Billy Fury

Fury also maintained a film career, notably playing rock performers in Play It Cool in 1962 and That'll Be the Day in 1973. AllMusic journalist Bruce Eder stated that Fury's "mix of rough-hewn good looks and unassuming masculinity, coupled with an underlying vulnerability, all presented with a good voice and some serious musical talent, helped turn [him] into a major rock and roll star in short order". Others have suggested that his rapid rise to prominence was due to his "Elvis-influenced hip swivelling and, at times, highly suggestive stage act".

• Background — person • Name — Billy Fury • Birth Name — Ronald William Wycherley • Born — 17 April 1940 • Birthplace — Liverpool, England • Died — 28 January 1983 • Place of death — London, England • Genre — * Rock and roll • pop • pop rock • rockabilly • Occupation — Musician • Instruments — Vocals, guitar, piano, drums • Years Active — 1958–1983 • Label — * Decca • Parlophone • Polydor • Warner Bros. • Past Member Of — * Joe Brown • Vince Eager • Georgie Fame • Johnny Gentle • Billy J. Kramer • Dickie Pride • the Puppets • the Searchers • The Tornados • Marty Wilde • Website — https: billyfury.co.uk

Fury was born Ronald William Wycherley at Smithdown Hospital (later known as Sefton General Hospital, since demolished) on Smithdown Road in Liverpool on 17 April 1940. He commenced music lessons on the piano before he was a teenager and was bought his first guitar by the age of 14. Wycherley fronted his own group in 1955 but simultaneously worked full-time on a tugboat and later as a docker. He entered and won a talent competition and by 1958 had started composing his own songs.

Wycherley went to meet pop manager and impresario Larry Parnes at the Essoldo Theatre in Birkenhead, hoping to interest one of Parnes' protégés, singer Marty Wilde, in some of the songs he had written. Instead, in an episode that has since become pop music legend, Parnes pushed young Wycherley up on stage right away. He was such an immediate success that Parnes signed him, added him to his tour, and renamed him "Billy Fury". However, his early sexual and provocative stage performances received censure, and he was forced to tone them down. In October 1959, the UK music magazine, NME, commented that Fury's stage antics had been drawing much press criticism. He released his first hit single for Decca, "Maybe Tomorrow", in 1959. He also appeared in a televised play Strictly for Sparrows, and subsequently on Oh Boy! In March 1960, he reached No. 9 in the UK Singles Chart with his own composition "Colette", followed by "That's Love" and his first album The Sound of Fury (1960), which featured a young Joe Brown on lead guitar, with backup vocals by the Four Jays. Fury secured more hits and split from his band Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, Parnes held auditions in Liverpool for a new group. Among those who auditioned were the Beatles, who at this time were still calling themselves the Silver Beetles. They were offered the job for £20 a week on condition that they sacked their bassist Stuart Sutcliffe. John Lennon refused and the band left after Lennon had secured Fury's autograph.

In 1973, Fury emerged from a period of semi-retirement to appear as 'Stormy Tempest' in the film That'll Be the Day. The film starred David Essex and Ringo Starr and was roughly based on the early days of the Beatles. Starr was from the Dingle area of Liverpool, as was Fury, and had originally played drums for Rory Storm & the Hurricanes, whom the Stormy Tempest group were said to be modelled on. In the mid-1970s, Fury went out on the road with Marty Wilde. Away from the spotlight, he focused on wildlife preservation. Fury's health deteriorated and he underwent two open heart surgeries: the first in 1972 and the second in 1976. Fury was declared bankrupt in 1978 for unpaid taxes to the Inland Revenue. The taxes dated back to 1962 and totalled £16,780. Plus Fury was forced to sign over his royalties and publishing income. A new release, "Be Mine Tonight" (1981), failed to make an appearance in the UK Singles Chart. Worse followed in March 1981 when Fury, working on his own farm, collapsed and almost died. He returned to touring later that year but his next two singles, "Love or Money" and "Devil or Angel", barely dented the UK chart. In 1981 and 1982, Fury was signed to Polydor Records by A&R man Frank Neilson, and he recorded a comeback album, The One and Only (released posthumously), with Shakin' Stevens' producer Stuart Colman. Owing to his health, Fury did little touring to promote the new album. His last public appearance was at the Sunnyside pub, Northampton, on 4 December 1982. A few days before he died, Fury recorded a live performance for the Channel 4 television show Unforgettable, featuring six of his old hits; however, at the request of his mother, only four of them were broadcast.

Fury was a keen birdwatcher. He lived with businesswoman Lee Everett Alkin, better known as "Lady Lee" Middleton, from 1959 to 1967. During this time, he had a short relationship with actress Amanda Barrie, his co-star in I've Gotta Horse. Fury went from Liverpool to London (like the Beatles) and he lived in Number 1 Cavendish Avenue, the same street as Paul McCartney. He is remembered and honoured with a Blue Plaque there. Fury married Judith Hall in May 1969, but left her for heiress Lisa Voice. They lived together in London, and sometimes on Fury's farm in Wales, from 1971 until his death, although they led separate lives for the last two years.

• Illustration — Billy Fury's grave at Mill Hill Cemetery After returning from a recording session in the early hours of 28 January 1983, Fury collapsed from a heart attack at his home in London. His manager, Tony Read, found him unconscious the next morning. He was taken to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, but died in the afternoon, aged 42. Rheumatic fever, which he first contracted as a child, damaged his heart and ultimately contributed to his death. A week after his death, a funeral service was held at the St John's Wood Church in London, for which his body was embalmed by Desmond Henley. Among the mourners were Larry Parnes, Marty Wilde, Jess Conrad, Eden Kane, Tony Read, Hal Carter and Mick Green, in addition to family members, friends and fans. The choir sang a special version of Billy's Decca hit "I'm Lost Without You". After the service Fury's body was buried at Mill Hill cemetery, in North London. A song issued posthumously entitled "Forget Him" became his final chart hit.

• Fury's life was dramatised for BBC Radio 4 in 1994 as a play called The Sound of Fury, written by Mike Walker and starred Anton Lesser as Fury. • Rock band Devilish Presley recorded a song "Billy Fury is Dead" on their 2008 album Flesh Ride. They were interviewed about it in the "Tributes" section of the official Fury website. • Bernie Taupin included the song "Billy Fury" on his album Tribe, released in 1986. Sound effects at the beginning of the song gave the impression that it is being played on a jukebox, the "imaginary" vocalist sang about his desire to "be like Billy Fury" and have the trappings of a rock singer. Long-time Taupin collaborator Elton John appeared towards the end of the song, contributing some backing vocals. • In 1987, Fury was featured on the cover of the Smiths' last single, "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me". • Mark Knopfler mentions Fury in "We Can Get Wild" from his 2007 album Kill to Get Crimson. • In the 2009 film Telstar: The Joe Meek Story, Fury was played by Jon Lee.