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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSTEELE, Tommy(b Thomas Hicks, 17 Dec. '36, Bermondsey, London) UK entertainer, touted as the British Elvis Presley late '50s but like other UK entertainers turned out to be an all-rounder with roots in music hall. Spent four years at sea in a variety of jobs; spotted on leave at Two I's coffee shop in Soho by Fleet Street photographer John Kennedy, soon his manager; signed with Decca and first release was top 20 "Rock With The Caveman' '56: the following month his "Singin' The Blues' replaced Guy Mitchell's original at no. 1. 18 hits through '61 ended with "Writing On The Wall' as the initial phase of British rock'n'roll ran out of steam; he had ridden the wave with BBC TV's trailblasing pop show 6.5 Special, films The Tommy Steele Story, The Duke Wore Jeans, Tommy The Toreador; revealing an appetite for a challenge he played Tony Lumpkin in Oliver Goldsmith's 18th-century comedy She Stoops To Conquer '62 at the Old Vic; then musical Half A Sixpence '63 (by David Heneker and Beverley Cross, based on H.G. Wells novel Kipps), which went to Broadway '65 and to film '67 (Hollywood knocking the charm out of it); he also appeared in The Happiest Millionaire '67 (Disney's last film and one of his worst), Finian's Rainbow '68 (whimsical '47 fantasy by Yip Harburg/ Burton Lane did not transfer well to the big screen, despite Fred Astaire, Petula Clark and Steele's leprechaun). TV specials, Frank Loesser's Hans Christian Anderson at London Palladium in '70s topped by record 60-week run in one-man show at the Prince of Wales '79; starred in and dir. stage version of classic film Singin' In The Rain '83-5: got mixed reviews but family coachloads attended. A natural performer, still with permanent grin; awarded OBE '79. |