washboard, tea chest bass, kazoo, cigar-box fiddle, musical saw, comb and paper, and so forth, as well as more conventional instruments such as Steel-string guitar and banjo....
 band called The Railroaders when he was fourteen. His Rutherford Grammar School friend Brian Rankin (later to be known as Hank Marvin
Hank Marvin

Hank Brian Marvin is an England guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist for The Shadows. The group, which primarily performed instrumentals, was formed as a backing band for singer Cliff Richard....
, joined the group and they travelled to London
London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
 in 1958 for the final of a talent competition.






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Bruce Welch OBE
Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a United Kingdom order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom....
, (born Bruce Cripps, 2 November 1941, Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis

Bognor Regis is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, on the south coast of England. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton, and southeast of the county town of Chichester....
, Sussex
Sussex

Sussex , from the Old English Su?seaxe , is a Historic counties of England in South East England England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex....
, England
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
) is an English
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
 guitarist
Guitarist

A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may perform solo pieces or play with ensembles and bands of a wide variety of genres....
, songwriter
Songwriter

File:Beethoven.jpgA songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics, as well the musical composition or melody to songs. One who writes only lyrics is a lyricist, while one who writes only music is a composer....
, producer
Record producer

In the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, Audio mixing and audio mastering processes....
 and singer, best known as a member of The Shadows
The Shadows

Nick-named: the Shads, The Shadows are the most successful United Kingdom instrumental and vocal group from the 1950s to the 2000s with an aggregate total of at least 64 UK hit singles....
.

Welch grew up with his Aunt Sadie in Chester le Street, County Durham
County Durham

County Durham is a Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England of Historic counties of England in North East England England. The county town is Durham.The largest settlement in the county is the town of Darlington....
. After learning to play the guitar
Guitar

The guitar is a musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles. It typically has six Strings , but Tenor guitar, Seven-string guitar, Eight-string guitar, Ten-string guitar, Eleven-string guitar, Twelve-string guitar, Thirteen-string guitar and doubleneck guitar string guitars also exist....
, he formed a Tyneside
Tyneside

Tyneside is a conurbation in northern England, which is home to over 80% of the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear. It includes Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Hebburn, Jarrow, North Shields, and South Shields — all settlements on the banks of the River Tyne, England....
 skiffle
Skiffle

Skiffle is a type of folk music with jazz, blues and country influences, usually using homemade or improvised instruments such as the washboard, tea chest bass, kazoo, cigar-box fiddle, musical saw, comb and paper, and so forth, as well as more conventional instruments such as Steel-string guitar and banjo....
 band called The Railroaders when he was fourteen. His Rutherford Grammar School friend Brian Rankin (later to be known as Hank Marvin
Hank Marvin

Hank Brian Marvin is an England guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist for The Shadows. The group, which primarily performed instrumentals, was formed as a backing band for singer Cliff Richard....
, joined the group and they travelled to London
London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
 in 1958 for the final of a talent competition. Although they did not win, they joined with members of other entrant bands and formed The Five Chesternuts with Pete Chester (born 1942), son of comedian Charlie Chester
Charlie Chester

Charlie Chester , was a United Kingdom stand-up comedian and TV and radio presenter, broadcasting almost continuously from the 1940s to the 1990s....
 on drums
Drum kit

A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as cowbell s, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer....
.

On moving to London Bruce and Hank Marvin
Hank Marvin

Hank Brian Marvin is an England guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist for The Shadows. The group, which primarily performed instrumentals, was formed as a backing band for singer Cliff Richard....
 briefly operated as the Geordie Boys before enlisting in an outfit called The Drifters.

In September 1958 Welch and Marvin joined The Drifters, later to become The Shadows, as Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard

Sir Cliff Richard Order of the British Empire is an England singer-songwriter, actor and entrepreneur.With his backing group The Shadows, Richard dominated the British popular music scene in the late 1950s and early 1960s, before and during The Beatles' first year in the charts....
's backing band
Band (music)

In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform songs. The following articles concern types of musical bands:...
. As well as success with The Shadows, Welch also acted as producer for (among others) Cliff Richard and songwriter for his ex-fiancée, Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John Order of Australia, Order of the British Empire is an England, Australian singer and actor. She is an avid activist for both environmentalism issues and breast cancer awareness....
. He also released a solo single "Please Mr. Please
Please Mr. Please

"Please Mr. Please" is the title of a popular song from 1975 by the Australia singer Olivia Newton-John. The song was written by Bruce Welch and John Rostill, both members of United Kingdom pop singer Cliff Richard's backing band, The Shadows....
", which was not commercially successful, even though the song
Song

A song is a musical musical composition which contains vocal parts that are performed, 'sung,' and feature words , commonly accompanied by musical instruments ....
 has been covered
Cover version

In popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition of a previously recorded, commercially released song.In its current use, it can sometimes have a pejorative meaning — implying that the original recording should be regarded as the definitive version, usually in the sense of an "authentic" rendition, and all...
 by several recording artists (most notably Newton-John, who would take it into the top 10 of the U.S. pop and country charts in 1975).

Welch wrote several #1 hit singles for Cliff and for The Shadows. Among songs written or co-written by Welch are the Shadows' hits "Foot Tapper
Foot Tapper

Foot Tapper is an instrumental by the British guitar group, The Shadows. It went to number 1 in the UK, and was the Shadows' last UK #1 hit single ....
" and "The Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt
The Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt

The Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt is an instrumental by the British guitar group, The Shadows. It went to number 5 in the UK. The character Flingel Bunt is an imiginary character invented by the actor Richard O'Sullivan, a friend of The Shadows....
", Marvin Welch & Farrar's "Faithful" and "My Home Town", and Cliff Richard hits ""Please Don't Tease
Please Don't Tease

Please Don't Tease is a UK number-one single of 1960 by Cliff Richard and The Shadows.References...
", In the Country", "Summer Holiday
Summer Holiday (song)

Summer Holiday is a song by Cliff Richard and The Shadows. It went to #1 in the UK....
", "I Love You
I Love You (Cliff Richard song)

I Love You is a UK number-one single of 1960 by Cliff Richard and The Shadows, written by Shadows' rhythm guitarist Bruce Welch. ....
" and "I Could Easily Fall (In Love With You)".

He was the musical consultant for the West End
West End theatre

West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's "Theatreland". Along with New York City's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English language world....
 musical Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story
Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story

Buddy ? The Buddy Holly Story is a jukebox musical in two acts with a book co-written by Alan Janes and Rob Bettinson, and music and lyrics by a variety of songwriters....
.

Welch plays occasionally with his second band, The Moonlight Shadows, a Shadows-style band with Phil Kelly taking Hank Marvin's place on lead guitar
Lead guitar

Lead guitar refers to the use of a guitar to perform melody lines, fill , and guitar solos within a song structure.In rock music, heavy metal music, blues, jazz and fusion bands and some pop music contexts as well as others, the lead guitar lines are usually supported by a second guitarist who plays rhythm guitar, which consists of accompan...
.

He was appointed OBE
Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a United Kingdom order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom....
 (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours
British honours system

The United Kingdom honours system is a means of rewarding individuals' personal bravery, achievement, or service to the United Kingdom. The system consists of three types of award: honours, decorations and medals:...
 List for services to music.

Groupography

The Rainroaders.

The Five Chesternuts.

The Drifters/Cliff Richard and The Drifters.

The Shadows/Cliff Richard and the Shadows.

Marvin Welch and Farrar.

Moonlight Shadows.

Bruce Welch's Shadows.

Discography

Please Mr Please//Song of Yesterday - EMI???? - 7" - 1974.

Marvin Welch and Farrar - 'Marvin Welch and Farrar' - 1970.

Marvin Welch and Farrar - 'Second Opinion' - 1972.

The Five Chesternuts - Jean Dorothy - Columbia - 7" - 1958.

The Shadows - too many to list.

Guest Vocals

Marvin and Farrar - Hank Marvin and John Farrar - EMI - LP/CD - 1973.

Production credits

Cliff Richard - We Don't Talk Anymore
We Don't Talk Anymore

"We Don't Talk Anymore" was a UK number one single for four weeks in August 1979 for Cliff Richard. Produced by The Shadows' rhythm guitarist Bruce Welch and written by guitarist Alan Tarney it was Cliff Richard's tenth UK number one and his first since "Congratulations " in 1968....
 - 7" - EMI/EMI???? - 1979.

Cliff Richard - We don't talk anymore(extended mix) - 12" - EMI/EMI???? - 1979.

Cliff Richard - I'm nearly famous - LP/CD - EMI/EMC???? - 1975.

Cliff Richard - Every face tells a story - LP/CD - EMI/EMC???? - 1976.

Cliff Richard - Green light - LP/CD - EMI/EMC???? - 1978.

The Shadows - XXV - LP/CD - Polydor - 1983.

Tarney / Spencer Band - Cathy's clown - 7" - A&M - 1979.

Roger Whittaker - The genius of love - LP/CD - 1986.

OLivia Newton-John - Olivia Newton-john - LP/CD - Pye - 1971.

OLivia Newton-John - Olivia - LP/CD - Pye - 1972.

Charlie Dore - Where to now - LP/CD - Island/Lemon- 1979.

Cilla Black - Especially for you - LP/CD - Ktel/Hallmark - 1980.

Alan David - Alan David - LP - EMI/EMC3365 - 1981.

Alan Davy - - 1981.

Sutherland brothers and Quivers - Down to earth - LP/CD - CBS/Lemon - 1977/.

Page Three - Hold on to love - 7" - WB.

McArthur Park - Taffeta Rose/Sammy - Columbia - 7".

Instruments

Electric Guitar - as Rhythm guitar.

Acoustic guitar - 6 string and 12 string.

Bass Guitar - Euro-vision song contest.

Keyboards.

Guitars used

Grimshaw - 1958/9.

Vega - 1958/9.

Fender Stratocaster (red/white)- 1960's.

Fender Telecaster - 1960's.

Jazzmaster - 1960's.

Gretsch - 1960's.

Burns (white/green) - 1960's.

Martin acoustic D12 - 1970's.

Fender stratocaster - 1970's.

Martin acoustic D12 - 1980's.

Fender stratocaster - 1980's.

Post-Shadows tribute band

Shadowmania's since 1998-2008 at Lakeside country club, Frimley Green, Surrey with Phil Kelly(lead/g); Alan Jones(bass); Cliff Hall(Kb); and Bob Watkins(drums/perc).

External links