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Adam Faith grew up in Acton Vale, West London. Like many of his generation he began playing skiffle with some friends and managed to get a regular booking at the Two I's coffee bar where Tommy Steele had started his singing career. From there Adam managed to secure an appearance on Jack Good's 'Oh Boy!' rock and roll TV show. However, despite this and two singles released on the HMV label there was insufficient reaction to start a show business career and Adam found work as a film editor for a movie company in west London. His ambition at that time was to become a movie star- a 'British James Dean'. However John Barry, who knew Adam through their association on TV (The John Barry Seven were a resident band on 'Oh Boy!') was looking for a suitable singer for a song that he'd acquired from Johnny Worth entitled 'What Do You Want?'. John Barry's superb backing and Adam's original vocalisation of the piece proved a winning combination and the record went to the UK number 1 spot at the end of 1959. A long string of hit records ensued and by changing his style to suit the new 'group' sound in 1963 he maintained his chart career until 1967. |
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The EP shown on the right was issued in 1962 as the third volume in a series that began in 1960, with his first EP release "Adam's Hit Parade" |
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Despite previous film appearances Adam was no thespian and it was with astonishment in some quarters that Adam switched his career to acting. Adam learned his trade the hard way, on the road with a repertory company. The roles that he played were usually minor ones until in 1971 he landed the lead in the television series 'Budgie'. The series was highly successful and re-established Adam in the public eye again. During the 1970s Adam became increasingly involved with the management of other performers, particularly his association with singer Leo Sayer. However, although his career gradually moved away from acting Adam's focus moved towards the world of finance, not entertainment. Despite occasional setbacks- some very serious- Adam had been an intelligent investor and he became a popular source of financial advice in newspaper and television. He continued to function in this role despite undergoing major heart surgery during the 1980s. Adam Faith returned to acting during the 1990s and most recently became a familiar figure on TV again in the series 'Love Hurts'. Sadly, to the shock of his many fans and friends, Adam Faith died during the early hours of 8th March, 2003 in a Stoke-on-Trent hotel. He had appeared in a play at a local theatre the previous evening. At the time of writing, additional information about the death of this great entertainer and undoubted workaholic can be found at the BBC's web site- available by clicking the following link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2832977.stm It has also been brought to my notice by BBC Radio Stoke that Adam gave them an interview on the 4th March. The following link will take you to a page from which you may listen to what is probably Adam's last recording of all:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/news/2003/03/adam_faith.shtml |
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