guardian and times, both already used as references, list august 2nd as date of death |
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Black signed her first contract with long-time friend and neighbour, Terry McCann, but this contract was never honoured as it was signed when she was under age (the age of majority was then 21) and her father subsequently signed her with [[Brian Epstein]].<ref name="Guardianobit">{{cite web|last=Laing|first=Dave|title=Cilla Black obituary|publisher=The Guardian|url=http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/aug/02/cilla-black|date=2 August 2015|accessdate=3 August 2015}}</ref> |
Black signed her first contract with long-time friend and neighbour, Terry McCann, but this contract was never honoured as it was signed when she was under age (the age of majority was then 21) and her father subsequently signed her with [[Brian Epstein]].<ref name="Guardianobit">{{cite web|last=Laing|first=Dave|title=Cilla Black obituary|publisher=The Guardian|url=http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/aug/02/cilla-black|date=2 August 2015|accessdate=3 August 2015}}</ref> |
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She was introduced to Epstein by [[John Lennon]], who persuaded him to audition her. Epstein had a portfolio of local artists but initially showed little interest in her. Her first audition was a failure, partly because of nerves, and partly because the Beatles (who supported her) played the songs in their usual vocal key rather than re-pitching them for Black's voice. In her autobiography ''What's It All About?'' she wrote:{{ |
She was introduced to Epstein by [[John Lennon]], who persuaded him to audition her. Epstein had a portfolio of local artists but initially showed little interest in her. Her first audition was a failure, partly because of nerves, and partly because the Beatles (who supported her) played the songs in their usual vocal key rather than re-pitching them for Black's voice.<ref name="Independent">{{cite web|title=Cilla Black: Singer who was signed by Brian Epstein and went on to forge a successful career as a much-loved presenter|publisher=The Independent|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/cilla-black-singer-who-was-signed-by-brian-epstein-and-went-on-to-forge-a-successful-career-as-a-muchloved-presenter-10434033.html|accessdate=4 August 2015}}</ref> In her autobiography ''What's It All About?'' she wrote:<ref>{{cite book|author=Cilla Black|title=What's It All About?|publisher=Random House|isbn=1407025163|pages=65}}</ref><blockquote>I'd chosen to do "Summertime", but at the very last moment I wished I hadn't. I adored this song, and had sung it when I came to [[Birkenhead]] with the Big Three, but I hadn't rehearsed it with the Beatles and it had just occurred to me that they would play it in the wrong key. It was too late for second thoughts, though. With one last wicked wink at me, John set the group off playing. I'd been right to worry. The music was not in my key and any adjustments that the boys were now trying to make were too late to save me. My voice sounded awful. Destroyed—and wanting to die—I struggled on to the end.</blockquote>But after seeing her another day, at the [[Blue Angel (nightclub)|Blue Angel jazz club]], Epstein contracted with Black as his only female client on 6 September 1963.<ref name="Thompson2014">{{cite book|author=Douglas Thompson|title=Cilla - Queen of the Swinging Sixties|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=qlkbBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT49|date=4 September 2014|publisher=John Blake Publishing, Limited|isbn=978-1-78418-006-5|pages=49–}}</ref> Epstein introduced Black to [[George Martin]] who signed her to [[Parlophone|Parlophone Records]] and produced her début single, "[[Love of the Loved]]" (written by [[Lennon–McCartney|Lennon and McCartney]]), which was released only three weeks after joining Epstein. Despite an appearance on [[Associated British Corporation|ABC Television]]'s popular [[Thank Your Lucky Stars (TV series)|''Thank Your Lucky Stars'']], the single peaked at a modest No. 35 in the UK, a relative failure compared to début releases of Epstein's most successful artists (the Beatles, [[Gerry and the Pacemakers]] and [[Billy J. Kramer|Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas]]).<ref name="Allmusicbio">{{cite web|title=Cilla Black Biography|publisher=Allmusic.com|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/cilla-black-mn0000122023/biography|accessdate=4 August 2015}}</ref> |
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Black's second single, released at the beginning of 1964, was a cover of the [[Burt Bacharach]]–[[Hal David]] composition "[[Anyone Who Had a Heart (song)|Anyone Who Had a Heart]]", which had been written for [[Dionne Warwick]]. The single beat Warwick's recording into the UK charts and rose to No. 1 in Britain in February 1964 (spending three weeks there), selling 800,000 UK copies in the process.<ref>{{cite web | url = {{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p15856/biography|pure_url=yes}} | title = All Music Guide Cilla Black > Biography | date = 12 April 2009 | accessdate = 9 April 2009}}</ref> Her second UK No. 1 success, "[[You're My World]]", was an English-language rendition of the Italian popular song "Il Mio Mondo" by composer [[Umberto Bindi]]. She also enjoyed chart success with the song in [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[Europe]], [[South Africa]] and [[Canada]]. Both songs sold over one million copies worldwide, and were awarded [[music recording sales certification|gold discs]].<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book |
Black's second single, released at the beginning of 1964, was a cover of the [[Burt Bacharach]]–[[Hal David]] composition "[[Anyone Who Had a Heart (song)|Anyone Who Had a Heart]]", which had been written for [[Dionne Warwick]]. The single beat Warwick's recording into the UK charts and rose to No. 1 in Britain in February 1964 (spending three weeks there), selling 800,000 UK copies in the process.<ref>{{cite web | url = {{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p15856/biography|pure_url=yes}} | title = All Music Guide Cilla Black > Biography | date = 12 April 2009 | accessdate = 9 April 2009}}</ref> Her second UK No. 1 success, "[[You're My World]]", was an English-language rendition of the Italian popular song "Il Mio Mondo" by composer [[Umberto Bindi]]. She also enjoyed chart success with the song in [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[Europe]], [[South Africa]] and [[Canada]]. Both songs sold over one million copies worldwide, and were awarded [[music recording sales certification|gold discs]].<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book |
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| isbn= 0-214-20512-6}}</ref> |
| isbn= 0-214-20512-6}}</ref> |
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Black's two No. 1 successes were followed by the release of another Lennon–McCartney composition, "[[It's for You]]", as her fourth UK single. [[Paul McCartney]] played piano at the recording session and the song proved to be another major |
Black's two No. 1 successes were followed by the release of another Lennon–McCartney composition, "[[It's for You]]", as her fourth UK single. [[Paul McCartney]] played piano at the recording session and the song proved to be another major success for Black, peaking at No. 7 on the UK charts.<ref name="UKcharts">{{cite web|title=Cilla Black|publisher=Official Charts Company|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/10866/cilla-black/|accessdate=4 August 2015}}</ref> |
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Black belonged to a generation of British female singers which included [[Dusty Springfield]], [[Helen Shapiro]], [[Petula Clark]], [[Sandie Shaw]] and [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]]. These artists (other than Petula Clark) were not singer-songwriters but interpreters of 1960s contemporary popular music by song writers and producers. Black recorded much material during this time, including songs written by [[Phil Spector]], [[Randy Newman]], [[Tim Hardin]] and Burt Bacharach. All were produced by George Martin at [[Abbey Road Studios]]. |
Black belonged to a generation of British female singers which included [[Dusty Springfield]], [[Helen Shapiro]], [[Petula Clark]], [[Sandie Shaw]] and [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]]. These artists (other than Petula Clark) were not singer-songwriters but interpreters of 1960s contemporary popular music by song writers and producers. Black recorded much material during this time, including songs written by [[Phil Spector]], [[Randy Newman]], [[Tim Hardin]] and Burt Bacharach. All were produced by George Martin at [[Abbey Road Studios]].<ref name="Stanley"/> |
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Black's version of "[[You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin']]" (1965) reached No. 2 on the UK charts in the same week that [[the Righteous Brothers]]'s original version of the same song went to No. 1 there (week of 4 February 1965). This was the first of only three occasions in the history of the British Top 40 where the same song, recorded by two different artists, held the top two positions in the chart in the same week. |
Black's version of "[[You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin']]" (1965) reached No. 2 on the UK charts in the same week that [[the Righteous Brothers]]'s original version of the same song went to No. 1 there (week of 4 February 1965). This was the first of only three occasions in the history of the British Top 40 where the same song, recorded by two different artists, held the top two positions in the chart in the same week. |
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Being so closely associated with the Beatles, Black became one of a select group of artists in the 1964-65 period (the others in the same position being Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas and [[Peter and Gordon]]) to record more than one Lennon–McCartney composition.<ref name="Guardianobit"/> Black continued to record Lennon-McCartney compositions throughout her time with [[EMI]]'s Parlophone (1963–1973); Black's recordings of "[[Yesterday (Beatles song)|Yesterday]]", "[[For No One]]" and "[[Across the Universe]]" became radio favourites. McCartney said Black's 1972 interpretation of "[[The Long and Winding Road]]" was |
Being so closely associated with the Beatles, Black became one of a select group of artists in the 1964-65 period (the others in the same position being Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas and [[Peter and Gordon]]) to record more than one Lennon–McCartney composition.<ref name="Guardianobit"/> Black continued to record Lennon-McCartney compositions throughout her time with [[EMI]]'s Parlophone (1963–1973); Black's recordings of "[[Yesterday (Beatles song)|Yesterday]]", "[[For No One]]" and "[[Across the Universe]]" became radio favourites. McCartney said Black's 1972 interpretation of "[[The Long and Winding Road]]" was the definitive version of the song.<ref name="Independent"/> |
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Black's career in the United States, although enthusiastically supported by Epstein and his PR team, was limited to a few television appearances (''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' among them), a 1965 cabaret season at the [[Plaza Hotel]] in [[New York City|New York]], and success with "You're My World", which made it to No. 26 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].{{ |
Black's career in the United States, although enthusiastically supported by Epstein and his PR team, was limited to a few television appearances (''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' among them), a 1965 cabaret season at the [[Plaza Hotel]] in [[New York City|New York]], and success with "You're My World", which made it to No. 26 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Cilla Black awards|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/cilla-black-mn0000122023/awards|accessdate=4 August 2015}}</ref> The song was to be her only American Top 30 chart success, and [[Elvis Presley]] had a copy on his personal jukebox at his [[Graceland]] home. Black herself recognised that to achieve popular status in the USA she would need to devote much time to touring there. But she was plagued by homesickness and a sense of loneliness and returned to the UK.<ref name="RadioTimes"/> |
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During 1966 Black recorded the Bacharach-David song "[[Alfie (song)|Alfie]]", written as the signature song to the 1966 [[Alfie (1966 film)|feature film of the same name]]. While [[Cher]] sang "Alfie" on the closing credits of the American release of the film and [[Millicent Martin]] on the UK version, Black was the first and only artist to have a hit with the song in the UK (No. 9). "Alfie" went on to become a success for both Cher (in 1966) and Dionne Warwick (in 1967) in the US. Black's version of "Alfie" was arranged and conducted by Bacharach himself at the recording session at Abbey Road. Bacharach insisted on 31 separate takes, and Black cited the session as one of the most demanding of her recording career.<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith |first=Stephen |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/4227326.stm |title=Programmes | Newsnight | Bacharach still calling the tune |publisher=BBC News |date=2005-09-08 |accessdate=3 August 2015}}</ref> For Bacharach's part, he said "... there weren't too many white singers around, who could convey the emotion that I felt in many of the songs I wrote but that changed with people like Cilla Black ..." <ref>{{cite web |
During 1966 Black recorded the Bacharach-David song "[[Alfie (song)|Alfie]]", written as the signature song to the 1966 [[Alfie (1966 film)|feature film of the same name]]. While [[Cher]] sang "Alfie" on the closing credits of the American release of the film and [[Millicent Martin]] on the UK version, Black was the first and only artist to have a hit with the song in the UK (No. 9). "Alfie" went on to become a success for both Cher (in 1966) and Dionne Warwick (in 1967) in the US. Black's version of "Alfie" was arranged and conducted by Bacharach himself at the recording session at Abbey Road. Bacharach insisted on 31 separate takes, and Black cited the session as one of the most demanding of her recording career.<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith |first=Stephen |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/4227326.stm |title=Programmes | Newsnight | Bacharach still calling the tune |publisher=BBC News |date=2005-09-08 |accessdate=3 August 2015}}</ref> For Bacharach's part, he said "... there weren't too many white singers around, who could convey the emotion that I felt in many of the songs I wrote but that changed with people like Cilla Black ..." <ref>{{cite web |
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| accessdate =5 February 2008 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/lilysavage_uk/radio.html&date=2009-10-26+01:50:22|archivedate=26 October 2009}}</ref> |
| accessdate =5 February 2008 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/lilysavage_uk/radio.html&date=2009-10-26+01:50:22|archivedate=26 October 2009}}</ref> |
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By the end of 1966, Black had been a guest on [[Peter Cook]] and [[Dudley Moore]]'s show ''[[Not Only... But Also]]'', had appeared in a [[Ray Galton]]-[[Alan Simpson (scriptwriter)|Alan Simpson]] revue in London's [[West End theatre|West End]]—''Way Out in Piccadilly''—alongside [[Frankie Howerd]], had appearanced on ''The [[Eamonn Andrews]] Show'' and had starred in the television special ''Cilla at the Savoy'', which was |
By the end of 1966, Black had been a guest on [[Peter Cook]] and [[Dudley Moore]]'s show ''[[Not Only... But Also]]'', had appeared in a [[Ray Galton]]-[[Alan Simpson (scriptwriter)|Alan Simpson]] revue in London's [[West End theatre|West End]]—''Way Out in Piccadilly''—alongside [[Frankie Howerd]], had appearanced on ''The [[Eamonn Andrews]] Show'' and had starred in the television special ''Cilla at the Savoy'', which was one of the most watched music specials of the 1960s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cilla's unique television spectacular "Cilla at the Savoy" arrived this week on DVD|publisher=CillaBlack.com|url=http://www.cillablack.com/cpt_news/cillas-unique-1966-television-spectacular-cilla-at-the-savoy-arrived-this-week-on-dvd/|accessdate=4 August 2015}}</ref> |
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Epstein's attempts to make Black a film actress were less successful. A brief appearance in the "beat" film ''[[Ferry Cross the Mersey (film)|Ferry 'Cross the Mersey]]'' (1965) and a leading role alongside [[David Warner (actor)|David Warner]] in the psychedelic comedy ''[[Work Is a Four-Letter Word]]'' (1968) were largely ignored by film critics. In a 1997 interview with ''[[Record Collector]]'' magazine, Black revealed she was asked to appear in the film ''[[The Italian Job]]'' (1969), playing the part of [[Michael Caine]]'s girlfriend, but negotiations fell through between producers and her management over her fee.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-08-03/cilla-black-in-her-own-words | title=Cilla Black in her own words | publisher=www.radiotimes.com | accessdate=3 August 2015}}</ref> |
Epstein's attempts to make Black a film actress were less successful. A brief appearance in the "beat" film ''[[Ferry Cross the Mersey (film)|Ferry 'Cross the Mersey]]'' (1965) and a leading role alongside [[David Warner (actor)|David Warner]] in the psychedelic comedy ''[[Work Is a Four-Letter Word]]'' (1968) were largely ignored by film critics. In a 1997 interview with ''[[Record Collector]]'' magazine, Black revealed she was asked to appear in the film ''[[The Italian Job]]'' (1969), playing the part of [[Michael Caine]]'s girlfriend, but negotiations fell through between producers and her management over her fee.<ref name="RadioTimes">{{cite web | url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-08-03/cilla-black-in-her-own-words | title=Cilla Black in her own words | publisher=www.radiotimes.com | accessdate=3 August 2015}}</ref> |
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Epstein died of an accidental drug overdose in August 1967, not long after negotiating a contract with the [[BBC]] for Black to appear in a television series of her own. Relations between Epstein and Black had somewhat soured during the year prior to his death, due largely to the fact that Epstein was not paying her career enough attention and the fact that Black's singles "A Fool Am I" (UK No. 13, 1966) and "What Good Am I?" (UK No. 24, 1967) were not big successes. Apparently Black was also unhappy with Epstein's public admission that he had taken [[LSD]]. In her autobiography, Black claimed that Epstein had tried to pacify her by negotiating a deal that would see her representing the UK in the 1968 [[Eurovision Song Contest]]. However, Black refused on the basis that [[Sandie Shaw]] had won the previous year's contest, and that the chances of another British female artist winning were improbable.<ref name="Bradley2013">{{cite book|author=Alan Bradley|title=For No One|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=IWBkBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA374|date=20 December 2013|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=978-1-63173-927-9|pages=374–}}</ref> |
Epstein died of an accidental drug overdose in August 1967, not long after negotiating a contract with the [[BBC]] for Black to appear in a television series of her own. Relations between Epstein and Black had somewhat soured during the year prior to his death, due largely to the fact that Epstein was not paying her career enough attention and the fact that Black's singles "A Fool Am I" (UK No. 13, 1966) and "What Good Am I?" (UK No. 24, 1967) were not big successes. Apparently Black was also unhappy with Epstein's public admission that he had taken [[LSD]]. In her autobiography, Black claimed that Epstein had tried to pacify her by negotiating a deal that would see her representing the UK in the 1968 [[Eurovision Song Contest]]. However, Black refused on the basis that [[Sandie Shaw]] had won the previous year's contest, and that the chances of another British female artist winning were improbable.<ref name="Bradley2013">{{cite book|author=Alan Bradley|title=For No One|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=IWBkBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA374|date=20 December 2013|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=978-1-63173-927-9|pages=374–}}</ref> |
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| publisher = The Beatles Bible |
| publisher = The Beatles Bible |
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| url = http://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/step-inside-love/ |
| url = http://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/step-inside-love/ |
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| accessdate =3 August 2015}}</ref> Other successes followed in 1969: "Conversations" (UK No. 7), "Surround Yourself With Sorrow" (UK No. 3), "[[If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind]]" (No. 20). Black had a further big hit with "[[Something Tells Me (Something's Gonna Happen Tonight)]]" (UK No. 3) in 1971. |
| accessdate =3 August 2015}}</ref> Other successes followed in 1969: "Conversations" (UK No. 7), "Surround Yourself With Sorrow" (UK No. 3), "[[If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind]]" (No. 20). Black had a further big hit with "[[Something Tells Me (Something's Gonna Happen Tonight)]]" (UK No. 3) in 1971.<ref name="UKcharts"/> |
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Black's association with the Beatles continued. At the 1971 [[Cannes Film Festival]] she joined [[George Harrison]], [[Ringo Starr]] and singer [[Marc Bolan]] to attend a screening of the [[John Lennon]]-[[Yoko Ono]] experimental film ''Erection''. She also holidayed with Harrison and Starr on a trip aboard a yacht chartered by Starr. "[[Photograph (Ringo Starr song)|Photograph]]" was written on this trip—originally intended for Black to record—but Starr decided to record it himself. George Harrison also wrote two songs for Black: "The Light that has Lighted the World" and "I'll Still Love You (When Every Song is Sung)". The latter she recorded during 1974 with her then producer [[David Mackay (producer)|David Mackay]], but it was not heard publicly until 2003 when it was included on a retrospective collection entitled ''Cilla: The Best of 1963–78''.{{ |
Black's association with the Beatles continued. At the 1971 [[Cannes Film Festival]] she joined [[George Harrison]], [[Ringo Starr]] and singer [[Marc Bolan]] to attend a screening of the [[John Lennon]]-[[Yoko Ono]] experimental film ''Erection''. She also holidayed with Harrison and Starr on a trip aboard a yacht chartered by Starr. "[[Photograph (Ringo Starr song)|Photograph]]" was written on this trip—originally intended for Black to record—but Starr decided to record it himself. George Harrison also wrote two songs for Black: "The Light that has Lighted the World" and "I'll Still Love You (When Every Song is Sung)". The latter she recorded during 1974 with her then producer [[David Mackay (producer)|David Mackay]], but it was not heard publicly until 2003 when it was included on a retrospective collection entitled ''Cilla: The Best of 1963–78''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cillablack.com/cpt_news/ill-still-love-you-when-every-song-is-sung-a-lost-song-penned-for-cilla-by-george-harrison-receives-may-2003-release/|title=I'll Still Love You (When Every Song Is Sung)' – a 'lost' song penned for Cilla by George Harrison receives May 2003 release"|publisher=CillaBlack.com, 1 April 2003|accessdate=4 August 2015}}</ref> |
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Writing in 1969, the rock music journalist [[Nik Cohn]] wrote: |
Writing in 1969, the rock music journalist [[Nik Cohn]] wrote: |
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{{quote|...she makes people glow. In her time, she will grow into a pop [[Gracie Fields]], much loved entertainer, and she'll become institutionalised.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stanley|first=Bob|title=Cilla Black was the archetypal British working-class star|publisher=The Guardian|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/aug/03/cilla-black-archetypal-british-working-class-pop-star|date=3 August 2015|accessdate=3 August 2015}}</ref>}} |
{{quote|...she makes people glow. In her time, she will grow into a pop [[Gracie Fields]], much loved entertainer, and she'll become institutionalised.<ref name="Stanley">{{cite web|last=Stanley|first=Bob|title=Cilla Black was the archetypal British working-class star|publisher=The Guardian|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/aug/03/cilla-black-archetypal-british-working-class-pop-star|date=3 August 2015|accessdate=3 August 2015}}</ref>}} |
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===Later music career=== |
===Later music career=== |
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In 1993 she released ''Through the Years'', an album of new material featuring a number of duets with Dusty Springfield, [[Cliff Richard]] and [[Barry Manilow]]. Ten years later, she released the album ''Beginnings ... Greatest Hits and New Songs''.{{ |
In 1993 she released ''Through the Years'', an album of new material featuring a number of duets with Dusty Springfield, [[Cliff Richard]] and [[Barry Manilow]]. Ten years later, she released the album ''Beginnings ... Greatest Hits and New Songs''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/beginnings-mw0000460158|title=AllMusic Review by Bruce Eder|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=4 August 2015}}</ref> |
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⚫ | During 2006–07, Black's 1971 single "[[Something Tells Me (Something's Gonna Happen Tonight)]]" was used as the soundtrack to a new British advertising campaign for [[Ferrero Rocher]] chocolates.<ref name="Campaign">{{cite news |url=http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/thework/884731/|work=Campaign Live|publisher=|title=Ferrero Rocher dazzle by WCRS|first=|last=|date=11 August 2006|accessdate=4 August 2015}}</ref> |
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During the 2008–09 [[pantomime]] season, Black returned to live musical performance in the pantomime ''[[Cinderella]]'', appearing as the [[Fairy Godmother]]. Black was part of an all-[[Scouse]] cast assembled in this three-hour stage spectacular to mark the end of Liverpool's year as [[European Capital of Culture]]. The show incorporated a number of Black's successes, which she performed live, including "You're My World", "Something Tells Me", "[[Step Inside Love]]" and "[[I Can Sing a Rainbow]]". Black received rave reviews for her singing and overall performance.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.liverpoolconfidential.com/index.asp?Sessionx=IpqiNwEnNwEiIwP6IHqjNwB6IA&realname=Panto_Cinderellas_got_the_magic | title = Panto: Cinderella's Got The Magic | date = 17 December 2008 | accessdate = 9 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/capital-of-culture/2008/12/16/review-cilla-co-in-a-scouse-panto-cracker-100252-22486585/ | title = Cilla & Co In A Scouse Panto Cracker | date = 16 December 2008 | work =[[Liverpool Echo]] | accessdate = 9 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/drama/3901469/Cinderella-at-the-Liverpool-Empire-Cilla-sparkles-in-an-evening-of-fabness.html | title = Cilla Sparkles In An Evening Of Fabness | date = 22 December 2008 | accessdate = 9 January 2009 | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | first=Veronica | last=Lee}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/01/05/we-love-cilla-black-panto-thrills-family-of-fans-100252-22605434/ | title = We Love Cilla Black | work =[[Liverpool Echo]] | date = 5 January 2009 | accessdate = 9 January 2009}}</ref> |
During the 2008–09 [[pantomime]] season, Black returned to live musical performance in the pantomime ''[[Cinderella]]'', appearing as the [[Fairy Godmother]]. Black was part of an all-[[Scouse]] cast assembled in this three-hour stage spectacular to mark the end of Liverpool's year as [[European Capital of Culture]]. The show incorporated a number of Black's successes, which she performed live, including "You're My World", "Something Tells Me", "[[Step Inside Love]]" and "[[I Can Sing a Rainbow]]". Black received rave reviews for her singing and overall performance.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.liverpoolconfidential.com/index.asp?Sessionx=IpqiNwEnNwEiIwP6IHqjNwB6IA&realname=Panto_Cinderellas_got_the_magic | title = Panto: Cinderella's Got The Magic | date = 17 December 2008 | accessdate = 9 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/capital-of-culture/2008/12/16/review-cilla-co-in-a-scouse-panto-cracker-100252-22486585/ | title = Cilla & Co In A Scouse Panto Cracker | date = 16 December 2008 | work =[[Liverpool Echo]] | accessdate = 9 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/drama/3901469/Cinderella-at-the-Liverpool-Empire-Cilla-sparkles-in-an-evening-of-fabness.html | title = Cilla Sparkles In An Evening Of Fabness | date = 22 December 2008 | accessdate = 9 January 2009 | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | first=Veronica | last=Lee}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/01/05/we-love-cilla-black-panto-thrills-family-of-fans-100252-22605434/ | title = We Love Cilla Black | work =[[Liverpool Echo]] | date = 5 January 2009 | accessdate = 9 January 2009}}</ref> |
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In October 2013, [[Parlophone|Parlophone Records]] (the record label which launched her career in 1963) released the career-spanning CD ''[[The Very Best Of Cilla Black (CD & DVD)|The Very Best of Cilla Black]] ''—containing all 19 of her UK Top 40 singles, new club remixes plus a bonus DVD of her 1966 TV music special ''Cilla at the Savoy''.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.cillablack.com/cpt_news/this-really-is-the-very-best-of-cilla-black-cd-dvd | title = This really IS The VERY Best of Cilla Black! (All the hits – new remixes and a DVD of ‘Cilla at the Savoy’) | date = 22 September 2013 | accessdate = 22 September 2013 | work=CillaBlack.com}}</ref> |
In October 2013, [[Parlophone|Parlophone Records]] (the record label which launched her career in 1963) released the career-spanning CD ''[[The Very Best Of Cilla Black (CD & DVD)|The Very Best of Cilla Black]] ''—containing all 19 of her UK Top 40 singles, new club remixes plus a bonus DVD of her 1966 TV music special ''Cilla at the Savoy''.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.cillablack.com/cpt_news/this-really-is-the-very-best-of-cilla-black-cd-dvd | title = This really IS The VERY Best of Cilla Black! (All the hits – new remixes and a DVD of ‘Cilla at the Savoy’) | date = 22 September 2013 | accessdate = 22 September 2013 | work=CillaBlack.com}}</ref> |
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Black was the best-selling British female recording artist in the UK during the 1960s, releasing a total of 15 studio albums and 37 singles. |
Black was the best-selling British female recording artist in the UK during the 1960s, releasing a total of 15 studio albums and 37 singles.<ref name="Independent"/> |
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==Television career== |
==Television career== |
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This success paved the way for a lengthy television career which continued until 2003. Black began the 1970s by appearing on the BBC's highly-rated review of the sixties music scene ''[[Pop Go The Sixties]]'', performing "Anyone Who Had a Heart" on the show broadcast across Europe and [[BBC1]], on 31 December 1969.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/607412?view=synopsis|title=Pop Go the Sixties! (1969)|work=BFI|accessdate=2 August 2015}}</ref> |
This success paved the way for a lengthy television career which continued until 2003. Black began the 1970s by appearing on the BBC's highly-rated review of the sixties music scene ''[[Pop Go The Sixties]]'', performing "Anyone Who Had a Heart" on the show broadcast across Europe and [[BBC1]], on 31 December 1969.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/607412?view=synopsis|title=Pop Go the Sixties! (1969)|work=BFI|accessdate=2 August 2015}}</ref> |
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Like many of her contemporaries, during the 1970s, Black's musical career declined. She toured often but became increasingly thought of as a television personality. Her BBC series ''Cilla'' ran for almost a decade, racking up eight seasons |
Like many of her contemporaries, during the 1970s, Black's musical career declined. She toured often but became increasingly thought of as a television personality. Her BBC series ''Cilla'' ran for almost a decade, racking up eight seasons between January 1968 and April 1976.<ref name="BFI"/> The theme songs from the ''Cilla'' series were also successful. ''Step Inside Love'' opened the series for the runs in 1968 and 1969 and reached number 8 in the UK singles chart on its release.<ref name="UKcharts"/> ''[[Something Tells Me (Something's Gonna Happen Tonight)]]'' was the theme for the 1971 and 1973 shows, reaching number 3 and becoming Black's last top ten success. "Baby, We Can't Go Wrong" was used for the 1974 series and was a minor success, reaching number 36, Black's last UK chart song until 1993.<ref name="UKcharts"/> |
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The UK's ''[[Eurovision Song Contest]]'' entry selection process was part of the ''Cilla'' show in both 1968 and 1973, when her close friend, Cliff Richard was the featured artist performing all the songs shortlisted in the ''[[A Song For Europe]]'' segment.{{ |
The UK's ''[[Eurovision Song Contest]]'' entry selection process was part of the ''Cilla'' show in both 1968 and 1973, when her close friend, Cliff Richard was the featured artist performing all the songs shortlisted in the ''[[A Song For Europe]]'' segment.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Cliff Richard Recording Catalogue 1958-2010|author=Victor Rust|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=0956738400|pages=85}}</ref> Black had been asked to sing for the 1968 contest and was asked again for the 1970 event, but declined because she was pregnant at the time, and because she thought it unlikely that another British female vocalist would win, after Sandie Shaw who had won the previous year.<ref name="BFI">{{cite web|title=Black,Cilla (1943-) Biography|publisher=BFI|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/549919/index.html|accessdate=4 August 2015}}</ref> |
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In 2007, Black took part in the [[BBC Wales]] programme ''[[Coming Home (UK TV series)|Coming Home]]'' about her Welsh family history, with roots in [[Wrexham]] and [[Holywell]].<ref>[http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/nostalgia/workhouse-surprise-for-cilla-3509608 Coming Home]. Retrieved September 2014</ref> |
In 2007, Black took part in the [[BBC Wales]] programme ''[[Coming Home (UK TV series)|Coming Home]]'' about her Welsh family history, with roots in [[Wrexham]] and [[Holywell]].<ref>[http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/nostalgia/workhouse-surprise-for-cilla-3509608 Coming Home]. Retrieved September 2014</ref> |
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Black signed a contract with [[London Weekend Television]], becoming the host of two of the most popular and long-running evening entertainment shows of the 1980s and 1990s—''[[Blind Date (UK TV series)|Blind Date]]'' (1985–2003) and ''[[Surprise Surprise (TV series)|Surprise Surprise]]'' (1984–2001).<ref name="Lifetime"/> She also presented the game show ''[[The Moment of Truth (UK game show)|The Moment of Truth]]'' (1998–2001). All programmes were mainstream ratings winners and consolidated her position as the highest-paid female performer on British television.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3511054.stm | title = Cilla Black to host BBC game show | date = 14 March 2004 | accessdate = 20 December 2008 | work=BBC News}}</ref> |
Black signed a contract with [[London Weekend Television]], becoming the host of two of the most popular and long-running evening entertainment shows of the 1980s and 1990s—''[[Blind Date (UK TV series)|Blind Date]]'' (1985–2003) and ''[[Surprise Surprise (TV series)|Surprise Surprise]]'' (1984–2001).<ref name="Lifetime"/> She also presented the game show ''[[The Moment of Truth (UK game show)|The Moment of Truth]]'' (1998–2001). All programmes were mainstream ratings winners and consolidated her position as the highest-paid female performer on British television.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3511054.stm | title = Cilla Black to host BBC game show | date = 14 March 2004 | accessdate = 20 December 2008 | work=BBC News}}</ref> |
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Her TV appearances made her spoken mannerisms ("Lorra lorra laughs", for example) and her habit of referring familiarly to her fellow presenters ("Our Graham") well known. |
Her TV appearances made her spoken mannerisms ("Lorra lorra laughs", for example) and her habit of referring familiarly to her fellow presenters ("Our Graham") well known.<ref name="BFI"/> |
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===Later television work=== |
===Later television work=== |
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Black's most notable television performances after her resignation from [[LWT]] included ''[[Parkinson (TV series)|Parkinson]]'', ''[[So Graham Norton]]'', ''[[Friday Night with Jonathan Ross]]'', ''[[Room 101 (TV series)|Room 101]]'' and a one off show titled ''Cilla Live!'' for [[Living TV]]. Black was a judge on the first series of the [[reality TV]] series ''[[Soapstar Superstar]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Cilla is “so excited” to be a judge on ITV’s new talent show ‘Soapstar Superstar’|url=http://www.cillablack.com/cpt_news/cilla-is-so-excited-to-be-a-judge-on-itvs-new-talent-show-soapstar-superstar/|website=CillaBlack.com|accessdate=3 August 2015}}</ref> featured in an episode of the series ''Eating with...''<ref>{{cite web|title=Eating with...|publisher=BBC|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00790xl|accessdate=3 August 2015}}</ref> and guest presented editions of ''[[The Paul O'Grady Show]]'' in 2006<ref>{{cite web|title=Paul O'Grady mourns Cilla Black saying "the fun has gone and the lights are turned off"|publisher=The Mirror|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/paul-ogrady-mourns-cilla-black-6183337|accessdate=3 August 2015}}</ref> and ''[[The Friday Night Project]]'' for [[Channel 4]] in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cable|first=Simon|title=How low can you go, Cilla?|publisher=Daily Mail|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1088655/How-low-Cilla-TV-dating-queen-reveals-bit-London-charity-ball.html|date=24 November 2008|accessdate=3 August 2015}}</ref> |
Black's most notable television performances after her resignation from [[LWT]] included ''[[Parkinson (TV series)|Parkinson]]'', ''[[So Graham Norton]]'', ''[[Friday Night with Jonathan Ross]]'', ''[[Room 101 (TV series)|Room 101]]'' and a one off show titled ''Cilla Live!'' for [[Living TV]]. Black was a judge on the first series of the [[reality TV]] series ''[[Soapstar Superstar]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Cilla is “so excited” to be a judge on ITV’s new talent show ‘Soapstar Superstar’|url=http://www.cillablack.com/cpt_news/cilla-is-so-excited-to-be-a-judge-on-itvs-new-talent-show-soapstar-superstar/|website=CillaBlack.com|accessdate=3 August 2015}}</ref> featured in an episode of the series ''Eating with...''<ref>{{cite web|title=Eating with...|publisher=BBC|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00790xl|accessdate=3 August 2015}}</ref> and guest presented editions of ''[[The Paul O'Grady Show]]'' in 2006<ref name="O'Grady">{{cite web|title=Paul O'Grady mourns Cilla Black saying "the fun has gone and the lights are turned off"|publisher=The Mirror|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/paul-ogrady-mourns-cilla-black-6183337|accessdate=3 August 2015}}</ref> and ''[[The Friday Night Project]]'' for [[Channel 4]] in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cable|first=Simon|title=How low can you go, Cilla?|publisher=Daily Mail|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1088655/How-low-Cilla-TV-dating-queen-reveals-bit-London-charity-ball.html|date=24 November 2008|accessdate=3 August 2015}}</ref> |
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In 2008 Black recorded a [[Television pilot|pilot]] for the [[Sky 1]] dating show ''Loveland''. The show was to be a ten-part "21st century" dating programme for the following year. Unlike ''Blind Date'', contestants would not sit in front of a studio audience, but would be 'hidden' behind real-time animations as they dated each other. Each episode would conclude with the contestant picking their preferred animated character before meeting the real-life person. Production costs, however, were too high and the show was pulled.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/cilla%20black%20returns%20to%20tv%20with%20animated%20dating%20show_1076533 |title=Cilla Black Returns To TV With Animated Dating Show |accessdate=16 August 2008 |work= contactmusic.com|date=6 August 2008 }}</ref> |
In 2008 Black recorded a [[Television pilot|pilot]] for the [[Sky 1]] dating show ''Loveland''. The show was to be a ten-part "21st century" dating programme for the following year. Unlike ''Blind Date'', contestants would not sit in front of a studio audience, but would be 'hidden' behind real-time animations as they dated each other. Each episode would conclude with the contestant picking their preferred animated character before meeting the real-life person. Production costs, however, were too high and the show was pulled.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/cilla%20black%20returns%20to%20tv%20with%20animated%20dating%20show_1076533 |title=Cilla Black Returns To TV With Animated Dating Show |accessdate=16 August 2008 |work= contactmusic.com|date=6 August 2008 }}</ref> |
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| 2006-2010 |
| 2006-2010 |
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| ''[[The Paul O'Grady Show]]'' |
| ''[[The Paul O'Grady Show]]'' |
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| guest presenter and guest |
| guest presenter and guest<ref name="O'Grady"/> |
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|- |
|- |
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| 2007 |
| 2007 |
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On 3 August a spokesperson for the [[High Court of Andalusia|High Court of Justice in Andalusía]], suggested that an accident may have been a contributing factor in Black's death. At [[Liverpool Town Hall]] a [[Condolence book|book of condolence]] was opened.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kassam|first1=Ashifa|last2=Gayle|first2=Damien|url=http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/aug/03/cilla-black-may-have-died-as-result-of-an-accident-say-spanish-police|title=Cilla Black may have died as result of an accident, say Spanish police|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=3 August 2015}}</ref> |
On 3 August a spokesperson for the [[High Court of Andalusia|High Court of Justice in Andalusía]], suggested that an accident may have been a contributing factor in Black's death. At [[Liverpool Town Hall]] a [[Condolence book|book of condolence]] was opened.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kassam|first1=Ashifa|last2=Gayle|first2=Damien|url=http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/aug/03/cilla-black-may-have-died-as-result-of-an-accident-say-spanish-police|title=Cilla Black may have died as result of an accident, say Spanish police|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=3 August 2015}}</ref> |
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==Record producers== |
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{{refimprove|section|date=August 2015}} |
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* 1963–73: [[George Martin]] |
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* 1974–77: [[David Mackay (producer)|David Mackay]] |
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* 1978: [[Mike Hurst (producer)|Mike Hurst]] |
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* 1980: [[Bruce Welch]] |
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* 1985: David Mackay |
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* 1990: Rod Edwards |
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* 1993: Charlie Skarbek |
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* 2003: Ted Carfrae |
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==Discography== |
==Discography== |
Revision as of 14:41, 4 August 2015
Cilla Black | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Priscilla Maria Veronica White |
Born | Vauxhall, Liverpool, England | 27 May 1943
Died | 2 August 2015 Estepona, Costa del Sol, Spain | (aged 72)
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
|
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Years active | 1963–2015 |
Labels |
|
Website | www |
Priscilla Maria Veronica White OBE (27 May 1943 – 2 August 2015[1]), known by her stage name Cilla Black, was an English singer, actress and entertainer. Championed by the Beatles, she began her career as a singer in 1963, and her singles "Anyone Who Had a Heart" (1964) and "You're My World" (1964) both reached number one. Black had eleven Top Ten hits on the British charts between 1964 and 1971. In May 2010 new research published by BBC Radio 2 showed that her version of "Anyone Who Had a Heart" was the UK's biggest selling single by a female artist in the 1960s.[2] "You're My World" was also a modest hit in the US, peaking at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Along with a successful recording career in the 1960s and early 1970s, Black hosted her own eponymous variety show, Cilla, for the BBC between 1968 and 1976. After a brief time as a comedy actress in the mid-1970s, she became a prominent television presenter in the 1980s and 1990s, hosting hit entertainment shows such as Blind Date (1985–2003) and Surprise Surprise (1984–2001).
In 2013 Black celebrated her 50 years in show business. British television network ITV honoured this milestone with a one-off entertainment special which aired on 16 October 2013. The show, called The One & Only Cilla Black, featured Black herself and was hosted by Paul O'Grady.[3]
Early life
Black was born in Liverpool, England, on 27 May 1943 and grew up in the Scotland Road area of the city. Her parents were John Patrick White (1904-1971) and Priscilla Blythen (1911-1996). Black had a Welsh grandfather, Joseph Henry Blythen (1883-1966), who was born in Wrexham, and Irish great-grandparents on her father's and mother's side of the family.[4][5] She was raised in a Roman Catholic household, and attended St. Anthony's School.[6] situated behind St. Anthony's Church in Scotland Road,[7] and Anfield Commercial College, where she learnt office skills.[6][1]
Determined to become an entertainer, Black gained a part-time job as a cloakroom attendant at Liverpool's Cavern Club, best known for its connection with the Beatles. Her impromptu performances impressed the Beatles and others. She was encouraged to begin singing by a Liverpool promoter, Sam Leach, who booked her first gig at the Casanova Club, on London Road, where she appeared as "Swinging Cilla". Black became a guest singer with the Merseybeat bands Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, Kingsize Taylor and the Dominoes and, later, with the Big Three. Meanwhile, she worked as a waitress at the Zodiac coffee lounge, where she later met her future husband Bobby Willis. Black was featured in an article in the first edition of the local music newspaper Mersey Beat by the paper's publisher, Bill Harry, who mistakenly referred to her as Cilla Black. She liked the name more, and took it as her stage name.[8]
Music career
Before August 1967
Black signed her first contract with long-time friend and neighbour, Terry McCann, but this contract was never honoured as it was signed when she was under age (the age of majority was then 21) and her father subsequently signed her with Brian Epstein.[1]
She was introduced to Epstein by John Lennon, who persuaded him to audition her. Epstein had a portfolio of local artists but initially showed little interest in her. Her first audition was a failure, partly because of nerves, and partly because the Beatles (who supported her) played the songs in their usual vocal key rather than re-pitching them for Black's voice.[9] In her autobiography What's It All About? she wrote:[10]
I'd chosen to do "Summertime", but at the very last moment I wished I hadn't. I adored this song, and had sung it when I came to Birkenhead with the Big Three, but I hadn't rehearsed it with the Beatles and it had just occurred to me that they would play it in the wrong key. It was too late for second thoughts, though. With one last wicked wink at me, John set the group off playing. I'd been right to worry. The music was not in my key and any adjustments that the boys were now trying to make were too late to save me. My voice sounded awful. Destroyed—and wanting to die—I struggled on to the end.
But after seeing her another day, at the Blue Angel jazz club, Epstein contracted with Black as his only female client on 6 September 1963.[11] Epstein introduced Black to George Martin who signed her to Parlophone Records and produced her début single, "Love of the Loved" (written by Lennon and McCartney), which was released only three weeks after joining Epstein. Despite an appearance on ABC Television's popular Thank Your Lucky Stars, the single peaked at a modest No. 35 in the UK, a relative failure compared to début releases of Epstein's most successful artists (the Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers and Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas).[12]
Black's second single, released at the beginning of 1964, was a cover of the Burt Bacharach–Hal David composition "Anyone Who Had a Heart", which had been written for Dionne Warwick. The single beat Warwick's recording into the UK charts and rose to No. 1 in Britain in February 1964 (spending three weeks there), selling 800,000 UK copies in the process.[13] Her second UK No. 1 success, "You're My World", was an English-language rendition of the Italian popular song "Il Mio Mondo" by composer Umberto Bindi. She also enjoyed chart success with the song in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South Africa and Canada. Both songs sold over one million copies worldwide, and were awarded gold discs.[14]
Black's two No. 1 successes were followed by the release of another Lennon–McCartney composition, "It's for You", as her fourth UK single. Paul McCartney played piano at the recording session and the song proved to be another major success for Black, peaking at No. 7 on the UK charts.[15]
Black belonged to a generation of British female singers which included Dusty Springfield, Helen Shapiro, Petula Clark, Sandie Shaw and Lulu. These artists (other than Petula Clark) were not singer-songwriters but interpreters of 1960s contemporary popular music by song writers and producers. Black recorded much material during this time, including songs written by Phil Spector, Randy Newman, Tim Hardin and Burt Bacharach. All were produced by George Martin at Abbey Road Studios.[16]
Black's version of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (1965) reached No. 2 on the UK charts in the same week that the Righteous Brothers's original version of the same song went to No. 1 there (week of 4 February 1965). This was the first of only three occasions in the history of the British Top 40 where the same song, recorded by two different artists, held the top two positions in the chart in the same week.
Being so closely associated with the Beatles, Black became one of a select group of artists in the 1964-65 period (the others in the same position being Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas and Peter and Gordon) to record more than one Lennon–McCartney composition.[1] Black continued to record Lennon-McCartney compositions throughout her time with EMI's Parlophone (1963–1973); Black's recordings of "Yesterday", "For No One" and "Across the Universe" became radio favourites. McCartney said Black's 1972 interpretation of "The Long and Winding Road" was the definitive version of the song.[9]
Black's career in the United States, although enthusiastically supported by Epstein and his PR team, was limited to a few television appearances (The Ed Sullivan Show among them), a 1965 cabaret season at the Plaza Hotel in New York, and success with "You're My World", which made it to No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100.[17] The song was to be her only American Top 30 chart success, and Elvis Presley had a copy on his personal jukebox at his Graceland home. Black herself recognised that to achieve popular status in the USA she would need to devote much time to touring there. But she was plagued by homesickness and a sense of loneliness and returned to the UK.[18]
During 1966 Black recorded the Bacharach-David song "Alfie", written as the signature song to the 1966 feature film of the same name. While Cher sang "Alfie" on the closing credits of the American release of the film and Millicent Martin on the UK version, Black was the first and only artist to have a hit with the song in the UK (No. 9). "Alfie" went on to become a success for both Cher (in 1966) and Dionne Warwick (in 1967) in the US. Black's version of "Alfie" was arranged and conducted by Bacharach himself at the recording session at Abbey Road. Bacharach insisted on 31 separate takes, and Black cited the session as one of the most demanding of her recording career.[19] For Bacharach's part, he said "... there weren't too many white singers around, who could convey the emotion that I felt in many of the songs I wrote but that changed with people like Cilla Black ..." [20]
By the end of 1966, Black had been a guest on Peter Cook and Dudley Moore's show Not Only... But Also, had appeared in a Ray Galton-Alan Simpson revue in London's West End—Way Out in Piccadilly—alongside Frankie Howerd, had appearanced on The Eamonn Andrews Show and had starred in the television special Cilla at the Savoy, which was one of the most watched music specials of the 1960s.[21]
Epstein's attempts to make Black a film actress were less successful. A brief appearance in the "beat" film Ferry 'Cross the Mersey (1965) and a leading role alongside David Warner in the psychedelic comedy Work Is a Four-Letter Word (1968) were largely ignored by film critics. In a 1997 interview with Record Collector magazine, Black revealed she was asked to appear in the film The Italian Job (1969), playing the part of Michael Caine's girlfriend, but negotiations fell through between producers and her management over her fee.[18]
Epstein died of an accidental drug overdose in August 1967, not long after negotiating a contract with the BBC for Black to appear in a television series of her own. Relations between Epstein and Black had somewhat soured during the year prior to his death, due largely to the fact that Epstein was not paying her career enough attention and the fact that Black's singles "A Fool Am I" (UK No. 13, 1966) and "What Good Am I?" (UK No. 24, 1967) were not big successes. Apparently Black was also unhappy with Epstein's public admission that he had taken LSD. In her autobiography, Black claimed that Epstein had tried to pacify her by negotiating a deal that would see her representing the UK in the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest. However, Black refused on the basis that Sandie Shaw had won the previous year's contest, and that the chances of another British female artist winning were improbable.[22]
After Epstein
Black's boyfriend and songwriter Bobby Willis assumed management responsibilities after Epstein died. After the relatively disappointing performance of "I Only Live to Love You" (UK No. 26, 1967), Black hit a new purple patch in her recording career, starting with "Step Inside Love" in 1968 (UK No. 8), which McCartney wrote especially for her as the theme for her new weekly BBC televison variety series.[23] Other successes followed in 1969: "Conversations" (UK No. 7), "Surround Yourself With Sorrow" (UK No. 3), "If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind" (No. 20). Black had a further big hit with "Something Tells Me (Something's Gonna Happen Tonight)" (UK No. 3) in 1971.[15]
Black's association with the Beatles continued. At the 1971 Cannes Film Festival she joined George Harrison, Ringo Starr and singer Marc Bolan to attend a screening of the John Lennon-Yoko Ono experimental film Erection. She also holidayed with Harrison and Starr on a trip aboard a yacht chartered by Starr. "Photograph" was written on this trip—originally intended for Black to record—but Starr decided to record it himself. George Harrison also wrote two songs for Black: "The Light that has Lighted the World" and "I'll Still Love You (When Every Song is Sung)". The latter she recorded during 1974 with her then producer David Mackay, but it was not heard publicly until 2003 when it was included on a retrospective collection entitled Cilla: The Best of 1963–78.[24]
Writing in 1969, the rock music journalist Nik Cohn wrote:
...she makes people glow. In her time, she will grow into a pop Gracie Fields, much loved entertainer, and she'll become institutionalised.[16]
Later music career
In 1993 she released Through the Years, an album of new material featuring a number of duets with Dusty Springfield, Cliff Richard and Barry Manilow. Ten years later, she released the album Beginnings ... Greatest Hits and New Songs.[25]
During 2006–07, Black's 1971 single "Something Tells Me (Something's Gonna Happen Tonight)" was used as the soundtrack to a new British advertising campaign for Ferrero Rocher chocolates.[26] During the 2008–09 pantomime season, Black returned to live musical performance in the pantomime Cinderella, appearing as the Fairy Godmother. Black was part of an all-Scouse cast assembled in this three-hour stage spectacular to mark the end of Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture. The show incorporated a number of Black's successes, which she performed live, including "You're My World", "Something Tells Me", "Step Inside Love" and "I Can Sing a Rainbow". Black received rave reviews for her singing and overall performance.[27][28][29][30]
On 7 September 2009, a total of 13 original studio albums (the first seven produced by George Martin) recorded by Black between 1963 and 2003 were released for digital download. These albums featured an array of musical genres. Also released by EMI at the same time was a double album and DVD set, The Definitive Collection (A Life in Music), featuring rare BBC video footage; a digital download album of specially commissioned re-mixes Cilla All Mixed Up; a remixed single on digital download of "Something Tells Me".[31]
For the 2010 winter pantomime season, Black appeared in Cinderella at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.[32]
In October 2013, Parlophone Records (the record label which launched her career in 1963) released the career-spanning CD The Very Best of Cilla Black —containing all 19 of her UK Top 40 singles, new club remixes plus a bonus DVD of her 1966 TV music special Cilla at the Savoy.[33]
Black was the best-selling British female recording artist in the UK during the 1960s, releasing a total of 15 studio albums and 37 singles.[9]
Television career
BBC
Black was offered her own show on the BBC by Bill Cotton, then Assistant Head of Light Entertainment. The first series of Cilla was broadcast on Tuesday 30 January 1968. On the first show, her guest was Tom Jones and the two music stars sang a duet together. Paul McCartney (without Lennon) wrote the theme tune - another chart success for Black - entitled "Step Inside Love". This song was later covered by Madeline Bell. The series featured guest appearances by many stars of the era, including Henry Mancini, Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams, Charles Aznavour, Matt Monro, Sacha Distel, Donovan, Georgie Fame, Ethel Merman, the Shadows, and Phil Everly.
This success paved the way for a lengthy television career which continued until 2003. Black began the 1970s by appearing on the BBC's highly-rated review of the sixties music scene Pop Go The Sixties, performing "Anyone Who Had a Heart" on the show broadcast across Europe and BBC1, on 31 December 1969.[34]
Like many of her contemporaries, during the 1970s, Black's musical career declined. She toured often but became increasingly thought of as a television personality. Her BBC series Cilla ran for almost a decade, racking up eight seasons between January 1968 and April 1976.[35] The theme songs from the Cilla series were also successful. Step Inside Love opened the series for the runs in 1968 and 1969 and reached number 8 in the UK singles chart on its release.[15] Something Tells Me (Something's Gonna Happen Tonight) was the theme for the 1971 and 1973 shows, reaching number 3 and becoming Black's last top ten success. "Baby, We Can't Go Wrong" was used for the 1974 series and was a minor success, reaching number 36, Black's last UK chart song until 1993.[15]
The UK's Eurovision Song Contest entry selection process was part of the Cilla show in both 1968 and 1973, when her close friend, Cliff Richard was the featured artist performing all the songs shortlisted in the A Song For Europe segment.[36] Black had been asked to sing for the 1968 contest and was asked again for the 1970 event, but declined because she was pregnant at the time, and because she thought it unlikely that another British female vocalist would win, after Sandie Shaw who had won the previous year.[35]
In 2007, Black took part in the BBC Wales programme Coming Home about her Welsh family history, with roots in Wrexham and Holywell.[37]
Comedy actress
On 15 January 1975 Black performed as the main entertainer of the first of six half-hour situation comedy plays. The series, broadcast by ITV, was entitled Cilla's Comedy Six[38] and was written by Ronnie Taylor. During May 1975 the Writers' Guild of Great Britain named Black as Britain's Top Female Comedy Star.[39] The following year, ATV was commissioned to film six more plays as the initial series had accrued healthy viewing figures and remained constantly among the highest-scoring three shows of the week. During August 1976 Black reprised her role as a comedy-actress in Cilla's World of Comedy[40] which featured her theme song and new single "Easy in Your Company".
Between 2013 and 2014 Black was set to co-star in a new BBC sitcom Led Astray, alongside Paul O'Grady - the pilot episode was recorded on 31 October 2013. However the show was shelved when the pair were unable to cope with the long hours of filming.[41]
LWT
By the beginning of the 1980s, with Black was performing mainly in cabaret and concerts, television appearances were rare. According to Christopher Biggins's autobiography she "stormed back into the public consciousness with a barnstorming performance as a guest on Wogan in 1983, proving that we can all have second chances" and after her appearance, people were "desperately trying to find her the right comeback vehicle".[42]
Black signed a contract with London Weekend Television, becoming the host of two of the most popular and long-running evening entertainment shows of the 1980s and 1990s—Blind Date (1985–2003) and Surprise Surprise (1984–2001).[39] She also presented the game show The Moment of Truth (1998–2001). All programmes were mainstream ratings winners and consolidated her position as the highest-paid female performer on British television.[43]
Her TV appearances made her spoken mannerisms ("Lorra lorra laughs", for example) and her habit of referring familiarly to her fellow presenters ("Our Graham") well known.[35]
Later television work
Black's most notable television performances after her resignation from LWT included Parkinson, So Graham Norton, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Room 101 and a one off show titled Cilla Live! for Living TV. Black was a judge on the first series of the reality TV series Soapstar Superstar,[44] featured in an episode of the series Eating with...[45] and guest presented editions of The Paul O'Grady Show in 2006[46] and The Friday Night Project for Channel 4 in 2007.[47]
In 2008 Black recorded a pilot for the Sky 1 dating show Loveland. The show was to be a ten-part "21st century" dating programme for the following year. Unlike Blind Date, contestants would not sit in front of a studio audience, but would be 'hidden' behind real-time animations as they dated each other. Each episode would conclude with the contestant picking their preferred animated character before meeting the real-life person. Production costs, however, were too high and the show was pulled.[48]
In October 2009 Black guest anchored Loose Women[39] and on 28 November 2009 appeared on Sky 1 to present TV's Greatest Endings.
Between September 2010 and June 2011 she made guest panellist appearances[39] and in 2011 also appeared, as herself, in the first episode of series 4 of ITV's Benidorm.[49]
50 years in showbusiness
ITV honoured Black's 50 years in show business with a one-off entertainment special which aired on 16 October 2013. The show, called The One and Only Cilla Black, starred Black alongside Paul O'Grady, who hosted the show. The show celebrated Black's career and included a special trip back to Black's home city of Liverpool, a host of celebrity friends and some surprise music guests. Black paid homage to Blind Date with the return of its most popular contestants and saw her star in a special edition of Coronation Street.[3]
TV credits
Year | Programme | Role |
---|---|---|
1968–76 | Cilla[50] | presenter |
1975 | Cilla's Comedy Six[51] | actor |
1977 | Cilla's World of Comedy[52][53] | actor |
1984–01 | Surprise Surprise | presenter |
1985–03 | Blind Date | presenter |
1998–01 | The Moment of Truth | presenter |
2006 | Soapstar Superstar | judge |
2006-2010 | The Paul O'Grady Show | guest presenter and guest[46] |
2007 | Room 101 | guest[54] |
2009 | TV's Greatest Endings | presenter |
2009–14 | Loose Women | regular/guest panellist[39] |
2011 | Benidorm | herself[39] |
2011 | Never Mind the Buzzcocks | guest presenter[39] |
2013 | Your Face Sounds Familiar | guest judge[55] |
The One & Only Cilla Black | special guest[39] |
TV biopic drama
In 2014, Black was the subject of a three-part television drama series, Cilla, focusing especially on her rise to fame in 1960s Liverpool and her relationship with Bobby Willis.[56] ITV aired the first instalment on 15 September 2014, starring BAFTA award-winning actress Sheridan Smith.[57][58]
Personal life
Black was married to her manager, Bobby Willis, for more than 30 years until he died from lung cancer on 23 October 1999. They had three sons: Robert (born 1970, who became her manager), Ben (born 1974) and Jack (born 1980). Their daughter, Ellen (born 1975), was born prematurely and suffered lung complications, living for only two hours.[59]
Politics
Black was a staunch supporter of the Conservative Party during the 1980s and publicly voiced her admiration of Margaret Thatcher, stating in 1993 that Thatcher "put the Great into Great Britain".[60] In April 1992 she appeared on stage at a Conservative Party rally and made prominent calls for the party's re-election under the leadership of John Major.[61] In later years, Black was no longer a Conservative supporter: she told The Guardian in 2004 that she was "apolitical",[62] and in 2011 the Liverpool Echo quoted her as saying: "And as for the politics thing, I'm not a Conservative."[63]
In August 2014, Black was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue.[64]
Death
Black died at her holiday home near Estepona, Spain, on 2 August 2015, aged 72. Police were awaiting results of a post mortem examination.[65] Black had previously said that she wanted to die when she reached 75.[66] According to a friend, she had recently said that she was approaching death, complaining of failing eyesight and hearing, and arthritis.[67]
On 3 August a spokesperson for the High Court of Justice in Andalusía, suggested that an accident may have been a contributing factor in Black's death. At Liverpool Town Hall a book of condolence was opened.[68]
Discography
Awards
In 2014 Black was the recipient of the British Academy Television Awards' "Special Award" in honour of her contribution to entertainment over the preceding 50 years.[69][70]
Books
Autobiographies
- Step Inside (1985), London: Dent, ISBN 0-460-04695-0
- What's It All About? (2003), London: Ebury Press, ISBN 0-09-189036-5
References
- ^ a b c d Laing, Dave (2 August 2015). "Cilla Black obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ "Biggest selling chart stars of the '60s". The Daily Telegraph. London. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
- ^ a b "ITV celebrates Cilla's 50 Years in Showbusiness with a TV tribute: 'The One & Only Cilla Black'". CillaBlack.com. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
- ^ Ancestry. Accessed September 2014
- ^ Genealogy Accessed September 2014
- ^ a b "What's your name and where d'ya come from?". Local History – Liverpool. BBC. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ "St. Anthony's Church - Scotland Road". Scotland Road 2003. Scottie Press. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ Spitz, Bob (2005). The Beatles: The Biography. New York: Little, Brown and Company. pp. 264–265. ISBN 0-316-80352-9.
- ^ a b c "Cilla Black: Singer who was signed by Brian Epstein and went on to forge a successful career as a much-loved presenter". The Independent. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Cilla Black. What's It All About?. Random House. p. 65. ISBN 1407025163.
- ^ Douglas Thompson (4 September 2014). Cilla - Queen of the Swinging Sixties. John Blake Publishing, Limited. pp. 49–. ISBN 978-1-78418-006-5.
- ^ "Cilla Black Biography". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ "All Music Guide Cilla Black > Biography". 12 April 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
- ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 172–173. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ a b c d "Cilla Black". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ a b Stanley, Bob (3 August 2015). "Cilla Black was the archetypal British working-class star". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ "Cilla Black awards". Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ a b "Cilla Black in her own words". www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ Smith, Stephen (8 September 2005). "Programmes | Newsnight | Bacharach still calling the tune". BBC News. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ "Cilla—What's It All About". Stage & Screen. Lily Savage. 21 December 2003. Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ "Cilla's unique television spectacular "Cilla at the Savoy" arrived this week on DVD". CillaBlack.com. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Alan Bradley (20 December 2013). For No One. Lulu.com. pp. 374–. ISBN 978-1-63173-927-9.
- ^ "Step Inside Love". The Beatles Bible. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ "I'll Still Love You (When Every Song Is Sung)' – a 'lost' song penned for Cilla by George Harrison receives May 2003 release"". CillaBlack.com, 1 April 2003. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ "AllMusic Review by Bruce Eder". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ "Ferrero Rocher dazzle by WCRS". Campaign Live. 11 August 2006. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ "Panto: Cinderella's Got The Magic". 17 December 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
- ^ "Cilla & Co In A Scouse Panto Cracker". Liverpool Echo. 16 December 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
- ^ Lee, Veronica (22 December 2008). "Cilla Sparkles In An Evening Of Fabness". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
- ^ "We Love Cilla Black". Liverpool Echo. 5 January 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
- ^ "Cilla Black celebrating her 45th Year (Press Release)". CillaBlack.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011.
- ^ MacFarlaine, Victoria (17 December 2010). "Cilla Black stars in Cinderella at Aylesbury Waterside". Bucks Free Press. Archived from the original on 23 December 2010.
- ^ "This really IS The VERY Best of Cilla Black! (All the hits – new remixes and a DVD of 'Cilla at the Savoy')". CillaBlack.com. 22 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ^ "Pop Go the Sixties! (1969)". BFI. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ^ a b c "Black,Cilla (1943-) Biography". BFI. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- ^ Victor Rust. The Cliff Richard Recording Catalogue 1958-2010. Lulu.com. p. 85. ISBN 0956738400.
- ^ Coming Home. Retrieved September 2014
- ^ "IMDb > "Cilla's Comedy Six" (1975)". Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "BIOGRAPHY:Cilla Black Lifetime". Lifetime. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ "IMDb > "Cilla's World of Comedy" (1976)". Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ^ "Cilla Black and Paul O'Grady's BBC Sitcom 'Led Astray' Axed". www.huffingtonpost.com. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ^ Biggins, Christopher (2009). Just Biggins: My Story. John Blake. ISBN 1844546543.
- ^ "Cilla Black to host BBC game show". BBC News. 14 March 2004. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
- ^ "Cilla is "so excited" to be a judge on ITV's new talent show 'Soapstar Superstar'". CillaBlack.com. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ "Eating with..." BBC. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ a b "Paul O'Grady mourns Cilla Black saying "the fun has gone and the lights are turned off"". The Mirror. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ Cable, Simon (24 November 2008). "How low can you go, Cilla?". Daily Mail. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ "Cilla Black Returns To TV With Animated Dating Show". contactmusic.com. 6 August 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
- ^ "Video: Cilla Black in 'Benidorm'". Digital Spy. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
- ^ "Cilla (TV Series 1968–1976)". IMDb. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ^ "Cilla Black: Tributes paid to 'huge talent'". BBC News. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ "Cilla's World of Comedy: The Complete Series". networkonair.com.
- ^ "Cilla's World Of Comedy". comedy.co.uk.
- ^ "Room 101, Series 2, episode 5". BBC. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ "Your Face Sounds Familiar". Radio Times. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ "Sheridan Smith to play Cilla Black in new ITV drama". BBC News. 16 February 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
- ^ "ITV commissions three-part drama Cilla, starring Sheridan Smith". Itv.com. 16 February 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- ^ "Sheridan Smith to star as Cilla Black in new ITV drama". Digital Spy. 16 February 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- ^ "Cilla Black's tears over the death of premature baby girl 'Ellen' 34 years ago". Daily Mail. London. 8 October 2009. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ^ McKenzie, Suzie (17 October 1990). (archive) "Public Lives: A very ordinary superstar (interview with Cilla Black)". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
{{cite news}}
: Check|url=
value (help) - ^ Smith, Giles (12 October 1993). "The only bird in a beat boy's world". The Independent. London.
- ^ Brockes, Emma (14 June 2004). "'I was dead chuffed'". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ^ Shennan, Paddy (26 July 2011). "The Great Liverpool Debate day two: Where do Jimmy Tarbuck and Cilla Black fit in regarding plastic Scousers?". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ^ "Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories". The Guardian. London. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ Victoria Ward and Nicola Harley (2 August 2015). "Cilla Black dies, aged 72". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ^ Nicola Methven (13 May 2014). "Cilla Black: I still want to die at 75 even though it's only four years away". Mirror.
- ^ Youngs, Ian (3 August 2015). "Cilla Black 'knew she was dying', friend says". BBC News. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ^ Kassam, Ashifa; Gayle, Damien (3 August 2015). "Cilla Black may have died as result of an accident, say Spanish police". The Guardian. London.
- ^ "Cilla Black to receive BAFTA Special Award - TV News". Digital Spy. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- ^ "Cilla Black to receive Bafta Special Award". BBC News. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
External links