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Alan Byron

Mark Sloper

Billy Fury: The Sound of Fury

Documentaries

Music: Classic Pop & Rock

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

22/04/2016

BBC Four - Billy Fury: The Sound of Fury

Profile of British pop singer Billy Fury, who became an overnight sensation in 1958.

Documentary recounting the story of Billy Fury and the birth of British pop. He became an overnight sensation in 1958 and had more Top 40 hits than The Beatles during the 60s.

Documentary which recounts the story of Billy Fury and the birth of British pop music. His first album, The Sound of Fury (released in 1960), has become a landmark record in British rock 'n' roll history. 

Born in Liverpool during the Second World War, Ronnie Wycherley became an overnight sensation in 1958 when he was asked to go on stage and sing a couple of his self-penned songs by showbiz impresario Larry Parnes. Ronnie's knees shook with nerves, but over 2,000 screaming girls welcomed the new star of British rock 'n' roll and the headline in the local newspaper the following day was 'Dingle boy with a hot guitar'.

With more Top 40 hits than The Beatles during the 60s, Billy Fury's major hits included Halfway to Paradise, Wondrous Place, Jealousy, Last Night Was Made For Love and many more.

Aged just 42, Billy died of heart failure after a recording session. But his fans have never forgotten him, and every year on the anniversary of his death they gather to pay their tributes at Mill Hill cemetery. Lord Puttnam sums up Fury's contribution to modern music in the programme by saying that, 'without Billy Fury, I honestly don't think The Beatles would have happened'.

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