1. Peter Skellern was an English singer-songwriter and pianist who rose to fame in the 1970s.
17 Facts About Peter Skellern
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Over his career, Peter Skellern wrote and performed music for film, television and stage, notably writing and starring in Happy Endings, a 1981 BBC anthology series of comic musical plays.
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Peter Skellern's songs have been recorded by Andy Williams, Davy Jones, Brigitte Bardot, Ringo Starr and Jack Jones, amongst others.
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Peter Skellern was born in Bury, Lancashire, to Margaret and John Skellern.
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Peter Skellern attended Derby High School and studied piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
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Peter Skellern continued to pursue a career in pop, represented by the band's manager, Johnny Stirling.
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The record featured Peter Skellern accompanied by members of the Congregation, who had previously recorded the top ten hit "Softly Whispering I Love You", and the Hanwell Band.
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Success for Peter Skellern followed three years later with "Hold On to Love" which reached number 14 on the UK chart.
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Peter Skellern sang the theme song to the London Weekend Television series Billy Liar.
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In 1978, Peter Skellern had a minor hit with the 1930s Ray Noble song "Love Is the Sweetest Thing", winning the Music Trades Association award for best middle of the road song.
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Peter Skellern wrote the lyrics for the song "One More Kiss, Dear" from the film Blade Runner.
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In 1984, Peter Skellern performed the theme song for the London Weekend Television programme Me and My Girl.
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In 1987, Peter Skellern wrote and performed the theme music and song for the Yorkshire Television series Flying Lady.
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Peter Skellern collaborated with Richard Stilgoe in cabaret and in musical comedy with comic songs such as "Joyce the Librarian".
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Toward the end of his career Peter Skellern wrote pieces of sacred choral music, including "Waiting for the Word", Six Simple Carols and The Nativity Cantata written for a Hemel Hempstead choir, the Aeolian Singers.
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In October 2016, it was reported that Peter Skellern had developed an inoperable brain tumour and that he had fulfilled a long-time desire to be ordained in the Church of England.
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Peter Skellern died on 17 February 2017, at the age of 69, in Lanteglos-by-Fowey, Cornwall.