Michael Holliday
Background information
Birth nameNorman Alexander Milne
Born(1924-11-26)26 November 1924
Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Died29 October 1963(1963-10-29) (aged 38)
Croydon, Surrey, England
GenresTraditional popular music
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1951–1963
LabelsColumbia (EMI)

Norman Alexander Milne (26 November 1924 – 29 October 1963),[1] known professionally as Michael Holliday, was an English singer, who was popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s.[2]

He had a number of chart hits in the UK, including two number one singles, "The Story of My Life" and "Starry Eyed".[2]

Early life

Michael Holliday was born in Liverpool,[2] and brought up in the Kirkdale district of the city. His career in music began after he won an amateur talent contest, 'New Voices of Merseyside', at the Locarno Ballroom, West Derby Road, Newsham, Liverpool.

According to Elvis Costello, while working as a seaman in the Merchant Navy, he used to smuggle obscure U.S. jazz records into the UK, where Costello's mother, Lilian Ablett, sold them.[3] Finding himself in the U.S. as a seaman, Holliday was persuaded to enter a talent contest at Radio City Music Hall in New York City,[2] and again he won, inspiring him to seek a career in show business.[3] In 1951, he secured two summer seasons' work as a vocalist with Dick Denny's band at Butlin's Holiday Camp, Pwllheli.

Singing career

In March 1953, he joined the Eric Winstone Band, another Butlin's contracted band that toured when the summer season's work was over.[2] They also broadcast occasionally on BBC Radio.

In December 1954, Holliday wrote to the BBC requesting a TV audition. His audition came in April 1955 and he made his first TV appearance on The Centre Show on 22 July 1955. This TV performance was seen by Norrie Paramor, then head of A&R for EMI's Columbia record label, who signed him as a solo artist.[4] He also sang "Four Feather Falls", the theme tune to the puppet-based television programme of the same name produced by Gerry Anderson.

Holliday's style of singing was influenced by Bing Crosby, who was his idol.[2] The style earned him the title of "the British Bing Crosby". A biography entitled The Man Who Would Be Bing, written by Ken Crossland, was published in 2004.[5]

Illness and death

Holliday had an ongoing problem with stage fright, and in 1961 suffered a mental breakdown. He died in October 1963 from a suspected drug overdose,[6] in Croydon, Surrey.[7] His grave is at Anfield Cemetery, Priory Road, Liverpool.[8]

Discography

UK single (release date), highest chart position

Albums

See also

References

  1. ^ "Michael Holliday". Api.discogs.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 201/2. ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
  3. ^ a b Elvis Costello (2015). Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink. Blue Rider Press. pp. 28–29. ISBN 9780399167256.
  4. ^ "Michael Holliday | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  5. ^ Ken Crossland (2004). The Man Who Would Be Bing. Book Guild Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1857768411.
  6. ^ Talevski, Nick (2010). Rock Obituaries – Knocking on Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 275. ISBN 9780857121172. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  7. ^ "Michael Holliday". 45-rpm.org.uk. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  8. ^ "Michael Holliday (1928-1963)". Findagrave.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  9. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 254. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  10. ^ "Michael Holliday – Hi!". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  11. ^ a b Crossland, Ken (2004). The Man Who Would Be Bing. Lewes, East Sussex, UK: The Book Guild. p. 259. ISBN 1-85776-841-8.
  12. ^ "Michael Holliday With The Norrie Paramor Orchestra* – Holliday Mixture". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  13. ^ "Michael Holliday – To Bing - From Mike". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 March 2018.

External links

Authority control databases
Categories