Michael Holliday

Michael Holliday (* November 26, 1924 in Liverpool, England; † October 29, 1963 in Croydon, Surrey, England; actually Norman Miller, later Norman Alexander Milne ) was a British pop singer of the late 1950s / early 1960s had great success. The Singles The Story of My Life (1958) and Starry Eyed (1960 ) he had two number one hits in his homeland. His voice was similar to that of Bing Crosby, his songs (especially the hits) but rather in the style of Perry Como.

Life

From the Merchant Navy in the hit parade

Holliday was born as Norman Miller in a Liverpudlian seaman family from the city district Everton (later he changed his name officially in Norman Milne ). After school, he served in the British Merchant Navy. In Plymouth, he met the pianist Trevor Stanford, with whom he performed together during the Second World War - Stanford was later under the name of Russ Conway also for Star Records. During a stay in New York Holliday took part in a talent contest at Radio City Music Hall and won. He decided to become a professional singer, and got jobs in various bands, sang with them in holiday centers and on the radio.

Norrie Paramor 1955 gave him a recording contract with EMI's Columbia label. The first recordings - cover versions of U.S. hits such as The Yellow Rose of Texas or Sixteen Tons - were flops, but in the spring of 1956 came the breakthrough with the Top Twenty hit Nothin 'to Thu Holliday joined now regularly on television, got even his own show. The end of 1957 the single The Story of My Life was published.

The number - one hits

The Story of My Life was the first British hit for the songwriting team Burt Bacharach / Hal David. Marty Robbins, in his native United States already a star had brought the song on the Billboard charts. In the UK, several artists took on his hit, including Alma Cogan, Dave King and Gary Miller. These three have their versions - in contrast to Robbins, who had his first hit in 1960 (El Paso ) on the island - bring in the British Top 30.

But the big hit with the song had Michael Holliday. His single debuted on January 17, 1958 in the hit parade and on 14 February she brought Holliday for the first time for two weeks at the number -one position. Three more singles followed the big hit until July of the year in the charts, including at least a number three with Stairway of Love. Thereafter, however, it looked as if Holliday's career should have peaked. 18 months his name was not more to read in the charts.

End of 1959, heard his producer Norrie Paramor a song of Americans Earl Shuman and Mort Garson titled Starry Eyes. Although the U.S. had climbed recording ( sung by the largely remained unknown Gary Stites ) only up to # 77 on the Billboard charts, but Paramor thought the song fit perfectly with the style of his protege. The British record buyers seemed to share this opinion - on New Year's 1960 Starry Eyed was first listed in the British charts. On January 29, the single took the top position, they had, however, already in the following week to Anthony Newleys Why release it again.

Decline and death

Holliday coped with the success not - and still less the lack of chart success after his last hit in mid 1960, which reached but only number 50. The song was called Little Boy Lost ( " Lost boy "), a more significant title for the not even 1.70 meters wide Holliday, who suffered from pathological stage fright and lack of self -esteem. He surrounded himself with expensive cars and beautiful women. In 1961 he had a nervous breakdown. As well as 1962/1963 the hits failed to materialize - in the meantime other music was announced from his hometown - the debt accumulated. He was since 1947 with Margie, his great love, married, had, however, left him for his many affairs. To her he wrote shortly before his death: " Even my accountant are tired of me and left me alone. The income tax must be paid by Wednesday, otherwise ... I think I 'm not man enough to create the alone. "

On the evening of October 28, 1963 Holliday was with friends at a club in Soho, who was his friend Freddie Mills, a former boxer with connections to the "underworld". Although he seemed to be in a depressed mood, he left the club with a woman. On the night he swallowed in his estate an overdose of sleeping pills. He died in the early morning hours at the hospital in Croydon.

Michael Holliday's grave is in the cemetery Anfield Cemetery in Liverpool.

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