Bobby Crush

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Bobby Crush
Born
Robert Nicholas Crush

(1954-03-23) 23 March 1954 (age 71)
Leyton, London, England
InstrumentPiano

Robert Nicholas Crush (born 23 March 1954) is an English pianist, songwriter, actor and television presenter from Leyton in East London.

Contents

Biography

Bobby Crush was born on 23 March 1954 in Leyton, London, England, to Tom and Peggy. He attended Barclay Infants / Junior School, in Leyton, and then Leyton County High School for Boys until the age of 16. He has two sisters and one brother. At the age of 13, he joined a concert party and played shows on bandstands in and around London parks. Aged 15 he began weekend residencies at pubs in Essex. [1] [2]

He first came to public attention after six winning appearances on Hughie Green's British ITV talent show, Opportunity Knocks in 1972. [3] He received the Variety Club of Great Britain award for Best New Artist of 1972. [3]

Theatrical roles include Liberace in Liberace's Suit (Jermyn Street Theatre), [4]

Crush's radio broadcasts include his own week of shows on BBC Radio 2 and as guest contributor on many other radio programmes, including Ken Bruce's Radio 2 show, where he chose "The Tracks of My Years".

Crush's recordings include his debut album Bobby Crush, which reached no. 15 in the UK Albums Chart, and chart singles "Borsalino" and "The Sting". He has made 13 studio albums as a pianist, not including compilations. His Double Decker Party Album, which was TV-advertised, sold 100,000 copies and brought him a double gold disc.

His greatest success as a songwriter was penning both the music and lyrics for Keith Harris and Orville's hit "Orville's Song" (also known as "I Wish I Could Fly"), which reached no. 4 in the UK singles chart, sold 250,000 copies and brought Crush a silver disc. [5]

Personal life

Crush came out publicly as gay in an interview with Gay Times in 2004. [6]

Chart discography

Albums

  • Bobby Crush (1972) – UK no. 15
  • The Bobby Crush Incredible Double Decker (1982) – UK no. 53
  • All Time Piano Hits
  • Piano Party
  • Smash Hits including The Sting
  • 35 Piano Pops
  • Honky Tonk Favourites
  • Hits of the Thirties
  • Music, Music, Music!
  • Bobby Crush plays Elton John
  • First Love
  • Hollywood and Broadway
  • Reel Music (Melodies from the Movies)
  • The Best of Bobby Crush
  • Bobby Crush: The Definitive Collection [7]

Singles

  • "Borsalino" b/w "The Stripper" (1972) – UK no. 37
  • "The Good Old Bad Old Days" (1973)
  • "The Gondolas of Venice" (1973)
  • "The Sting " (1974)
  • "Mayday" (1974)
  • "Hangin' Out" (1974)
  • "The Chinese Bicycle" (1976)
  • "Lonely Ballerina" (1984)
  • "Brendan's Theme" (1984)

References

  1. ↑ "LIFELINES".
  2. ↑ "Crush, Bobby", Film & TV Database, British Film Institute, archived from the original on 3 June 2008, retrieved 25 October 2007
  3. 1 2 "Bobby Crush biography". garyparkes.org. Archived from the original on 8 January 2004. Retrieved 30 May 2007.
  4. ↑ Gardner, Lyn (28 May 2004). "Liberace's Suit, Jermyn Street, London". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  5. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 244. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  6. ↑ Buckley, Bill, "At Home with Bobby Crush", Gay Times
  7. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 128. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
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