History Music / CliffRichard

* ChristianRock: He's done a few Christian recordings (often covers of gospel songs) one of was a [[LetsDuet duet]] with Music/VanMorrison, and including "The Millenium Prayer", the 1999 Christmas Number One, which is The Lord's Prayer set to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne".

* ChristianRock: He has dabbled in this genre but normally does not use his misic as an explicit pulpit for his beliefs.

** His 2014 foray into the charts is a duet with equally venerable singing star Music/EngelbertHumperdinck. (Not the German orga composer: the lounge singer who earned Britain ''nul points'' in the 2013 Series/EurovisionSongContest.)

Sir '''Cliff Richard''' (real name Harry Webb, 1940-) is a singer and entertainer who has managed the feat of a British number one hit single in every decade from the [[TheFifties 1950s]] to [[TheNineties 1990s]]. One of the most enduring icons of British showbusiness, Cliff began his career billed as England's answer to Music/ElvisPresley, and indeed was a cutting edge figure in the RockAndRoll era who made some genuinely good memorable music in that idiom. His hit "Move It" is regarded as the first significant British RockAndRoll song. He fronted a band called the Shadows, who after he went solo, re-invented themselves with some success as an instrumental guitar group. Outshone in the [[TheSixties 1960s]] by Music/TheBeatles and other beat groups, his career never went belly-up, and he reinvented himself with some success as a TV presenter and celebrity. Music never went away, and he remains popular as a middle-of-the-road singer, although possibly as un-known outside Britain as Music/JohnnyHalliday is outside France.

His commitment to Christianity is both ridiculed and grudgingly admired - he really does appear to live as he preaches (except perhaps in the matter of shelling out tax) - and he has a legion of devoted fans, who, as with BarryManilow (a singer in the same ilk) tend to be middle-aged and female.

He ended at #56 in ''Series/OneHundredGreatestBritons''. For more detailed information on his life and career[[note]]including information on his recent investigation by the Police and his associated spat with the BBC which we will not address here due to the RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement[[/note]] see TheOtherWiki's article at [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_Richard]].

** His 2014 foray into the charts is a duet with equally venerable singing star Music/EngelbertHumperdinck. (Not the German orga composer: the lounge singer who earned Britain ''nul points'' in the 2013 EurovisionSongContest.)

He ended at #56 in ''Series/OneHundredGreatestBritons''.

--> '''Rick''', ''Series/TheYoungOnes''

Sir Cliff Richard (real name Harry Webb, 1940-) is a singer and entertainer who has managed the feat of a British number one hit single in every decade from the [[TheFifties 1950s]] to [[TheNineties 1990s]]. One of the most enduring icons of British showbusiness, Cliff began his career billed as England's answer to Music/ElvisPresley, and indeed was a cutting edge figure in the RockAndRoll era who made some genuinely good memorable music in that idiom. His hit "Move It" is regarded as the first significant British RockAndRoll song. He fronted a band called the Shadows, who after he went solo, re-invented themselves with some success as an instrumental guitar group. Outshone in the [[TheSixties 1960s]] by Music/TheBeatles and other beat groups, his career never went belly-up, and he reinvented himself with some success as a TV presenter and celebrity. Music never went away, and he remains popular as a middle-of-the-road singer, although possibly as un-known outside Britain as JohnnyHalliday is outside France.

In Europe, Sir Cliff Richard has represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest twice. In 1968, he finished second with ''Congratulations'' - missing out to Spain's Massiel and her song La La La La. (There is a suspicion that the politicking for which Eurovision is notorious ensured he missed out on the top slot here: Spanish dictator General Franco, in the middle of a row over Gibaltrar, is said to have personally intervened to ensure Spain's vote did not go to the UK). In 1973, Cliff came third with ''Power To All Our Friends''.

* CunningLinguist: Being born in India, he has some knowledge of Indian languages, which he showed off when he appeared on ''The Kumars''.
* LetsDuet: He has duetted with several big names, including DavidBowie and Lulu, but the one everyone can hum is his hit Christmas collaboration with Music/VanMorrison.
** His current (March 2014) foray into the charts is a duet with equally venerable singing star Englebert Humperdinck. (Not the German orga composer: the lounge singer who earned Britain ''nul points'' in the 2013 EurovisionSongContest.)

* TransAtlanticEquivalent: He wasn't necessarily the first British answer to Elvis Presley (that was probably Tommy Steele a few years before him) but he was definitely the most successful.

* TheShowMustGoOn: Famously he was once in the spectator stands at Wimbledon when rain started bucketing down, calling off the match; he promptly entertained the crowd with an improntu concert. Expect this to be referenced whenever he appears on a show.

* ChristianRock: He's done a few Christian recordings (often covers of gospel songs) one of was a duet with Music/VanMorrison, and including "The Millenium Prayer", the 1999 Christmas Number One, which is The Lord's Prayer set to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne".

* [[EstrogenBrigade OestrogenBrigade]]: his fanbase, largely female and of a certain age.

* ChristianRock: He's done a few Christian recordings (often covers of gospel songs) one of was a duet with Van Morrison, and including "The Millenium Prayer", the 1999 Christmas Number One, which is The Lord's Prayer set to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne".

* ChristianRock: He's done a few Christian recordings (often covers of gospel songs) one of was a duet with Van Morrison.

Sir Cliff Richard (real name Harry Webb, 1940-) is a singer and entertainer who has managed the feat of a British number one hit single in every decade from the [[TheFifties 1950s]] to [[TheNineties 1990s]]. One of the most enduring icons of British showbusiness, Cliff began his career billed as England's answer to Music/ElvisPresley, and indeed was a cutting edge figure in the RockAndRoll era who made some genuinely good memorable music in that idiom. He fronted a band called the Shadows, who after he went solo, re-invented themselves with some success as an instrumental guitar group. Outshone in the [[TheSixties 1960s]] by Music/TheBeatles and other beat groups, his career never went belly-up, and he reinvented himself with some success as a TV presenter and celebrity. Music never went away, and he remains popular as a middle-of-the-road singer, although possibly as un-known outside Britain as JohnnyHalliday is outside France.

Outside music, Cliff is probably best known for his intense evangelical Christian faith, and the fact that for a rock singer, he leads a squeaky-clean life involving self-imposed celibacy. This, and the palpable absence of a Lady Richard, has led some to question his sexuality, although this is unfair: celibacy is rare, but is a genuine vocation and lifestyle choice which does not imply gayness.

In Europe, Sir Cliff Richard has represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest twice. In 1968, he finished second with ''Congratulations'' - missing out to Spain's Massiel and her song La La La La. (There is a suspicion that the politicking for which Eurovision is notorious ensured he missed out on the top slot here: Spanish dictator General Franco, in the middle of a row over gibaltrar, is said to have personally intervened to ensure spoain's vote did not go to the UK). In 1973, he came third with ''Power To All Our Friends''.

Sir Cliff Richard has represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest twice. In 1968, he finished second with ''Congratulations'' - missing out to Spain's Massiel and her song La La La La. In 1973, he came third with ''Power To All Our Friends''.

Sir Cliff Richard (real name Harry Webb, 1940-) is a singer and entertainer who has managed the feat of a British number one hit single in every decade from the 1950s to 1990s. One of the most enduring icons of British showbusiness, Cliff began his career billed as England's answer to Elvis Presley, and indeed was a cutting edge figure in the rock and roll era who made some genuinely good memorable music in that idiom. He fronted a band called the Shadows, who after he went solo, re-invented themselves with some success as an instrumental guitar group. Outshone in the 1960s by the Beatles and other beat groups, his career never went belly-up, and he reinvented himself with some success as a TV presenter and celebrity. Music never went away, and he remains popular as a middle-of-the-road singer, although possibly as un-known outside Britain as JohnnyHalliday is outside France.

Sir Cliff Richard (real name Harry Webb) is a singer and entertainer who has managed the feat of a British number one hit single in every decade from the 1950s to 1990s. One of the most enduring icons of British showbusiness, Cliff began his career billed as England's answer to Elvis Presley, and indeed was a cutting edge figure in the rock and roll era who made some genuinely good memorable music in that idiom. He fronted a band called the Shadows, who after he went solo, re-invented themselves with some success as an instrumental guitar group. Outshone in the 1960s by the Beatles and other beat groups, his career never went belly-up, and he reinvented himself with some success as a TV presenter and celebrity. Music never went away, and he remains popular as a middle-of-the-road singer, although possibly as un-known outside Britain as JohnnyHalliday is outside France.

Sir Cliff Richard is a singer and entertainer who has managed the feat of a British number one hit single in every decade from the 1950s to 1990s. One of the most enduring icons of British showbusiness, Cliff began his career billed as England's answer to Elvis Presley, and indeed was a cutting edge figure in the rock and roll era who made some genuinely good memorable music in that idiom. He fronted a band called the Shadows, who after he went solo, re-invented themselves with some success as an instrumental guitar group. Outshone in the 1960s by the Beatles and other beat groups, his career never went belly-up, and he reinvented himself with some success as a TV presenter and celebrity. Music never went away, and he remains popular as a middle-of-the-road singer, although possibly as un-known outside Britain as JohnnyHalliday is outside France.