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David Essex
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David Essex OBE (born David Albert Cook on 23 July 1947) is an English actor and singer, who has enjoyed a varied show business career.
x was born in Plaistow which, at the time of his birth, was officially part of the county of Essex. His father was an East End dock worker and his mother was a self-taught pianist and the daughter of Irish Travellers. His Grandather was named 'Philimore' which was the anglicied version of 'philly Mor' - being Irish for 'Big Philly'.
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Encyclopedia
David Essex OBE (born David Albert Cook on 23 July 1947) is an English actor and singer, who has enjoyed a varied show business career.
Biography
Essex was born in Plaistow which, at the time of his birth, was officially part of the county of Essex. His father was an East End dock worker and his mother was a self-taught pianist and the daughter of Irish Travellers. His Grandather was named 'Philimore' which was the anglicied version of 'philly Mor' - being Irish for 'Big Philly'. Essex was two years old when his parents moved out of the overcrowded home the family was sharing with relatives, to Canning Town where he grew up. He attended Star Lane Primary School. Essex loved playing football — he was a member of West Ham United Juniors for a while and dreamed of one day being a professional player.
Early career
David Essex's first notable acting role was the lead in the stage musical, Godspell in 1971 at the age of 23. Two years later, he starred in the film That'll Be The Day (1973) and recorded a major hit single, "Rock On" (which he wrote himself), in the same year. A second single, "Lamplight", also reached the British Top 10.
In the 1970s, Essex emerged as one of the UK's top performers. His biggest hits during this decade included two Number One singles: "Gonna Make You a Star" (1974), a satirical look at his success; and "Hold Me Close" (1975), a cheerful singalong. He also appeared in Stardust, a 1974 sequel to That'll Be The Day; the title song was another Top 10 hit. In 1976, Essex covered the Beatles song, “Yesterday”, for the musical documentary All This and World War II.
Essex's pop idol looks gave him a strong female fan base and his British tours created scenes of hysteria reminiscent of Beatlemania. According to the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X 'he was voted the number one British male vocalist in 1974, and was a teen idol for more than a decade'.
Musical roles
In 1978, he appeared on Jeff Wayne's concept album, a musical version of The War of the Worlds, as the Artilleryman. The two-record set remains a bestseller.
In the same year, Essex played the character Che, loosely based on Che Guevara, in the original production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Evita, and his recording of the show's "Oh What a Circus" reached Number 3. Two years later, he starred in the film Silver Dream Racer; and the soundtrack song "Silver Dream Machine" was yet another Top 10 hit in the UK singles chart.
In 1985, he co-wrote and starred as Fletcher Christian in the West End musical Mutiny!, based on the novel Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall. The score produced two more hit singles, including "Tahiti," his tenth Top 10 success.
Essex has continued to perform in all areas of show business, to varying degrees of success. A 1988 sitcom, "The River", achieved good ratings. In 1991, a compilation entitled His Greatest Hits reached Number 13; a 1993 album, Cover Shot, peaked at Number 3. His autobiography, A Charmed Life, was published in 2002, and became a bestseller.
In 1999, Essex was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. He still tours the UK on a yearly basis and releases albums through his website. Despite his long and successful British career, he remains largely unknown in the United States. "Rock On" reached Number 5 in 1974, and was his only Billboard Top 40 hit single.
The grandson of an Irish Traveller, Essex told Jake Bowers of the BBC's Rokker Radio, a programme for Gypsies and Travellers, on 30 July 2006, that he has always been openly proud of his Traveller roots, but that having moved to the US, Essex has said he feels it inappropriate for him to continue as Patron of Britain's National Gypsy Council, which works for equal rights, education, and services for Romany and Irish Travellers.
In 2005, he appeared as a guest vocalist on Saint Etienne's album Tales from Turnpike House. Also that year, he appeared in the Channel 4 documentary Bring Back...The Christmas Number One.
Essex was due to join the cast of soap opera EastEnders, in early 2006, as new character Jack Edwards. However, the role was expanded beyond the three weeks planned, and Essex was unable to commit the time. The role instead went to Nicky Henson.
A model and recording of Essex is featured in the museum of West Ham United Football Club. In the recording, he explains his reasons for supporting West Ham and his love of the team.
David spent six years as an ambassador for Voluntary Service Overseas, which earned him an OBE in 1999. "That was a big day. I took my two eldest kids, and me mum even went out and bought a hat," he laughs. He goes on to say it really was something very special: "But it didn't change me in any way. I don't have headed notepaper with David Essex OBE on it."
Present
Essex continues to record and release records frequently on his own 'Lamplight' record label. He tours regularly and still treads the boards, recently appearing in 'Boogie Nights 2', 'Footloose' and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Aspects Of Love.
In 2004, Essex shouted "Are you waiting for a bus?" at a fan who stood up during a performance in Leeds. Essex was supported by local legends Wilson at the concert.
In 2008, he is touring the UK with a musical play called All the Fun of the Fair, which features many of his hits.
UK discography
Singles
- "Rock On" - 1973 - Number 3
- "Lamplight" - 1973 - Number 7
- "America (David Essex song)" - 1974 - Number 32
- "Gonna Make You a Star" - 1974 - Number 1
- "Stardust" - 1975 - Number 7
- "Rolling Stone" - 1975 - Number 5
- "Hold Me Close" - 1975 - Number 1
- "If I Could" - 1975 - Number 13
- "City Lights" - 1976 - Number 24
- "Coming Home" - 1976 - Number 24
- "Cool Out Tonight" - 1977 - Number 23
- "Stay With Me Baby" - 1978 - Number 45
- "Oh What A Circus" - 1978 - Number 3
- "Brave New World" - 1978 - Number 55
- "Imperial Wizard" - 1979 - Number 32
- "Silver Dream Machine (Part 1)" - 1980 - Number 4
- "Hot Love" - 1980 - Number 57
- "Me And My Girl (Night-Clubbing)" - 1982 - Number 13
- "A Winter's Tale" - 1982 - Number 2
- "The Smile" - 1983 - Number 52
- "Tahiti (From 'Mutiny In The Bounty')" - 1983 - Number 8
- "You're In My Heart" - 1983 - Number 59
- "Fishing For The Moon" - 1984 - Number 76
- "Welcome" - 1984 - Number 80
- "Fallen Angels Riding" - 1985 - Number 29
- "Friends" - 1985 - Number 91
- "Myfanwy" - 1987 - Number 41
- "The River" - 1988 - Number 97
- "Rock On" (remix) - 1989 - Number 93
- "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" - 1989 - Number 90
- "True Love Ways" - 1994 (with Catherine Zeta Jones) - Number 38
Albums
- Rock On - 1973 - Number 7
- David Essex - 1974 - Number 2
- All The Fun Of The Fair - 1975 - Number 4
- On Tour - 1976 - Number 51
- Out On The Street - 1976 - Number 31
- Gold and Ivory - 1977 - Number 29
- David Essex Album - 1979 - Number 29
- Imperial Wizard - 1979 - Number 12
- Hot Love - 1980 - Number 75
- Stage-Struck - 1982 - Number 31
- The Very Best Of David Essex - 1982 - Number 32
- A Night at the Movies - 1997 - Number 14
- I Still Believe - 1999
- Thank You - 2000
- Wonderful - 2001
- Theatre Of Dreams - 2001
- Forever - 2001
- Sunset - 2003
- It's Gonna Be Alright - 2004
- Greatest Hits - 2006
- Beautiful Day - 2006
- Happy Ever After - 2007
- All The Fun Of The Fair - Greatest Hits - 2008 - UK #23
External links
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