Kenny Lynch
Kenny Lynch HMV , Satril Records |
---|
Kenneth Lynch, OBE (18 March 1938 – 18 December 2019)[1] was an English singer, songwriter, entertainer, and actor. He appeared in many variety shows in the 1960s. At the time, he was among the few black singers in British pop music.[2] He was appointed an OBE in the 1970 New Year Honours list.
Early life
Lynch was born in Stepney, East London, in 1938, where he grew up on Cornwall Street, the youngest in a family of 14 children.[3][4][5] His sister Gladys (stage name Maxine Daniels) was a jazz singer of some note.[6] His father was born in Barbados and his mother was mixed-raced British and Jamaican.[3] After leaving school at 15 and working various jobs, he did national service[6] in the Royal Army Service Corps and was the regimental featherweight boxing champion.
Career
Before Lynch had several UK
In early 1963, Lynch had been on the same bill as the Beatles on the group's
Much of Lynch's material was self-written, but he also covered songs by writers of the Brill Building.[2]
Lynch also wrote songs for others including actress
Lynch took part in the
In the early 1980s, Lynch formed a songwriting partnership with former tennis player Buster Mottram.[9]
Lynch appeared on television programmes including
Lynch completed the London Marathon in 1982, played in several charity football matches and took part in Michael Parkinson's 'Celebrity Cricket' fundraisers.[10] In 2018, Lynch had a concert tour with Jimmy Tarbuck and Anita Harris, as well as appearing in ITV's Last Laugh in Vegas.[11]
Personal life and death
Lynch had two daughters.[3] He died from prostate cancer in Oxfordshire on 18 December 2019, aged 81.[12][13]
Discography
Chart singles
Year | Single | Chart positions |
---|---|---|
UK
[14] | ||
1960 | "Mountain of Love" | 33 |
1962 | "Puff (Up in Smoke)" | 33 |
"Up on the Roof" | 10 | |
1963 | "You Can Never Stop Me Loving You" | 10 |
1964 | "Stand by Me" | 39 |
"What Am I to You" | 37 | |
1965 | "I'll Stay by You" | 29 |
1983 | "Half the Day's Gone and We Haven't Earned a Penny" | 50 |
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1960 | The Criminal | Prisoner | Uncredited |
1963 | Just for Fun | Himself | |
1965 | Dr. Terror's House of Horrors | Sammy Cohen | (segment "Voodoo") |
1967 | The Plank | Dustbin Lorry Driver | |
1970 | Carry On Loving | Bus Conductor | |
1972 | The Alf Garnett Saga | Himself | |
1978 | The Playbirds | Police Doctor | |
1979 | Confessions from the David Galaxy Affair | Joe | |
1979 | The Plank | Dustman | TV Short, remake of the 1967 film |
2007 | The Riddle | Dinner Party Guest | TV movie |
See also
References
- ^ "Obituary: Kenny Lynch, singer and entertainer". The Herald. 21 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g Unterberger, Richie. "Kenny Lynch Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
- ^ doi:10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.90000380896. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ISBN 9780195313734. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ ISBN 0-7535-0149-X.
- ^ "From Me To You". Beatlesbible.com. 15 March 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- ^ "Band On The Run (album)". The Beatles Bible. 23 October 2010.
- ^ Greenslade, Nick (5 September 2004). "The ten worst sportsmen in politics". The Observer. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Kenny Lynch OBE". Newhamstory.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- ^ Dunn, Gemma; Gibbons, Duncan (4 April 2018). "Last Laugh in Vegas: Who's in it and what's it about?". Coventry Telegraph.
- ^ Cartwright, Gareth (9 January 2020). "Kenny Lynch: Multitalented performer and doyen of light entertainment". The Independent. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ "Q4/2019 in OXFORDSHIRE (695-1A)". GRO Online Indexes. General Register Office for England and Wales. Entry Number 519995036. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-904994-10-7.
External links
- Kenny Lynch at IMDb
- Kenny Lynch discography at Discogs
- Kenny Lynch discography at Discogs as Kenny Lynch Music