David Essex
b. David Albert Cook, 23 July 1947, London, England. Originally a drummer in the semi-profession al Everons, Essex subsequently turned to singing during the mid-60s, and recorded a series of unsuccessful singles for a variety of labels. On the advice of his influential manager, Derek Bowman, he switched to acting and after a series of minor roles received his big break upon winning the lead part in the stage musical Godspell. This was followed by a more familiar role in the authentic '50s-inspired film THAT'LL BE THE DAY and its sequel STARDUST. The former reactivated Essex's recording career and the song he composed for the film, Rock On was a transatlantic Top 10 hit. It was in Britain, however, that Essex enjoyed several years as a pin-up teen idol. During the mid-70s, he registered two UK number 1s, Gonna Make You A Star and Hold Me Close, plus the Top 10 hits Lamplight, Stardust and Rollin Stone’. After parting with producer Jeff Wayne, Essex continued to chart, though with noticeably diminishing returns. As his teen appeal waned, his serious acting commitments increased, most notably with the role of Che Guevara in the production of Evita. The musical also provided another Top 5 hit with the acerbic Oh What A Circus. His lead part in the film SILVER DREAM MACHINE resulted in a hit of the same title. Thereafter, Essex took on a straight non-singing part in CHILDE BYRON. The Christmas hit, A Winter's Tale, kept his chart career alive, as did the equally successful Tahiti. The latter anticipated one of his biggest projects to date, an elaborate musical MUTINY (based on MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY). In 1993, after neglecting his showbusiness career while he spent two a half years in the African region as an ambassador for Voluntary Service Overseas, Essex embarked on a UK concert tour, and issued COVER SHOT, a collection of mostly '60s songs. In the same year he played the part of Tony Lumpkin in Oliver Goldsmith's comedy, SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER, in London's West End. Despite pursuing two careers, Essex has managed to achieve consistent success on record, film and stage.