Cliff Richard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir Cliff Richard OBE
Richard in 2021
Born	Harry Rodger Webb (1940-10-14) 14 October 1940 (age 84) Lucknow, United Provinces, British India
Citizenship	United Kingdom Barbados
Occupation	Singer songwriter actor
Years active	1958–present
Musical career
Origin	London, England
Genres	Rock and roll pop rockabilly pop rock CCM
Labels	EMI's Columbia EMI Epic Decca Rocket Papillon Venture3Media

Sir Cliff Richard (born Harry Rodger Webb; 14 October 1940) is a famous British singer and actor. He has sold over 21.5 million singles in the United Kingdom. By 2012, he was the third best-selling artist in UK history. Only the Beatles and Elvis Presley sold more.

Richard first became known as a rebellious rock and roll singer. He was like Elvis Presley and Little Richard. With his band, the Shadows, he was very popular in Britain. This was before the Beatles became famous, from the late 1950s to early 1960s. His 1958 song "Move It" is often called Britain's first real rock and roll song. In the early 1960s, he also starred in movies. These included The Young Ones, Summer Holiday, and Wonderful Life. He even had his own TV show on the BBC.

Later, he focused more on his Christian faith. His music became softer. He sometimes sang contemporary Christian music. Over 65 years, Richard has earned many gold and platinum records. He has won two Ivor Novello Awards and three Brit Awards. More than 130 of his songs and albums have reached the UK Top 20. This is more than any other artist. He has had 67 UK top ten singles. Only Elvis Presley has had more. He and Presley are the only artists to have songs in the UK charts for six decades (1950s–2000s). He has had 14 UK No. 1 singles. He is the only singer to have a No. 1 song in the UK in five decades in a row. He also had four UK Christmas No. 1 singles. Two of these were solo songs: "Mistletoe and Wine" and "Saviour's Day".

By the late 1990s, Richard had sold over 250 million records worldwide. This makes him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He was not as popular in the United States. However, he had eight US Top 40 singles. These included "Devil Woman" and "We Don't Talk Anymore". In Canada, he was popular in the early 1960s, late 1970s, and early 1980s. Some of his songs there went gold and platinum. He is still a popular singer, actor, and TV star in the UK. He is also well-known in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Northern Europe, and Asia. When he is not touring, he lives in Barbados and Portugal. In 2019, he moved to New York.

Cliff Richard's Early Life and Family

Growing Up in British India

Cliff Richard was born Harry Rodger Webb on 14 October 1940. He was born in Lucknow, which was then part of British India. His father, Rodger Oscar Webb, managed catering for the Indian Railways. His mother was Dorothy Marie Dazely. His parents also lived in Howrah, West Bengal for some years. After a period of violence, they decided to move to Britain. Cliff Richard is mostly English. However, one of his great-grandmothers was half Welsh and half Spanish.

The Webb family lived in a simple home in Maqbara. This was near the main shopping area of Hazratganj. Dorothy's mother worked at the La Martiniere Girls' School. Richard has three sisters: Joan, Jacqui, and Donna.

Moving to England and School Years

In 1948, after India became independent, his family sailed to Tilbury, England. They had lived well in India. They had a company flat in Howrah. In England, they moved into a semi-detached house in Carshalton, Surrey. Harry Webb went to Stanley Park Juniors, a local primary school. In 1949, his father got a job at Thorn Electrical Industries. The family moved to Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire. They lived with relatives. Harry went to Kings Road Junior Mixed Infants School there. In 1950, they got a three-bedroom council house in Cheshunt.

He attended Cheshunt Secondary Modern School from 1952 to 1957. He stayed longer to take his GCE Ordinary Level exams. He passed English literature. Then, he started working as a filing clerk for Atlas Lamps. A block of retirement flats in Cheshunt is named after him: Cliff Richard Court.

Harry Webb became interested in skiffle music. When he was 16, his father bought him a guitar. In 1957, he formed a school singing group called The Quintones. Later, he sang in the Dick Teague Skiffle Group.

Becoming a Music Star: Cliff Richard's Rise to Fame

Starting with Rock and Roll

Harry Webb became the lead singer of a rock and roll group called the Drifters. This was not the same as the famous US group. A music manager, Harry Greatorex, wanted him to change his name. The name Cliff was chosen because it sounded like "cliff face," which suggested "Rock." The songwriter Ian Samwell suggested "Richard" to honor Webb's hero, Little Richard.

Before their first big show in 1958, they became "Cliff Richard and the Drifters." The band members were Cliff Richard, Ian Samwell (guitar), Terry Smart (drums), and Norman Mitham (guitar). These three did not play with the later, more famous band, The Shadows. However, Samwell wrote songs for Richard later on. An agent named George Ganjou saw them play. He told Norrie Paramor to audition them.

For Richard's first recording, Paramor gave him "Schoolboy Crush." This song had been recorded by American singer Bobby Helms. Richard was allowed to record one of his own songs for the B-side. This was "Move It," written by Ian Samwell. He wrote it on a bus ride to Richard's house for practice. For the "Move It" recording, Paramor used session guitarists Ernie Shears and Frank Clark.

There are different stories about why "Move It" became the main song. One story says Norrie Paramor's young daughter loved the B-side. Another says TV producer Jack Good wanted "Move It" for his show Oh Boy!. Richard said:

It's wonderful to be going on TV for the first time, but I feel so nervous that I don't know what to do. I shaved my sideburns off last night... Jack Good said it would make me look more original.

The song reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. John Lennon said "Move It" was the first British rock record.

Becoming the British Elvis

In the beginning, Richard was presented as Britain's version of Elvis. Like other British rockers, he dressed and styled his hair like Elvis. On stage, he looked tough and rarely smiled. His next songs, "High Class Baby" and "Livin' Lovin' Doll", were followed by "Mean Streak" and Lionel Bart's "Living Doll".

The Drifters started backing Richard on "Living Doll." This was his fifth record and his first No. 1 song. By then, the band had new members: Jet Harris, Tony Meehan, Hank Marvin, and Bruce Welch. The group had to change its name to "The Shadows." This was because of legal issues with the American group the Drifters. "Living Doll" was used in Richard's first movie, Serious Charge.

The Shadows were more than just a backing band. They had their own contracts and did not get paid for backing Richard. In 1959, the Shadows got their own recording deal. They released several singles and had many hits, including five UK No. 1s. They also kept performing and recording with Richard. They wrote many of his hit songs. Sometimes, a Shadows instrumental song would replace a Richard song at the top of the charts.

A Softer Sound and Film Success

Richard's song "Living Doll" started a softer, more relaxed sound for him. Later hits like "Travellin' Light" and "I Love You" were No. 1s. Other popular songs included "A Voice in the Wilderness" from his film Expresso Bongo, and "Theme for a Dream". These songs made Richard a popular pop entertainer. His songs were consistently in the top five throughout the early 1960s.

In 1961, EMI records held Richard's 21st birthday party. His producer Norrie Paramor led the event. Photos from the party were used in Richard's album "21 Today." Tony Meehan joined the party, even though he had just left the Shadows.

The Shadows usually played their own 30-minute set first. Then, they backed Richard for his 45-minute show. Tony Meehan and Jet Harris left the group in 1961 and 1962. They later had their own hit songs. The Shadows added new bass players, Brian Locking (1962–63) and John Rostill (1963–68). Brian Bennett became their permanent drummer.

In his early years, Richard also recorded slow songs. These were backed by the Norrie Paramor Orchestra. His first song without the Shadows was "When the Girl in Your Arms Is the Girl in Your Heart" in 1961. He continued to release one or two such songs each year. These included "It's All in the Game" (1963) and "Constantly" (1964). In 1965, he recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. This led to "The Minute You're Gone", which was a UK No. 1, and "Wind Me Up (Let Me Go)", which reached No. 2.

Richard and the Shadows did not become as famous in the United States. In 1960, they toured the US and were liked. But they didn't get enough support from American record labels. This made it hard to succeed there. Even though Richard had several chart songs, like "It's All in the Game," he didn't become a big star. The Shadows' song "Apache" reached No. 2 in the US. But it was a cover version by Danish guitarist Jorgen Ingmann. Richard and the band appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. This show was very important for the Beatles. But it did not help Richard and the Shadows gain lasting success in North America.

Richard and the Shadows starred in six movies. These included Serious Charge (1959), The Young Ones, Summer Holiday, Wonderful Life, and Finders Keepers. These films created a new type of movie, called the "Cliff Richard musical." Richard was the No. 1 movie star in Britain in 1962 and 1963. He even beat James Bond. The song "The Young Ones" became his best-selling single in the UK. It sold over one million copies. The 1980s TV show The Young Ones was named after Richard's 1962 film. In 1963, Cliff and the Shadows performed in Blackpool.

Cliff Richard's Career: Changes and Comebacks

The Beatles Era and Christian Faith

When the Beatles and Mersey sound became popular in 1963-1964, it affected Richard's career. He remained popular and had hits in the 1960s. But he was not as successful as before. Doors did not open for him in the US market. He was not seen as part of the British Invasion. Even with four Hot 100 hits, Americans didn't know him well.

Richard was baptised as an Anglican. But he did not practice his faith when he was younger. In 1964, he became an active evangelical Christian. His faith became a very important part of his life. Being openly Christian changed his career. Richard first thought about leaving music to become a teacher. But Christian friends told him to keep singing. Soon after, Richard started performing with Christian groups. He also recorded Christian songs. He still recorded pop songs with the Shadows. But he spent a lot of time on Christian work. This included appearing with the Billy Graham crusades. Over time, Richard found a balance between his faith and his music. He remained one of Britain's most popular singers and a well-known Christian.

Richard's 1965 UK hit "On My Word" reached No. 12. This ended a run of 23 top ten UK hits in a row. This is still a record for a male artist. Richard continued to have international hits. These included "The Day I Met Marie" in 1967. It reached No. 10 in the UK and No. 5 in Australia.

Richard acted in the 1967 film Two a Penny. He played Jamie Hopkins. He released a live album called Cliff in Japan in 1967.

Eurovision and Solo Success

In 1968, Richard sang the UK's song for the Eurovision Song Contest. The song was "Congratulations". It was written by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter. He lost by just one point to Spain's "La La La". John Kennedy O'Connor's book says this was the closest result ever. Richard locked himself in the toilet because he was so nervous. In May 2008, a news report claimed the voting was fixed by Spanish leader Francisco Franco. This was to make Spain win and host the next contest. It was said that Spanish TV offered to buy shows for votes. However, these claims turned out to be false rumors. Still, "Congratulations" was a huge hit in Europe and Australia. It became another No. 1 song in April 1968.

After the Shadows split up in 1968, Richard kept recording. In the 1970s, Richard was in several TV shows. He hosted his own show It's Cliff Richard from 1970 to 1976. It featured Olivia Newton-John, Hank Marvin, and Una Stubbs. He also appeared live on the BBC's review of 1960s music, Pop Go The Sixties. He sang "Bachelor Boy" with the Shadows and "Congratulations" solo. In 1972, he made a BBC comedy film called The Case. It featured comedians and his first duets with a woman, Olivia Newton-John. He then released a live album, Cliff Live in Japan 1972, with Newton-John.

His last movie role was in 1973. He starred in the film Take Me High.

In 1973, he sang the British Eurovision song "Power to All Our Friends." The song finished third. This time, Richard took medicine to calm his nerves. His manager almost couldn't wake him up for the performance. Richard also hosted the BBC's qualifying show for Eurovision, A Song for Europe, from 1970 to 1972. He presented the Eurovision Song Contest Previews for the BBC in 1971 and 1972.

A Big Comeback in the Late 1970s

In 1976, it was decided to present Richard as a rock artist again. Bruce Welch helped restart Cliff's career. He produced the album I'm Nearly Famous. This album included the rock song "Devil Woman". This became Richard's first real hit in the United States. It also had the slow song "Miss You Nights". Music critics said it was a great comeback for Richard. Many famous musicians like Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Elton John wore "I'm Nearly Famous" badges. They were happy their childhood idol was returning to rock music.

Richard also continued to release contemporary Christian music albums. For example, Small Corners (1978) included the song "Yes He Lives." On 31 December 1976, he sang his song "Hey, Mr. Dream Maker" on BBC1. This was part of a show celebrating British pop music for Queen Elizabeth II's upcoming Silver Jubilee.

In 1979, Richard worked with producer Bruce Welch again. They made the pop hit "We Don't Talk Anymore". It was written by Alan Tarney. The song reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 7 in the US. Bryan Ferry sang backing vocals. This song made Richard the first artist to reach the US Top 40 in the 1980s. He had also been there in the three decades before. The song was added to his album Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile. It was renamed We Don't Talk Anymore for its US release. This was his first UK No. 1 in over ten years. It became his biggest-selling song worldwide, selling almost five million copies. Later in 1979, Richard performed with Kate Bush. This was for the London Symphony Orchestra's 75th anniversary.

Success in the US and UK

"We Don't Talk Anymore" (1979) helped Richard gain more success in the US. This followed "Devil Woman" (1976). In 1980, "Carrie" entered the US Top 40. Then "Dreamin'" reached No. 10. His 1980 duet "Suddenly" with Olivia Newton-John, from the film Xanadu, peaked at No. 20. This was followed by "A Little in Love" (No. 17) and "Daddy's Home" (No. 23) in 1981. After many years of limited success in the US, three of his songs were on the Hot 100 chart at the end of 1980. The music videos for "We Don't Talk Anymore," "A Little in Love," and "Dreamin'" were among the first played by MTV in 1981.

In the UK, "Carrie" reached No. 4 and "Dreamin'" peaked at No. 8. Music journalist Dave Thompson praised "Carrie." He called it "an enthrallingly atmospheric number."

In 1980, Richard officially changed his name to Cliff Richard. He also received the Officer of the Order of the British Empire from the Queen. This was for his work in music and charity.

In 1981, "Wired for Sound" reached No. 4 in the UK. It also became Richard's biggest hit in Australia since the early 1960s. To end the year, "Daddy's Home" hit No. 2 in the UK. Richard was having his most consistent period of top twenty hits since the mid-1960s. He also had many top ten albums. These included I'm No Hero, Wired for Sound, Now You See Me, Now You Don't. He also released a live album with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Dressed for the Occasion. His album Silver marked his 25th year in music in 1983.

Later 1980s and 1990s Success

In 1986, Richard reached No. 1 again. He teamed up with The Young Ones to re-record his hit "Living Doll". This was for the charity Comic Relief. The song included funny conversations between Richard and the Young Ones. That same year, Richard starred in the West End musical Time. He played a rock musician who had to defend Earth. Three of his songs from the musical were released as singles.

In August 1986, Richard was in a five-car crash on the M4 motorway. His car was badly damaged. Richard hurt his back but was not seriously injured. Police called a taxi so he could perform in the "Time" musical that night. After the show, Richard said he was "lucky to be here." He said his seatbelt saved him.

In October 1986, "All I Ask of You" reached No. 3 in the UK. This was a duet with Sarah Brightman from The Phantom of the Opera. In 1987, his album Always Guaranteed was released. It became his best-selling album of new songs. It included two top-10 hits: "My Pretty One" and "Some People".

Richard ended his 30th year in music with a UK Christmas No. 1 song in 1988. It was "Mistletoe and Wine". At the same time, his album Private Collection was No. 1. This album had his biggest hits from 1979 to 1988. "Mistletoe and Wine" was Richard's 99th UK single. It stayed at No. 1 for four weeks. It was the best-selling UK single of 1988, selling 750,000 copies. The album was certified quadruple platinum.

In May 1989, Richard released his 100th single, "The Best of Me". He was the first British artist to do this. The song reached No. 2 in the UK. It was also the first song from the album Stronger. This album reached the UK top ten. It was Richard's first studio album to have four UK top twenty hits.

Also in 1989, Richard received the Brit Awards' highest honor: "The Outstanding Contribution award." In June, he performed at Wembley Stadium for two nights. The show was called "The Event." Over 144,000 people watched.

On 30 June 1990, Richard performed for about 120,000 people at Knebworth Park. This was part of a concert with many stars. Other performers included Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, and Elton John. The concert raised $10.5 million for disabled children and young musicians.

Later in 1990, a live album called From a Distance: The Event was released. It had highlights from "The Event" show. Two live songs were released as singles: "Silhouettes" (UK No. 10) and "From a Distance" (No. 11). His Christmas single "Saviour's Day" became his 13th UK No. 1 song. It was also his 100th top 40 hit. The album reached No. 3 during Christmas.

After the success of his Christmas singles, Richard released his first Christmas album, Together with Cliff Richard, in 1991. In 1992, "I Still Believe in You" (No. 7) was his Christmas single. In 1993, Richard released his first new music album in over three years. It was called The Album and reached No. 1 on the UK album chart. "Peace in Our Time" (No. 8) was the second single. Then came "Human Work of Art" (No. 24) and "Healing Love" (No. 19) for Christmas. In 1994, the album The Hit List was released. Richard was also working on the musical Heathcliff.

Richard had many hit songs and albums from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. He gained a strong fan base again. He remained one of the most famous music artists in the country. In the 1980s, he recorded with Olivia Newton-John, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and others. The Shadows later reunited with Richard in 1978, 1984, and 1989–90.

Knighthood and Recent Years

Becoming Sir Cliff Richard

On 17 June 1995, Richard was made a Knight Bachelor. He received the honor on 25 October 1995. He was the first rock star to be knighted. In 1996, he led the crowd at Wimbledon's Centre Court in singing during a rain delay. In the late 1990s, Richard and Clive Black started a record label called "Blacknight." In 1998, Richard showed that radio stations were not playing his music. He released a dance remix of "Can't Keep This Feeling In" under the name Blacknight. The song was played on radio until his real name was revealed. Then, Richard released the song under his own name. It was the first song from his album Real as I Wanna Be. Both reached No. 10 in the UK.

In 1999, there was another issue with radio stations not playing his music. EMI, his record label since 1958, refused to release his song "The Millennium Prayer". They thought it would not sell well. Richard took it to an independent label, Papillon. They released the song for charity. The song topped the UK chart for three weeks. It became his fourteenth No. 1 single.

Richard's next album, Wanted, came out in 2001. It had cover songs. Then came another top ten album, Cliff at Christmas. This holiday album had new and old songs. It included the single "Santa's List," which reached No. 5 in 2003. Richard went to Nashville, Tennessee, for his 2004 album, Something's Goin' On. He chose new songs for this album. It was another top-10 album. It had three UK top-20 singles: "Something's Goin' On," "I Cannot Give You My Love" (with Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees), and "What Car."

On 14 June 2004, Richard joined the Shadows on stage in London. The Shadows had decided to reunite for a UK tour. They would reunite again for a final tour five years later in 2009.

Two's Company, an album of duets, was released in 2006. It was another top-10 success for Richard. It had new songs with Brian May, Dionne Warwick, Anne Murray, Barry Gibb, and Daniel O'Donnell. It also had older duets with artists like Phil Everly and Elton John. Two's Company came out with his "Here and Now" world tour. The tour included less known songs and the Christmas single "21st Century Christmas," which reached No. 2.

Another album, Love... The Album, was released on 12 November 2007. This album also had old and new songs. New songs included "Waiting for a Girl Like You" and "When I Need You." "When I Need You" was released as a single and reached No. 38. The album peaked at No. 13.

50th Anniversary and Beyond

In 2008, Richard's 51st year in music, an eight-CD box set was released. It was called And They Said It Wouldn't Last (My 50 Years in Music). In September, a song celebrating his 50 years in music was released: "Thank You for a Lifetime." On 14 September 2008, it reached No. 3 on the UK charts.

On 11 November 2008, Richard's website announced that Cliff and the Shadows would reunite. This was to celebrate their 50th anniversary. A month later, they performed at the Royal Variety Performance. In 2009, Cliff and the Shadows ended their partnership with the Golden Anniversary concert tour in the UK.

A new album, Reunited, by Richard and the Shadows, came out in September 2009. It was their first studio project in forty years. It had 25 re-recorded old songs and three "new" old songs. These included "Singing the Blues" and Eddie Cochran's "C'mon Everybody". The album reached No. 6 in the UK charts and peaked at No. 4. The reunion tour continued into Europe in 2010. In June 2009, it was reported that Richard would record a new album of jazz songs in Nashville.

Richard sang "Congratulations" at Queen Margrethe II's 70th birthday in Denmark in 2010. On 14 October 2010, Richard celebrated his 70th birthday. To mark this, he performed six concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London. A new album of swing songs, Bold as Brass, was released on 11 October. The official party for his 70th birthday was on 23 October 2010.

Richard then rehearsed for the German Night of the Proms concerts in Belgium. He made a surprise appearance at the Antwerp concert. He sang "We Don't Talk Anymore" to 20,000 fans. He toured 12 German cities in November and December 2010. He was the main act for 18 concerts, seen by over 300,000 fans. In November 2010, he had his third UK No. 1 music DVD in three years with Bold as Brass.

In October 2011, Richard released his Soulicious album. It had duets with American soul singers like Percy Sledge and Roberta Flack. The album was produced by Lamont Dozier. It was supported by a short UK tour. Soulicious became Richard's 41st top 10 UK album.

He performed at the Diamond Jubilee concert in June 2012. On 30 June 2012, Richard helped carry the Olympic torch from Derby to Birmingham. This was for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Richard said carrying the torch would be one of his top 10 memories.

Richard supported a campaign to extend copyright on sound recordings in the UK. In November 2013, Richard released his 100th album, The Fabulous Rock 'n' Roll Songbook. By then, he had released 47 studio albums, 35 compilations, 11 live albums, and 7 film soundtracks.

Richard was set to open for Morrissey in New York in June 2014. Morrissey said he was "honoured and thrilled." But Morrissey canceled the concert due to a fever. Richard then announced a free show for fans in New York.

In October 2015, Richard toured to mark his 75th birthday. He performed in seven UK cities, including six nights at London's Royal Albert Hall. He has performed there over 100 times. The Guardian gave his 2015 tour a good review.

In August 2018, Richard announced his album Rise Up. It included new songs. The first song, "Rise Up," reached No. 1 on the UK Vinyl Singles Chart. He sang a duet with Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler called "Taking Control." This song was on her 2019 album. In 2020, Richard released the album Music... The Air That I Breathe. On 4 July 2022, Richard sang his 1963 hit "Summer Holiday" at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships. This was part of the Centenary Celebration.

Cliff Richard's Personal Life

Family and Friendships

Richard's father, Rodger Webb, died in 1961 at age 56. This greatly affected Richard. He later said: "My father died very young. He missed the best parts of my career. When my father was sick, we became very close." Richard's mother, Dorothy, died in October 2007 at age 87. She had Alzheimer's disease for ten years. In 2006, he spoke about how hard it was for him and his sisters to deal with their mother's illness.

Richard has never married.

He has rarely lived alone. For many years, he shared his home with his manager, Bill Latham, and Latham's mother. In 1982, Richard called them his "second family." Latham's girlfriend, Jill, also lived with them for a time.

Richard has spoken about his close friendship with John McElynn. He met John, a former missionary, in New York in 2001. In 2008, Richard said: "John now spends most of his time looking after my properties, which means I don't have to. John and I have over time struck up a close friendship. He has also become a companion, which is great because I don't like living alone, even now."

In a 2002 interview, Richard said his many good friends kept him from feeling lonely. He always has someone to talk to. Richard has been a family friend of broadcaster Gloria Hunniford for over fifty years. When Hunniford's daughter Caron Keating had cancer, Richard was one of the few close friends who knew. When Keating died in 2004, Richard attended her funeral. He sang his song "Miss You Nights" for her.

In 2006, Richard received a Portuguese award. He was made Commander of the Order of Prince Henry. This was for his forty years of personal and business involvement in Portugal. He invested in winemaking and owned a house in the Algarve. Richard was No. 56 in the 2002 100 Greatest Britons list.

In his 2008 autobiography, Richard wrote that his views are less judgmental now. He asked the Church of England to support people's commitment in same-sex marriage.

In 2009, the British media reported on a growing friendship between Richard and Cilla Black. They were often seen together in Barbados, where they both owned villas. Richard and Black enjoyed dining together and watching tennis at Wimbledon. After Black died in 2015, Richard called her "incredibly gifted" and "full of heart." He said: "She was a very special person, and I have lost a very wonderful friend. I will miss her dearly." Richard sang "Faithful One" at Black's funeral.

In 2010, Richard confirmed he no longer lives in the UK. He became a citizen of Barbados. He said: "I'm officially a non-resident [of the UK], although I will always be British and proud of it." He now lives in Barbados and Portugal.

Christian Beliefs and Public Service

In 1971, Richard was a strong supporter of the Nationwide Festival of Light. This was a movement by British Christians. They were concerned about changes in society.

Helping Others: Cliff Richard's Charity Work

Since March 1966, Richard has given at least one-tenth of his income to charity. Richard said two Bible ideas guide him on how to use his money. He said: "Firstly, it was the love of money (not money itself) that was the root of all evil. Secondly, to be good and responsible stewards of what was entrusted to us." In 1990, Richard said: "Those of us who have something to offer have to be prepared to give all the time."

For over forty years, Richard has supported Tearfund. This is a Christian charity that helps fight poverty worldwide. He has visited their work in Uganda, Bangladesh, and Brazil. Richard said: "Playing a part in relieving poverty is, as I see it, the responsibility of us all."

Richard has donated to Alzheimer's Research UK. This charity researches dementia. He has helped raise money and awareness by talking about his mother's condition.

Richard has also supported many UK charities through the Cliff Richard Charitable Trust. He donates money and visits schools, churches, hospitals, and homes for children with special needs. Richard loves tennis. In 1991, he started the Cliff Richard Tennis Foundation. This charity has encouraged thousands of primary schools in the UK to play tennis. Over 200,000 children have taken part in their tennis sessions. The foundation is now part of the Lawn Tennis Association's charity work.

Views on Scottish Independence

In August 2014, Richard was one of 200 public figures. They signed a letter to The Guardian. They hoped Scotland would vote to stay part of the United Kingdom. This was for the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

Cliff Richard's Impact on Music

Cliff Richard's 1958 hit "Move It" is seen as the first real British rock and roll record. It "laid the foundations" for the Beatles and Merseybeat music. John Lennon reportedly said that before Cliff and the Shadows, there was nothing good to listen to in British music. Richard's successful career in the UK has lasted over six decades.

Discography

Cliff Richard has released many albums throughout his career. Here is a list of his studio, live, and soundtrack albums.

Film and Television Work

Cliff Richard has also had a successful career in movies and television.

Movies

Television Shows

Special TV Appearances

Year	Title	Total viewers	Channel
1971	Getaway with Cliff	5.2 million	BBC
1972	The Case	5 million
1987	The Grand Knockout Tournament		BBC1
1999	An Audience with Cliff Richard	11 million	ITV
2001	The Hits I Missed	6.5 million
2008	When Piers Met Sir Cliff	5.5 million
2022	Cliff at Christmas		BBC2

Theatre Performances

Cliff Richard has also performed in several stage musicals and plays.

• Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp: music by the Shadows and Norrie Paramor
• Cinderella: music by the Shadows and Norrie Paramor
• Five Finger Exercise by Peter Shaffer
• The Potting Shed by Graham Greene
• Time: music by Dave Clark
• Heathcliff: music by John Farrar and lyrics by Sir Tim Rice
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (pre-recorded) guest appearance as the Magic Mirror

Awards and Recognitions

Cliff Richard has received many awards throughout his long career.

Brit Awards

• 1977: Best British male solo artist
• 1982: Best British male solo artist
• 1989: Lifetime achievement: Outstanding contribution to music (not including the Shadows)

The Sun Reader Polls

• 1970: Male Pop Personality
• 1971: Top Male Pop Personality
• 1972: Top Male Pop Personality

NME Reader Polls

• 1958: Best New Disc or TV Singer
• 1959: UK Male Singer
• 1959: Best Single: "Living Doll"
• 1960: Best UK Single: "Living Doll"
• 1961: UK Male Singer
• 1962: UK Male Singer
• 1963: UK Male Singer
• 1963: Best World Male Singer
• 1964: UK Male Singer
• 1964: UK Vocal Personality
• 1965: UK Male Singer
• 1966: UK Male Singer
• 1966: UK Vocal Personality
• 1967: UK Vocal Personality
• 1968: UK Vocal Personality
• 1969: British Vocal Personality
• 1970: UK Male Singer
• 1970: UK Vocal Personality
• 1970: World's Best Recording Artist of the '60s
• 1971: UK Male Singer
• 1971: British Vocal Personality
• 1972: UK Male Singer
• 1972: British Vocal Personality

Ivor Novello

• 1968: Most Performed Work: "Congratulations" by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter
• 1970: Outstanding Services to Music

Melody Maker

• 1959: Best Male Singer
• 1960: Top British Male Singer
• 1962: The Emen Award: Top male singer
• 1962: Top British Male Singer
• 1962: Top single of the year: "The Young Ones"
• 1963: Best Male Singer
• 1964: Best Male Singer
• 1965: Best UK Male Singer
• 1967: Top Male Singer

Disc & Music Echo

• 1967: Best-Dressed Male
• 1968: Best-Dressed Male
• 1969: Best-Dressed Male
• 1970: Top British Male Singer
• 1970: Best-Dressed Male
• 1970: Mr. Valentine
• 1971: Mr. Valentine

Bravo Magazine (West Germany)

• 1964: Best Male Singer: Gold
• 1964: Year End Singles Charts: 1. "Sag 'no' Zu Ihm" ("Don't talk to him")
• 1965: Best Male Singer: Gold
• 1980: Top International Male Singer

Record Mirror

• 1961: Record Mirror Survey: Most successful chart records 1958–1961: No. 1: Cliff Richard, "Living Doll" (Richard had three of the top five records and two more in the Top 50)
• 1964: Record Mirror Poll: Best-Dressed Singer in the World

1960s

• 1961: Royal Variety Club: Show Business Personality
• 1961: Weekend Magazine: Star of Stars
• 1962: Motion Picture Herald Box-Office Survey of 1962: Most Popular Male Film Actor
• 1963: Motion Picture Herald Box-Office Survey of 1963: Most Popular Male Film Actor
• 1963: 16 (US Magazine): Most Promising Singer
• 1964: Billboard (US magazine): Best Recording Artist UK
• 1969: Valentine Magazine: Mr Valentine

1970s

• 1970: National Viewers' and Listeners' Association: Outstanding Contribution to Religious Broadcasting and Light Entertainment
• 1971: Record Mirror: UK Male Singer
• 1974: Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Committee: Silver Clef: Outstanding Services to the Music Industry
• 1977: The Songwriters' Guild of Great Britain: Golden Badge Award
• 1979: Music Week: Special Award for 21 years as successful recording artistes: Cliff Richard and the Shadows
• 1979: EMI Records: Gold Clock and Gold Key award: EMI celebrates 21-year partnership with Richard

1980s

• 1980: Richard receives O.B.E. from the Queen
• 1980: BBC TV Multi-Coloured Swap Shop: Best UK Male Vocalist
• 1980: National Pop And Rock Awards: Best Family Entertainer
• 1980: Nationwide, in conjunction with Radio 1 and the Daily Mirror: Best Family Entertainer
• 1981: Sunday Telegraph Readers Poll: Top Pop Star
• 1981: Daily Mirror Readers Award: Outstanding Music Personality of the Year
• 1989: The Lifetime Achievement Diamond Award (Antwerp)

1990s

• 1995: American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers: Pied Piper Award (Richard became the first British recipient of Ascap's coveted Pied Piper Award, which recognises outstanding contributions to the songwriter and music community)
• 1995: The formal investiture of Richard as Knight Bachelor took place at 10.30 a.m. in Buckingham Palace on Wednesday 25 October
• 1998: Dutch Edison: Lifetime Achievement Award

2000s

• 2000: South Bank Awards: Outstanding Achievement Award
• 2003: British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors: Gold Badge of Merit
• 2003: Lawn Tennis Association: 20 Years of Service to Tennis Award
• 2004: Induction into UK Music Hall of Fame (representing the 1950s: Cliff and the Shadows)
• 2004: Ultimate Pop Star (No. 1 singles recording artist in UK)
• 2005: Avenue of Stars (star on the pavement, London)
• 2005: Rose D'or Music Festival (Paris): Golden Rose
• 2006: Commander of the Portuguese Order of Prince Henry (awarded for services to Portugal)

2010s

• 2011: The National German Sustainability Award

See also

In Spanish: Cliff Richard para niños

• Best selling music artists
• List of celebrities who own wineries and vineyards
• Cliff – The Musical