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TOMMY STEELE: DER ERSTE ROCK'N'ROLLER IM UK WURDE 85
- Dec 18, 2021
Als Elvis Presley 1956 mit "Heartbreak Hotel" in den USA als neue Rock'n'Roll-Sensation ins Rollen kam, tat es ihm im selben Jahr in Großbritannien Tommy Steele gleich, der es mit "Rock With The Caveman" ordentlich krachen ließ. Seine Landsleute belohnten das mit Platz 13 in den Single-Charts. Schon die dritte Single, ebenfalls 1956 veröffentlicht, landete auf Platz eins. Damit hatten die britischen Teenager ihr erstes eigenes Idol: "Knee Deep In The Blues" (#15), "Butterfingers" (#8), "Shiralee" (#11), "Water, Water" (#5, alle 1957 mit den Steelmen). 1958 gab es mit "Nairobi" sogar noch einmal eine #3. Darauf folgten bis 1960 noch insgesamt fünf Top-20-Hits (davon drei in den Top 10). Hinzu kamen mit TOMMY STEELE STORY (1957) und THE DUKE WORE JEANS (1958) zwei Nummer-eins-Alben. Damit hatte sich Steele einen Platz in der britischen Rock-Historie ersungen. Ab 1960 spielte der Sänger in den Hitparaden keine Rolle mehr, veröffentlichte aber auch nur noch sporadisch Alben. Er verlegte seine Karriere auf die Schauspielerei, feierte Erfolge als Bildhauer, schrieb Romane, hatte eine eigene TV-Show. Am 17. Dezember ist er 85 Jahre alt geworden.
When Elvis Presley became the new Rock'n'Roll sensation in the U.S. with "Heartbreak Hotel" in 1956, Tommy Steele did the same in Great Britain in the same year with "Rock With The Caveman“.His countrymen rewarded him with number 13 in the singles charts. The third single, also released in 1956, reached number one. With this, the British teenagers had their first own idol: "Knee Deep In The Blues" (#15), "Butterfingers" (#8), "Shiralee" (#11), "Water, Water" (#5, all 1957 with the Steelmen). In 1958 there was even another #3 with "Nairobi", which was followed by a total of five Top 20 hits until 1960 (three of them in the Top 10). In addition, there were two number one albums with TOMMY STEELE STORY (1957) and THE DUKE WORE JEANS (1958). Steele had thus earned himself a place in British rock history. From 1960, the singer no longer played a role in the charts, but also released albums only sporadically. He shifted his career to acting, had success as a sculptor, wrote novels, had his own TV show. On December 17, he turned 85 years old.
When Elvis Presley became the new Rock'n'Roll sensation in the U.S. with "Heartbreak Hotel" in 1956, Tommy Steele did the same in Great Britain in the same year with "Rock With The Caveman“.His countrymen rewarded him with number 13 in the singles charts. The third single, also released in 1956, reached number one. With this, the British teenagers had their first own idol: "Knee Deep In The Blues" (#15), "Butterfingers" (#8), "Shiralee" (#11), "Water, Water" (#5, all 1957 with the Steelmen). In 1958 there was even another #3 with "Nairobi", which was followed by a total of five Top 20 hits until 1960 (three of them in the Top 10). In addition, there were two number one albums with TOMMY STEELE STORY (1957) and THE DUKE WORE JEANS (1958). Steele had thus earned himself a place in British rock history. From 1960, the singer no longer played a role in the charts, but also released albums only sporadically. He shifted his career to acting, had success as a sculptor, wrote novels, had his own TV show. On December 17, he turned 85 years old.
