 | This article uses a non-standardepisode table. Please convert it to use{{Episode table}}. |
Kathy Kirby | |
|---|---|
 Kirby at theEurovision Song Contest 1965 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Catherine Ethel O'Rourke (1938-10-20)20 October 1938 |
| Died | 20 May 2011(2011-05-20) (aged 72) London, England[1] |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1960–1983 |
| Labels | Decca Records |
Kathy Kirby (bornCatherine Ethel O'Rourke; 20 October 1938 – 20 May 2011) was an English singer, best known for her cover version ofDoris Day's "Secret Love" and for representing the United Kingdom in the1965 Eurovision Song Contest, where she finished in second place. Her popularity peaked in the 1960s, when she was one of the best-known and most-recognised personalities in British show business.[citation needed]
Kirby was born inIlford,Essex (later part of Greater London),[2] the eldest of three children of Irish parents. Her mother Eileen brought them up alone after their father left early in their childhood.[3] Kirby grew up on Tomswood Hill,Barkingside, in Ilford, and attended theUrsuline Convent School, where she sang in the choir.[4]
Kirby's vocal talent became apparent early in life, and she took singing lessons with a view to becoming an opera singer.[5] She became a professional singer after meeting bandleaderBert Ambrose at the Ilford Palais in 1956. She remained with Ambrose's band for three years, and he remained her manager, mentor and lover until his death inLeeds in 1971.[6]
During the summer of 1957, Kirby performed at the Florida Park Restaurant in Madrid, and after returning to the UK not only performed with Ambrose's orchestra, but also with Nat Allen and his band. In 1959, Kirby joined vocalists Tony Mansell and Rikki Henderson in theDenny Boyce Band, and appeared regularly at theLyceum Ballroom in London. In the summer of 1959, she made her solo cabaret debut at the Astor Club. She was subsequently signed toPye Records in 1960, for whom she released two singles, "Love Can Be" and "Now You're Crying". They sold few copies, but helped her get a six-month contract at Mayfair'sBlue Angel nightclub.[7] Also in 1960, onParlophone Records, (45-R 4620), she was the uncredited girl speaker onBruce Forsyth's ' I'm a Good Boy '. She adopted a "blonde bombshell" look and was compared toMarilyn Monroe.
In 1962, Kirby signed a contract withDecca Records, for whom her first single was "(He's a) Big Man", released in October 1962. It sold well over a long period of time, but failed to reach the British charts.[7] In the summer of 1963, after becoming a regular on the musical TV programmeStars and Garters, she had her first hit, "Dance On!", which peaked at No. 11 in the UK chart and No. 1 in Australia.[8] Its follow-up was an upbeat reworking of theDoris Day classic "Secret Love", which peaked at No. 4 on theUK Singles Chart.[7] In the same year, she won Top British Female Singer in theNew Musical Express poll. Her album16 Hits From Stars & Garters was released at the end of 1963, and cracked the top 20.[7] The single "Let Me Go, Lover!", another upbeat reworking, this time of the hit byJoan Weber, reached No. 10 in early 1964. Kirby disliked the song, stating that: "Honestly, I was really surprised because I never had much hope for this record, and when I recorded it I thought it might never get anywhere at all."[7]
"Let Me Go, Lover!" was followed by "You're the One", which peaked at No. 17 in May 1964. That success was followed by a record-breaking summer season show at theABC Theatre inBlackpool.[7]
Kirby became one of the biggest stars of the early to mid-1960s, appearing in theRoyal Command Variety Performance and two television series for BBC TV.[7][6] She represented the United Kingdom in theEurovision Song Contest in 1965[9] and came second with the song "I Belong", which also became a hit. Author and historianJohn Kennedy O'Connor describes Kirby's "I Belong" as being far more representative of current musical tastes than other songs from the contest,[10] but she was beaten byFrance Gall from France, and representingLuxembourg, singing an even more contemporary song written bySerge Gainsbourg. Bitter at her defeat, she slapped Gall. An EP was issued featuring the six songs selected for the Eurovision Contest, featuring a different version of "I Belong", which peaked at No. 10 in 1965.[7] An Italian version of "I Belong" was recorded by her under the title "Tu Sei Con M. She also sang the theme tune for the BBC television seriesAdam Adamant Lives!.
In September 1965, her single "The Way of Love" charted at No. 88 on the USBillboard Top 100. The song also charted in some of the regional charts, such as No. 35 in New York, No. 16 in Philadelphia,[11] No. 39 in Detroit, No. 39 in Washington,[12] and No. 38 in Los Angeles.[13]
After the chart success of "I Belong", Kirby recorded more than a dozen singles between 1965 and 1967, but they failed to chart.[14] She continued to make television appearances, including onThe Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club in 1975.
During the 1970s, Kirby's singing career was eclipsed by a turbulent personal life, but she continued to perform live at smaller venues and made occasional television appearances and performed a few live concerts on the nostalgia circuit. On 31 December 1976, she performed her hit song "Secret Love" on BBC1'sA Jubilee of Music, celebrating British pop music forQueen Elizabeth II's impendingSilver Jubilee.
Her final single, "He", was released in March 1981, at which time she was interviewed by Simon Reed forITV. The interview focused on her attempted comeback after a difficult decade personally and professionally.
In December 1983, she gave one last concert in Blackpool, then retired from show business altogether.[15]
Kirby did not perform in public after her retirement, but interest in her and her work continued,[16] particularly among gay men, for whom she was something of an icon.[17] In her last decade, she recorded short greetings for her official website.[5] A biography was published in 2005, and there was a 2008 stage show about her life, written and produced by Graham Smith, calledSecret Love. Smith re-wrote the show for the 2012Haworth Festival, entitling it:Dance On: The Kathy Kirby Story.[18]
TheDaily Express reported in 2008 that plans for a newly filmed interview had been abandoned, but later reports confirmed that the interview had been filmed, and it was subsequently included on a DVD compilation released the following year. She also gave an interview to theExpress in 2009, which included recent photographs and was billed as her first in 26 years.[19]
Following the 2009 interview, theSunday Express reported that some previously unreleased recordings would be made available on CD in 2010, and that Kirby had been approached to appear onDesert Island Discs,[20] although neither the programme nor the CD has been released.
Kirby met bandleaderBert Ambrose in her teens and, despite his being 42 years older and having an estranged wife at the time,[3] began a relationship with him that lasted until his death in 1971.[21] In the 2009 interview, she said she had had an affair withBruce Forsyth during this time.[21]
Kirby was married briefly to writer and former London policeman Frederick Pye in the 1970s.[2][6] Following her bankruptcy in 1975 and a court case following an arrest over an unpaid hotel bill, she was referred to St Luke's psychiatric hospital in London in 1979.[15] Following her discharge, she lived with[15] a female fan, Laraine McKay. McKay was imprisoned for fraud and forgery.[21][22] In the early 1980s Kirby had relationships with musician David Cross[23] and lawyer Alan Porter.[19][24]
Kirby was diagnosed withschizophrenia[21] and was in poor physical and mental health for much of her life. After her retirement she lived in a series of apartments and hotels in west London, settling in an apartment in Emperor's Gate, South Kensington, surviving on state benefits and some royalties, and maintaining what has been called a "Garbo-esque" seclusion. Shortly before her death, Kirby moved toBrinsworth House in Twickenham at the insistence of her niece Sarah, Lady Thatcher, wife ofMark Thatcher.
Kirby died on 20 May 2011, a few days after moving to Brinsworth House. According to a message posted by a relative on a fan website, she had a heart attack.[25] She was survived by her sister Pat and her brother Douglas.[3]
| Total | Series | Title | Director | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "The Kathy Kirby Show" | Ernest Maxin | 3 May 1964 (1964-05-03)BBC1 at 7:25pm | |
Starring Kathy Kirby withPeter Gordeno, Carlo Dini, Wilf Todd and his Combo, Carl Gonzales, TheGeorge Mitchell Singers and The Six Dancing Showmen. Special guest star:Stratford Johns. Orchestra under the direction ofHarry Rabinowitz.[26] Repeated 4 August 1964. | |||||
| 2 | 2 | "The Kathy Kirby Show" | Ernest Maxin | 16 October 1964 (1964-10-16) BBC1 at 9:30pm | |
Starring Kathy Kirby withBernard Bresslaw,Jessie Matthews, Peter Gordeno, Robert Franklyn, Louis Mansi, Carl Gonzales, The George Mitchell Singers and The Six Dancing Showmen. Orchestra under the direction of Eric Robinson.[27] | |||||
| 3 | 3 | "The Kathy Kirby Show" | Ernest Maxin | 30 October 1964 (1964-10-30) BBC1 at 8:25pm | |
Starring Kathy Kirby withRichard Wattis,Pat Coombs, Peter Gordeno, Robert Bell, Vie Riscoe, Carl Gonzales, The George Mitchell Singers and The Six Dancing Showmen. Orchestra under the direction of Eric Robinson.[28] | |||||
| 4 | 4 | "The Kathy Kirby Show" | Ernest Maxin | 13 November 1964 (1964-11-13) BBC1 at 8:25pm | |
| 5 | 5 | "The Kathy Kirby Show" | Ernest Maxin | 27 November 1964 (1964-11-27) BBC1 at 8:25pm | |
Starring Kathy Kirby withRonnie Carroll, Peter Gordeno, The Three Monarchs, The Hi-Fi's, The George Mitchell Singers and The Show Dancers. Orchestra under the direction of Eric Robinson.[30] | |||||
| 6 | 6 | "The Kathy Kirby Show" | Ernest Maxin | 11 December 1964 (1964-12-11)BBC1 at 8:25pm | |
Starring Kathy Kirby with Peter Gordeno, The Three Monarchs, The Hi-Fi's, The George Mitchell Singers and The Show Dancers. Orchestra under the direction of Eric Robinson.[31] | |||||
| 7 | 7 | "The Kathy Kirby Show" | Ernest Maxin | 1 January 1965 (1965-01-01)BBC1 at 8:25pm | |
Starring Kathy Kirby withVal Doonican, Peter Gordeno, The King Brothers, The George Mitchell Singers and The Dancing Showmen. Orchestra under the direction of Eric Robinson.[32] | |||||
| 8 | 8 | "Kathy Kirby Sings A Song For Europe 1965" | Ernest Maxin | 29 January 1965 (1965-01-29) BBC1 at 8:25pm | |
Six songs written by six leading songwriters. The winning song to be sung by Kathy Kirby at theEurovision Song Contest 1965 in Naples on 20 March. Orchestra under the direction of Eric Robinson.[33] | |||||
| 9 | 9 | "The Kathy Kirby Show" | Ernest Maxin | 12 February 1965 (1965-02-12) BBC1 at 8:25pm | |
Starring Kathy Kirby with the result of 'A Song For Europe 1965' with guestsAdam Faith, Peter Gordeno, Pepe Jaramillo, The Hi-Fi's, The George Mitchell Singers and The Dancing Showmen. Orchestra under the direction of Eric Robinson.[34] | |||||
| 10 | 10 | "The Kathy Kirby Show" | Ernest Maxin | 26 February 1965 (1965-02-26)BBC1 at 8:25pm | |
Starring Kathy Kirby with guests Peter Gordeno, Brian Davies, Jamaica's Own Vagabonds, The Hi-Fi's, The George Mitchell Singers and The Dancing Showmen. Orchestra under the direction of Eric Robinson.[35] | |||||
| 11 | 11 | "The Kathy Kirby Show" | Ernest Maxin | 12 March 1965 (1965-03-12)BBC1 at 8:25pm | |
Starring Kathy Kirby with guestsStubby Kaye, Peter Gordeno, The Clark Brothers, The George Mitchell Singers and The Dancing Showmen. Orchestra under the direction of Eric Robinson.[36] | |||||
| Total | Series | Title | Director | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 1 | "The Kathy Kirby Show" | Ernest Maxin | 28 August 1965 (1965-08-28) BBC1 at 8:30pm | |
Starring Kathy Kirby withPeter Nero,Billy Fury, Peter Gordeno, The George Mitchell Singers and The Dancing Showmen. Orchestra under the direction of Eric Robinson.[37] | |||||
| 13 | 2 | "The Kathy Kirby Show" | Ernest Maxin | 18 September 1965 (1965-09-18) BBC1 at 6:40pm | |
Starring Kathy Kirby withBuddy Greco, Peter Nero, The George Mitchell Singers and The Dancing Showmen. Orchestra under the direction of Eric Robinson.[38] | |||||
| 14 | 3 | "The Kathy Kirby Show" | Ernest Maxin | 9 October 1965 (1965-10-09) BBC1 at 7:25pm | |
Starring Kathy Kirby withAdam Faith,Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen, Peter Gordeno, The George Mitchell Singers and The Dancing Showmen. Orchestra under the direction of Eric Robinson.[39] | |||||
| 15 | 4 | "The Kathy Kirby Show" | Ernest Maxin | 30 October 1965 (1965-10-30) BBC1 at 8:55pm | |
Starring Kathy Kirby withAdele Leigh, Pepe Jaramillo, Peter Gordeno, The George Mitchell Singers and The Dancing Showmen. Orchestra under the direction of Eric Robinson.[40] | |||||
| 16 | 5 | "The Kathy Kirby Show" | Ernest Maxin | 20 November 1965 (1965-11-20) BBC1 at 8:55pm | |
Starring Kathy Kirby withLonnie Donegan,The Beverley Sisters, Peter Gordeno, The George Mitchell Singers and The Dancing Showmen. Orchestra under the direction of Eric Robinson.[41] | |||||
| 17 | 6 | "The Kathy Kirby Show" | Ernest Maxin | 11 December 1965 (1965-12-11) BBC1 at 9:05pm | |
| 18 | 7 | "The Kathy Kirby Show" | Ernest Maxin | 22 January 1966 (1966-01-22) BBC1 at 8:25pm | |
Starring Kathy Kirby withRoy Castle, Peter Gordeno, Kenny Ball & his Jazzmen, The George Mitchell Singers and The Dancing Showmen. Orchestra under the direction of Eric Robinson.[43] | |||||
| 19 | 8 | "The Kathy Kirby Show" | Ernest Maxin | 12 February 1966 (1966-02-12) BBC1 at 8:25pm | |
Starring Kathy Kirby withRoy Castle,Dave Allen,Nina & Frederik, Peter Gordeno, Kenny Ball & his Jazzmen, The George Mitchell Singers and The Dancing Showmen. Orchestra under the direction of Eric Robinson.[44] | |||||
| Total | Series | Title | Director | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | -- | "International Cabaret starring Kathy Kirby" | Stewart Morris | 17 October 1966 (1966-10-17)BBC2 at 9:05pm | |
Kenneth Williams introduces tonight's star: Kathy Kirby. Orchestra under the direction of Harry Rabinowitz &Alyn Ainsworth.[45] | |||||
| 2 | -- | "Something Special" | Michael Mills | 12 July 1967 (1967-07-12) BBC2 at 8:05pm | |
Kathy Kirby invites you to join her at 'Kate's' where you will be able to meet her guestLibby Morris and see the all-girl show with Betty Smith's Barnstormers, The She-Trinity, The Four Jays and Peter Gordeno's Daughters of Terpsichore. Orchestra directed by Harry Rabinowitz.[46] | |||||
| Year | Title | Chart positions | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK[47] | ||||||||||
| 1960 | "Love Can Be" | |||||||||
| 1961 | "Danny" | |||||||||
| 1962 | "Big Man" | |||||||||
| 1963 | "Dance On" | 11 | ||||||||
| 1963 | "Secret Love" | 4 | ||||||||
| 1964 | "Let Me Go, Lover!" | 10 | ||||||||
| 1964 | "You're The One" | 17 | ||||||||
| 1964 | "Don't Walk Away" | |||||||||
| 1965 | "I Belong" | 36 | ||||||||
| 1965 | "The Way of Love" | |||||||||
| 1965 | "Where in the World" | |||||||||
| 1966 | "TheAdam Adamant Theme" | |||||||||
| 1966 | "Spanish Flea" | |||||||||
| 1967 | "Turn Around" | |||||||||
| 1967 | "No-one's Gonna Hurt You Anymore" | |||||||||
| 1967 | "In All the World" | |||||||||
| 1968 | "Come Back Here with My Heart (Con Due Occhi Cosi)" | |||||||||
| 1968 | "I Almost Called Your Name" | |||||||||
| 1969 | "I'll Catch The Sun" | |||||||||
| 1969 | "Is That All There Is?" | |||||||||
| 1970 | "Wheel of Fortune" | |||||||||
| 1970 | "My Way" | |||||||||
| 1971 | "Bill" | |||||||||
| 1971 | "Can't Help Lovin' That Man" | |||||||||
| 1971 | "So Here I Go" | |||||||||
| 1972 | "Do You Really Have a Heart" | |||||||||
| 1973 | "Singer with the Band" | |||||||||
| 1973 | "Little Song for You" | |||||||||
| 1976 | "My Prayer" | |||||||||
| 1981 | "He" | |||||||||
| 1982 | "Secret Love"[48] | |||||||||
Note: Kirby had one charted single on the USBillboard Hot 100: "The Way of Love" peaked at No. 88 in 1965.[49]
| Year | Title | Chart positions | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | ||||||||||
| 1963 | Sixteen Hits from Stars & Garters | 11[50] | ||||||||
| 1965 | A Song for Europe (EP) | 10[7] | ||||||||
| 1966 | Make Someone Happy | |||||||||
| 1968 | My Thanks to You | |||||||||
| 1970 | The World of Kathy Kirby | |||||||||
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1965 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
