Jess Conrad
Encyclopedia
Jess Conrad OBE is an actor
and singer
from England
.
, who included him in his tv series 'Oh, Boy', and then was signed to Decca Records
and had a number of hits
, including "Cherry Pie", "This Pullover", "Mystery Girl" and "Pretty Jenny"; also recording for Columbia
, Pye
President and EMI
record label
s.
Between the late 1950s and mid-1960s Conrad appeared in a number of cult film
s, namely Serious Charge (uncredited), The Boys
, Rag Doll
, (filmed in 1960, and released in 1961); Kill 1 and Konga.
During the 1970s he spent some time in the stage shows Godspell
and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, and also featured in a cameo
role in the Sex Pistols
film The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
. In 1977, no less than 7 of Jess Conrad's singles were included in the 'World's Worst Record' list, chosen by listeners to Capital FM dj Kenny Everett's
show, and "This Pullover", voted #6 worst song ever, later featured on an lp dedicated to the songs voted for.
Conrad also appeared in the 1984 TV series of Miss Marple
in the episode entitled The Body in the Library
as Raymond Starr. He also starred in the 1990s film, The Punk And The Princess.
A Freemason
, he is a member of Chelsea Lodge No. 3098, the membership of which is made up of entertainers. In March 2011 he was elected Captain of the Vaudeville Golfing Society.
In recent years, Conrad has appeared in a number of documentaries and television programmes, often offering stories of violent encounters with other famous people. In a BBC Arena documentary about the legendary record producer Joe Meek
, Conrad boasts of biting off part of the nose of singer Heinz
during a confrontation backstage at a package show in the early 1960s. Similarly, in 'Sex, Secrets & Frankie Howerd' he tells of threatening to cut off comedian Frankie Howerd
's ears when Howerd made untoward advances to Conrad in a dressing room.
He was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours
for chartiable services
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Career
Having started his career as a repertory actor and film extra, Jess Conrad was cast in a television play "Bye, Bye Barney" as a pop singer. He was noticed by Jack GoodJack Good
John or Jack Good may refer to:* I. J. Good, Irving John Good , British statistician* John G. Good, Pennsylvania politician* Jack Good , icon painter and television & music producer...
, who included him in his tv series 'Oh, Boy', and then was signed to Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
and had a number of hits
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
, including "Cherry Pie", "This Pullover", "Mystery Girl" and "Pretty Jenny"; also recording for Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, Pye
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
President and EMI
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s.
Between the late 1950s and mid-1960s Conrad appeared in a number of cult film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s, namely Serious Charge (uncredited), The Boys
The Boys (1962 film)
The Boys is a 1962 British courtroom drama film, directed by Sidney J. Furie and with a screenplay by Stuart Douglass.-Plot:A night watchman at a garage is found murdered, and four teddy boys are put on trial for the crime...
, Rag Doll
Rag Doll (film)
Rag Doll is a 1961 British B-movie crime film, directed by Lance Comfort and starring actor and singer Jess Conrad. The film gained a new audience in the 2000s in response to Conrad's elevation to cult status as a purveyor of late-1950s and early-1960s pre-Beatles British kitsch, and received a...
, (filmed in 1960, and released in 1961); Kill 1 and Konga.
During the 1970s he spent some time in the stage shows Godspell
Godspell
Godspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival now playing on Broadway...
and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, and also featured in a cameo
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
role in the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
film The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle is a mockumentary film directed by Julien Temple and produced by Don Boyd and Jeremy Thomas about the British punk rock band Sex Pistols....
. In 1977, no less than 7 of Jess Conrad's singles were included in the 'World's Worst Record' list, chosen by listeners to Capital FM dj Kenny Everett's
Kenny Everett
Kenny Everett was an English comedian, radio DJ and television entertainer. Born Maurice James Christopher Cole, Everett is best known for his career as a radio DJ and for the Kenny Everett television shows.-Early life:...
show, and "This Pullover", voted #6 worst song ever, later featured on an lp dedicated to the songs voted for.
Conrad also appeared in the 1984 TV series of Miss Marple
Miss Marple (TV series)
Miss Marple is a British television series based on the Miss Marple murder mystery novels by Agatha Christie. It starred Joan Hickson in the title role, and aired from 1984 to 1992. All twelve original Miss Marple Christie novels have been dramatised. The screenplays were written by T. R...
in the episode entitled The Body in the Library
The Body in the Library (1984 TV film)
The Body in the Library is a 1984 television film adaption of Agatha Christie's 1942 detective novel The Body in the Library which was co-produced by the BBC and the A&E Network. The film uses an adapted screenplay by T. R. Bowen and was directed by Silvio Narizzano...
as Raymond Starr. He also starred in the 1990s film, The Punk And The Princess.
A Freemason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, he is a member of Chelsea Lodge No. 3098, the membership of which is made up of entertainers. In March 2011 he was elected Captain of the Vaudeville Golfing Society.
In recent years, Conrad has appeared in a number of documentaries and television programmes, often offering stories of violent encounters with other famous people. In a BBC Arena documentary about the legendary record producer Joe Meek
Joe Meek
Robert George "Joe" Meek was a pioneering English record producer and songwriter....
, Conrad boasts of biting off part of the nose of singer Heinz
Heinz (singer)
Heinz was a bassist and singer.-Life:Heinz was born in Detmold, but from the age of seven was brought up in Eastleigh, Hampshire, England, where a road is named after him. His biggest solo hit was "Just Like Eddie", a tribute to Eddie Cochran...
during a confrontation backstage at a package show in the early 1960s. Similarly, in 'Sex, Secrets & Frankie Howerd' he tells of threatening to cut off comedian Frankie Howerd
Frankie Howerd
Francis Alick "Frankie" Howerd OBE was an English comedian and comic actor whose career, described by fellow comedian Barry Cryer as "a series of comebacks", spanned six decades.-Early career:...
's ears when Howerd made untoward advances to Conrad in a dressing room.
He was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
for chartiable services
Selected filmography
- The Ugly DucklingThe Ugly Duckling (film)The Ugly Duckling is a 1959 British comedy film, directed by Lance Comfort for Hammer Film Productions and starring Bernard Bresslaw, Jon Pertwee and Reginald Beckwith. The film is a comic adaptation of the Dr. Jekyll and Mr...
(1959) - Rag DollRag Doll (film)Rag Doll is a 1961 British B-movie crime film, directed by Lance Comfort and starring actor and singer Jess Conrad. The film gained a new audience in the 2000s in response to Conrad's elevation to cult status as a purveyor of late-1950s and early-1960s pre-Beatles British kitsch, and received a...
(1961) - The Golden HeadThe Golden HeadThe Golden Head is a 1964 American-Hungarian drama film directed by Richard Thorpe and James Hill and starring George Sanders, Buddy Hackett, Jess Conrad, Lorraine Power and Robert Coote.-Synopsis:...
(1964)