15 Facts About Dennis Lotis

Dennis Lotis was a South African-born British singer, actor, and entertainer, whose popularity was greatest in the 1950s.

Dennis Lotis was described as having "a sophisticated style that was particularly attractive to the young female population".

Dennis Lotis trained as a boy soprano, and made his first stage appearances and radio broadcasts as a child.

Dennis Lotis married and left South Africa with his wife at the start of the 1950s, moving to Britain, where he was introduced to bandleader Ted Heath.

Dennis Lotis joined the Ted Heath Orchestra, singing alongside Lita Roza and Dickie Valentine.

Dennis Lotis's first record was a cover version of Al Martino's hit "Here in My Heart", released in September 1952 on the independent Polygon label.

Dennis Lotis went solo in the mid-1950s, and became one of the most successful acts on the British variety circuit, appearing frequently on BBC radio.

Dennis Lotis appeared in his first Royal Variety Performance in 1957, and that year was voted Top Male Singer in the Melody Maker annual poll.

Dennis Lotis toured the US with the Ted Heath Orchestra.

Dennis Lotis recorded in the late 1950s and early 1960s for the Pye Nixa and Columbia labels.

In 1956, Dennis Lotis toured with a production of the musical Harmony Close, and first worked as an actor in 1959 in John Osborne's The World of Paul Slickey.

Dennis Lotis appeared on stage as Lucio in John Neville's production of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure.

Dennis Lotis continued his career as a singer, appearing on Six-Five Special and Thank Your Lucky Stars, and in the 1960s recorded for the King and Polydor labels.

Dennis Lotis returned to musical performances in theatres in the 1980s, and gave a farewell performance in Mundesley, Norfolk, in 2005, following concerts in France and Spain.

Dennis Lotis remarried after his wife's death and later lived in Stiffkey on the North Norfolk coast.