Malcolm Roberts (singer)

Malcolm James Roberts (31 March 1944 – 7 February 2003)[1] was an English traditional pop music singer, who enjoyed three hit singles from 1967 to 1969 in the UK Singles Chart,[2] as well as an actor and musical theatre star.

For other people with the same name, see Malcolm Roberts.

Malcolm Roberts
Birth nameMalcolm James Roberts
Born(1944-03-31)31 March 1944
Blackley, Manchester, Lancashire, England
Died7 February 2003(2003-02-07) (aged 58)
Chertsey, Surrey
GenresTraditional pop music
Occupation(s)Singer, actor, musical theatre
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1964–2003
LabelsRCA, Major Minor, Right Recordings

Career

Born in Blackley,[3] Manchester,[1] Roberts began his career in the entertainment industry as an actor. He had a small role in the TV show Coronation Street.[1] His work as Tony in West Side Story led to a role in the musical Maggie May at the Adelphi Theatre in 1964.[3]

His first single, "Time Alone Will Tell" reached number 45 in May 1967, followed by his biggest hit, "May I Have the Next Dream With You" in November 1968, reaching number 8 and staying on the charts for 15 weeks. His final hit, in November 1969, was "Love is All" (Les Reed, Barry Mason),[4] which reached number 12.[2] With this song he attained third place in the Rio de Janeiro International Music Festival, also in 1969. According to the sleeve notes of his 2001 retrospective CD collection, his recording career continued in Brazil, where he had an affectionate reception and scored many hits.[5] On 7 December 1968, he was the special guest singer in the 1968 Malta Song Festival held at the Plaza Theatre in Sliema, Malta.[6]

He also appeared on American television on 6 November 1970, via The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.[7] He had previously sung on both The Morecambe and Wise Show (1969) and The Kenneth Williams Show on the UK's BBC Television.[7] Roberts later appeared in pantomime, starring opposite Ronnie Corbett and Clodagh Rodgers in the 1971 production of Cinderella at the London Palladium.

Roberts also was a songwriter, collaborating with Sammy Cahn, Les Reed and Lynsey de Paul ("The Way It Goes" on de Paul's debut album Surprise), as well as writing incidental music for ITV's dramatisation of Lady Chatterley's Lover.[8]

He represented Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest 1985.[9] The song, "Children, Kinder, Enfants" was written by Ralph Siegel, Bernd Meinunger and Jean-Michel Beriat, all of whom had written Eurovision entries before, with Siegel and Meinunger writing the 1982 German winner. The group consisted of an international line-up of the UK's Roberts and Ireen Sheer, Dutch singer Margo (Annemieke Verdoorn), native Luxembourgian Franck Olivier, German Chris Roberts and American Diane Solomon. The song was performed mainly in French, with a counterpane sung in English and German. They got 37 points and finished in 13th place.

In 1991, Roberts attempted alone to represent the UK, with his own composition, "One Love", but finished last in the A Song For Europe contest.

Roberts died of a heart attack on 7 February 2003.[1] He was buried at Remenham Cemetery near Henley-on-Thames on 20 February 2003.[3]

References
  1. "Malcolm Roberts". 45-rpm.org.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 465. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. "The biggest star you may never have heard of . . .?". Middleton Guardian. 7 February 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  4. "Malcolm Roberts Tribute Site". Malcolmrobertsfanclub.co.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  5. The Essential Malcolm Roberts. Right CD B00004YU37
  6. Malta Song Festival 1968 Souvenir Booklet, p. 6
  7. "Malcolm Roberts". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  8. Clayson, Alan (10 February 2003). "Obituary: Malcolm Roberts". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  9. Lee Stevens (9 February 2003). "UK | Singer dies at wheel of car". BBC News. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
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