Mike Berry | |
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| Born | Michael Hubert Bourne (1942-09-24)24 September 1942 Northampton, England |
| Died | 11 April 2025(2025-04-11) (aged 82) Kingston upon Thames,London, England |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1960–2025 |
| Website | mikeberry |
Michael Hubert Bourne[1] (24 September 1942 – 11 April 2025), known professionally asMike Berry, was an English singer and actor, known for the top ten hits "Don't You Think It's Time" (1963) and "The Sunshine of Your Smile" (1980) and for portrayingMr. Spooner inAre You Being Served?
Berry was born inNorthampton. His parents had grown up inRhodesia but met in England and his mother was an amateur actress and singer. Six months after his birth his mother moved with him toNorth Wales for two years. The family then moved toStoke Newington, London where he attended William Patten Primary School and passed hiseleven plus exam, winning a scholarship toHackney Downs Grocers' School. He left the school aged 16 without qualifications to become an apprenticecompositor.[1][2]
Berry was a fan ofskiffle androck and roll music as a teenager and he formed his own skiffle group called the Rebels and then introduced electric guitars as Kenny Lord and the Statesmen.Joe Meek became their recording manager and producer, and he signed up a group called the Stormers as his new back-up band, naming the new group Mike Berry and the Outlaws.[1][2]
Berry had threehits in the 1960s on theUK Singles Chart; his most successful being "Don't You Think It's Time", reaching No. 6 in January 1963. His "Tribute to Buddy Holly" is also noted for having been banned by theBBC for being "morbid."[3] The hitsingles were all produced by Joe Meek.[4] In 1972, his albumDrift Away was released onYork FYK 409. It contained "Drift Away", the first version of the song to be released, as well as "Take Me Home Country Roads".[5]
In the mid-1970s, Berry returned to the charts in the Netherlands and Belgium, aspirate radio stationRadio Mi Amigo and Radio Veronica played his new record material, released on Dutch record label Pink Elephant Records. "Don't Be Cruel" made No. 14 on the DutchNationale Hitparade in May 1975.[6] His next record, a remake of his 1960 debut song "Tribute to Buddy Holly", hit No. 2 in October of that same year.[6] In 1977, "I'm a Rocker", released on Flemish record label Scramble Records (owned by Radio Mi Amigo DJ Norbert), failed to chart.
In 1980, he had achart success in the UK, with "The Sunshine of Your Smile", a cover of a romantic song which was produced byChas Hodges;[4] this had originally been written before theFirst World War and recorded byJessie Broughton in about 1915. In 1985, his song "Everyone's a Wally" was included as theB-side to the video game byMikro-Gen of the same name. His most recent CD wasAbout Time Too!, recorded inNashville, Tennessee withthe Crickets and released on the UK label Rollercoaster Records, Berry's label of choice since their reissue of Joe Meek productions and new material from the 1990s. In 1988, Berry co-wrote "This Is the Kiss" with Mel Simpson which was chosen to be among the final eight songs inA Song for Europe (the UK selection vehicle for theEurovision Song Contest) performed by Two-Che. The song placed second with 73,785 televotes.[citation needed]
In 2016, Berry auditioned for the fifth series ofThe Voice but was not successful.[7] The following year, in 2017, he went on a UK tour with The Solid Gold Rock'n'Roll Show, which featuredEden Kane,Mark Wynter,Marty Wilde and the Wildcats.[8] In 2019, he toured again with The Solid Gold Rock'n'Roll Show, alongside Marty Wilde,Charlie Gracie, Nancy Ann Lee (Little Miss Sixties) and the Wildcats.[9]
In the 1970s, Berry developed a career as an actor and he appeared in many television commercials. In 1979, he was cast as the father (Mr. Peters) of the two children in the TV version of theWorzel Gummidge books, along withJon Pertwee andUna Stubbs.[4] In 1981, his character, Bert Spooner, replacedTrevor Bannister's character (Mr. Lucas) in the British sitcomAre You Being Served? as the show's resident heartthrob. Thereafter, Berry stayed until the end of the show's run in 1985. After the death ofNicholas Smith in December 2015, and until his own death in 2025, he was the lone surviving actor from the show who played a starring character.Vivienne Johnson andPenny Irving, who played both of the show's ruling Grace brothers' nurse and secretary, respectively, are the last remaining living cast members following Berry's death.
Berry also starred in a series of commercials forBlue Riband in the 1980s.[10] His most recent film work was acting inJulie and the Cadillacs (1999).
His brother was drag performer, actor and activistBette Bourne (1939–2024).
Berry died on 11 April 2025, at the age of 82.[11][12]
