Jackie Dennis

Jackie Dennis
Also known asThe Kilted Choirboy
Britain's Ricky Nelson[1][2]
Born(1942-10-08)8 October 1942
Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
Died28 September 2020(2020-09-28) (aged 77)
Occupation(s)Singer, actor
InstrumentVocals
Years active1958–1966
LabelsDecca

Jackie Dennis (8 October 1942 – 28 September 2020) was a Scottish singer. He was discovered by the comedians Mike and Bernie Winters, when he was performing at the United States Army Air Forces base at Prestwick in 1958.[3] The brothers brought him to the attention of the show business agent Eve Taylor, and he appeared on the television programme, Six-Five Special, at the age of 15,[4] and in a subsequent film spin-off.[3]

Chart success

The kilt-wearing, spiky-haired pop singer enjoyed seven successful years in the show business and toured the world. "La Dee Dah" was his biggest UK hit, reaching number 4 in the UK Singles Chart in 1958, whilst his cover of Sheb Wooley's "Purple People Eater", was his second and final UK hit, peaking at number 29.[5]

Dennis appeared on Perry Como's US television show,[6] where he was introduced as 'Britain's Ricky Nelson' performing the song "Linton Addie",[7] and he was best man at entertainer Tommy Steele's wedding.

After leaving show business, Jackie joined the civil service, where he worked for over a decade as a messenger with the Manpower Services Commission in Edinburgh. Latterly, Dennis worked as a nursing home carer, before retiring and living in Pilton, Edinburgh, with wife Irene, to whom he was married for over 30 years.[2] He died in September 2020 at the age of 77.[8]

Discography

Singles

  • "La Dee Dah" / "You're the Greatest" (1958) (Decca F 10992)
  • "Miss Valerie" / "My Dream" (1958) (Decca F 11011)
  • "The Purple People Eater" / "You-oo" (1958) (Decca F 11033)
  • "More Than Ever" / "Linton Addie" (1958) (Decca F 11060)
  • "Lucky Ladybug" / "Gingerbread" (1958) (Decca F 11090)
  • "The Wee Cooper O' Fife" / "Come Along" (1959) (Decca F 11120)
  • "Summer Snow" / "Night Bird" (1959) (Top Rank JAR 129)

References

  1. ^ "The Boy Choir & Soloist Directory". Boysoloist.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
  2. ^ a b "I was even bigger than Elvis in the charts.. for a week!". The Scotsman. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
  3. ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 106. ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
  4. ^ "#6 – "SIX-FIVE Special" (1958)". Retrieved 14 June 2009 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 150. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ "Singing plumber leads quiet life". BBC News. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2009.
  8. ^ "'Scotland's first pop star', Leith-born Jackie Dennis dies aged 77". The Scotsman. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
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