Roland Gift
Encyclopedia
Roland Lee Gift is a British
singer and actor. He was the lead singer of the band Fine Young Cannibals
.
, where his mother, Pauline, ran several second-hand clothes shops. He was educated at Kelvin Hall School in Hull. He has two sisters, Helga and Ragna.
His first recording
was with a Hull ska
band Akrylykz
, the second release on nearby York's Red Rhino Records
. Although this record was unsuccessful, it did bring him to the attention of Andy Cox
and David Steele
, who around 1985 asked him to be the lead singer of their new band Fine Young Cannibals
after their old band, The Beat
, had broken up. He also was a guest artist on the Ska City Rollers' Time Is Tight single.
In 1990, he was named by People
magazine as one of the "50 Most Beautiful People" in the world.
In 2002, Gift released a self-titled solo album
, featuring the single "It's Only Money". In 2007, Gift was in a recording studio
working on a follow-up album.
. In 1990 he did his first stage work, playing Romeo in the Hull Truck Theatre
's production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
, a production which had a brief run in the United States
at the Staller Center for the Arts. He also appeared as a lounge singer (singing songs that were included in the Fine Young Cannibals album The Raw and the Cooked
) in the film Tin Men
, directed by Barry Levinson
.
In 1989, he appeared in Scandal as Johnny Edgecombe
, Christine Keeler
's boyfriend.
In 1993, he began the first of several appearances as the evil Immortal
Xavier St. Cloud in the television series Highlander: The Series
, and appeared in an episode of the Yorkshire Television series Heartbeat. He has also appeared in the movie The Island of the Mapmaker's Wife
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
singer and actor. He was the lead singer of the band Fine Young Cannibals
Fine Young Cannibals
Fine Young Cannibals were a British band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1984, by bassist David Steele and guitarist Andy Cox , and singer Roland Gift...
.
Biography
Gift was born in Birmingham, but grew up in HullKingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, where his mother, Pauline, ran several second-hand clothes shops. He was educated at Kelvin Hall School in Hull. He has two sisters, Helga and Ragna.
His first recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
was with a Hull ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
band Akrylykz
Akrylykz
The Akrylykz,originally Akrylyk Vyktymz, was a ska band formed by members of Hull school of Art Kingston upon Hull, that featured Roland Gift originally as a tenor saxophonist, but his role later expanded to frontman and lead singer...
, the second release on nearby York's Red Rhino Records
Red Rhino Records
Red Rhino Records, also known as Red Rhino, was a British record label which was developed by the independent record shop and wholesaler of the same name, all formed and run by "Tony K"...
. Although this record was unsuccessful, it did bring him to the attention of Andy Cox
Andy Cox
Andy Cox is a British guitarist, who along with Dave Wakeling, founded The Beat in 1978.The Beat achieved eight Top 40 singles and three hit albums in the UK before announcing their break up in 1983...
and David Steele
David Steele (musician)
David "Shuffle" Steele is an English musician who was a member of The Beat and Fine Young Cannibals.-Career:...
, who around 1985 asked him to be the lead singer of their new band Fine Young Cannibals
Fine Young Cannibals
Fine Young Cannibals were a British band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1984, by bassist David Steele and guitarist Andy Cox , and singer Roland Gift...
after their old band, The Beat
The Beat (band)
The Beat are a 2 Tone ska revival band founded in England in 1978. Their songs fuse ska, pop, soul, reggae and punk rock, and their lyrics deal with themes of love, unity and sociopolitical topics....
, had broken up. He also was a guest artist on the Ska City Rollers' Time Is Tight single.
In 1990, he was named by People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazine as one of the "50 Most Beautiful People" in the world.
In 2002, Gift released a self-titled solo album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, featuring the single "It's Only Money". In 2007, Gift was in a recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
working on a follow-up album.
Acting
In 1987, Gift had his first screen role in the film Sammy and Rosie Get LaidSammy and Rosie Get Laid
Sammy and Rosie Get Laid is a film directed by Stephen Frears, with a screenplay by Hanif Kureishi; features Fine Young Cannibals singer Roland Gift in one of his earliest screen appearances.-Plot synopsis:...
. In 1990 he did his first stage work, playing Romeo in the Hull Truck Theatre
Hull Truck Theatre
The Hull Truck Theatre is a theatre in Kingston upon Hull, England which presents high quality drama productions.It also tours its productions on a regular basis....
's production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
, a production which had a brief run in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the Staller Center for the Arts. He also appeared as a lounge singer (singing songs that were included in the Fine Young Cannibals album The Raw and the Cooked
The Raw and the Cooked (album)
The Raw & the Cooked is the second and final album by Fine Young Cannibals. A remixed version was also released as The Raw and the Remix. Selling over two million copies, The Raw & the Cooked included two US number one songs "She Drives Me Crazy" and "Good Thing"...
) in the film Tin Men
Tin Men
Tin Men is a 1987 comedy film written and directed by Barry Levinson, produced by Mark Johnson and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Danny DeVito and Barbara Hershey. It is part of Levinson's series of "Baltimore Films", set in his hometown during the 1940s through the 1960s...
, directed by Barry Levinson
Barry Levinson
Barry Levinson is an American screenwriter, film director, actor, and producer of film and television. His films include Good Morning, Vietnam, Sleepers and Rain Man.-Early life:...
.
In 1989, he appeared in Scandal as Johnny Edgecombe
Johnny Edgecombe
John Arthur Alexander "Johnny" Edgecombe was a British jazz promoter and criminal, whoseinvolvement with Christine Keeler inadvertently alerted authorities to the Profumo Affair.-Early life:...
, Christine Keeler
Christine Keeler
Christine Margaret Keeler is an English former model and showgirl. Her involvement with a British government minister discredited the Conservative government of Harold Macmillan in 1963, in what is known as the Profumo Affair....
's boyfriend.
In 1993, he began the first of several appearances as the evil Immortal
Immortal (Highlander)
Immortals are a group of fictional characters seen in the movies and series of the Highlander franchise. Since they are immune to disease and stop aging after becoming Immortal, they can live forever and they only die when they are beheaded....
Xavier St. Cloud in the television series Highlander: The Series
Highlander: The Series
Highlander: The Series is a fantasy-adventure television series featuring Duncan MacLeod of the Scottish Clan MacLeod, as the Highlander. It was an offshoot and another alternate sequel of the 1986 feature film with a twist: Connor MacLeod did not win the prize and Immortals still exist post-1985...
, and appeared in an episode of the Yorkshire Television series Heartbeat. He has also appeared in the movie The Island of the Mapmaker's Wife
The Island of the Mapmaker's Wife
The Island of the Mapmaker's Wife is a British-Dutch film directed by Michie Gleason, with a screenplay by Michie Gleason based on a short story by Marilyn Sides which appeared in the 1990 O. Henry Prize Stories collection.-Plot synopsis:...
.
Albums
| Year | Information | UK Album Chart |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Roland Gift Roland Gift (album) Roland Gift was the debut solo album released by the former Fine Young Cannibals star Roland Gift.Only one single was released from the album; "It's Only Money"...
|
|
Singles
| Year | Single | UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | "It's Only Money It's Only Money (Roland Gift song) "It's Only Money" is a song by British singer Roland Gift. The song serves as the lead single of the singer's debut solo album, Roland Gift. The song was released on 4 March in the United Kingdom - where it debuted at number 123 on the UK Singles Chart.... " |
Roland Gift (album) Roland Gift was the debut solo album released by the former Fine Young Cannibals star Roland Gift.Only one single was released from the album; "It's Only Money"... |
|
| 2009 | "Crushed" *(as Roland Lee Gift) |