24 Facts About Billy Fury

Ronald Wycherley, better known as Billy Fury, was an English musician and actor.

Billy Fury was born Ronald Wycherley at Smithdown Hospital on Smithdown Road in Liverpool on 17 April 1940.

Billy Fury commenced music lessons on the piano before he was a teenager, and was bought his first guitar by the age of 14.

Billy Fury entered and won a talent competition, and by 1958 had started composing his own songs.

Billy Fury was such an immediate success that Parnes signed him, added him to his tour, and renamed him "Billy Fury".

Billy Fury released his first hit single for Decca, "Maybe Tomorrow", in 1959.

The Tornados were recruited as Billy Fury's backing band and toured and recorded with him from January 1962 to August 1963.

Billy Fury concentrated less on rock and roll and more on mainstream ballads, such as "Halfway to Paradise" and "Jealousy".

Billy Fury left Decca Records in 1966, after signing to a five-year recording contract with Parlophone.

In 1973, Billy Fury emerged from a period of semi-retirement to appear as 'Stormy Tempest' in the film That'll Be the Day.

Billy Fury's health deteriorated and he underwent two open heart surgeries - the first was in 1972, and the second in 1976.

In 1978, Billy Fury was declared bankrupt for unpaid taxes to the Inland Revenue.

Billy Fury was forced to sign over his royalties and publishing income.

Worse was to follow in March 1981 when Billy Fury, working on his own farm, collapsed and almost died.

Billy Fury returned to touring later that year, and his next two singles, "Love or Money" and "Devil or Angel", just dented the UK chart.

Billy Fury lived with businesswoman Lee Everett Alkin, better known as "Lady Lee" Middleton, from 1959 to 1967.

Billy Fury went from Liverpool to London and he lived in Number 1 Cavendish Avenue, the same street as Paul McCartney.

Billy Fury is remembered and honoured with a Blue Plaque there.

Billy Fury married Judith Hall in May 1969, but later left her for heiress Lisa Voice.

Billy Fury was taken to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, but died later in the afternoon, aged 42.

The choir sang a special version of Billy Fury's Decca hit "I'm Lost Without You".

On 10 April 1983, a tribute concert for Billy Fury was held at the Beck Theatre in Hayes.

In 1999 a TV documentary about Billy Fury called Halfway to Paradise was broadcast on the BBC channel, narrated by Ian Dury.

On 19 April 2003, a bronze statue of Billy Fury was unveiled by Jack Good at the National Museum of Liverpool Life.