Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

STARDUST, Alvin

(b Bernard William Jewry, 27 Sep. '42, Muswell Hill, London). Pop singer; stage debut in pantomime age four. Road manager, occasional singer with Johnny Theakston and the Tremeloes; they submitted tape to BBC as Shane Fenton & the Fentones; Theakston died and Jewry became Fenton, had top 40 entries '61-2, appeared in films; quit recording '64 to work in management. Came back '73 with prod./composer Peter Shelley, name changed to Alvin Stardust, image to black leather incl. gloves, stuck-on sideburns, dyed black hair; success with singles and albums (The Untouchable Alvin Stardust no. 4 UK '74). Appeared late '70s-early '80s on Jack Good TV shows Oh Boy and Let's Rock; record comeback '81 with revival of '53 Nat Cole hit "Pretend' on Stiff, followed by "I Feel Like Buddy Holly' (written by Mike Batt). Appeared regularly on BBC TV Rock Gospel Show without the black leather.