19 Facts About Georgie Fame

Georgie Fame took piano lessons from the age of seven and on leaving Leigh Central County Secondary School at 15 he worked for a brief period in a cotton weaving mill and played piano for a band called the Dominoes in the evenings.

Georgie Fame later recalled that Parnes had given him an ultimatum over his forced change of name: "It was very much against my will but he said, 'If you don't use my name, I won't use you in the show'".

Georgie Fame played piano for Billy Fury in his backing band, the Blue Flames.

Georgie Fame was influenced by jazz, blues, and the musicians Mose Allison and Willie Mabon.

Georgie Fame was one of the first white musicians to be influenced by ska after hearing it in cafes in Jamaica and Ladbroke Grove in England.

Georgie Fame enjoyed continual chart success, with three number one hits in the UK Singles Chart.

Georgie Fame made his US television debut that same year on Hullabaloo.

Georgie Fame's single "Get Away", released on 21 July 1966, spent one week at No 1 on the UK chart and 11 weeks on the chart.

Georgie Fame continued playing into the 1970s, having a hit with "Rosetta" with his friend Alan Price in 1971, and they worked together extensively.

Georgie Fame wrote jingles for radio and TV commercials and composed for the films Entertaining Mr Sloane and The Alf Garnett Saga.

Georgie Fame became a member of Van Morrison's band, as well as his musical producer.

Georgie Fame played keyboards and sang harmony vocals on "In the Days Before Rock 'n' Roll" from the album Enlightenment while recording and touring as a solo act.

Georgie Fame played organ on Van Morrison's albums between 1989 and 1997 and starred at Terry Dillon's 60th-birthday party on 10 May 2008.

Georgie Fame appeared as a guest on Morrison's television concert presented by BBC Four on 25 and 27 April 2008.

Georgie Fame was a founding member of Bill Wyman's band Rhythm Kings.

Georgie Fame worked with Count Basie, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Joan Armatrading, and the Verve.

Georgie Fame was the headline act on the Sunday night at the Jazz World stage at the 2009 Glastonbury Festival after performing at the Midsummer Music at Spencers festival in Essex.

In July 2014, Georgie Fame played at the village hall in Goring-on-Thames and then at the Cornbury Festival in Oxfordshire.

In 1972, Georgie Fame married Nicolette, Marchioness of Londonderry, the former wife of the 9th Marquess.