Peter Sarstedt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Sarstedt
|
|
|---|---|
Sarstedt in 1969
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Peter Eardley Sarstedt |
| Also known as | Peter Lincoln (briefly recorded as in 1967) |
| Born | 10 December 1941 New Delhi, British India |
| Origin | Croydon, London, England |
| Died | 8 January 2017 (aged 75) Sussex, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1967–2010 |
| Labels | United Artists Island Records Angel Air Singer Records Warner |
| Associated acts |
|
Peter Sarstedt was a British singer and songwriter. He was born on December 10, 1941, and passed away on January 8, 2017. He was the brother of singers Eden Kane and Clive Sarstedt. Sometimes, they even performed together as 'The Sarstedt Brothers'!
Even though his music was called pop, it often sounded more like gentle folk songs than loud rock and roll. He became famous for his song "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?". This song was number one in the UK in 1969. It was like a story in a song, and it won a special award called an Ivor Novello Award. This song was his biggest hit. He had one more popular song and album, but he didn't have big chart success again after that.
Peter Sarstedt released an album called England's Lane in 1997. He kept touring, mostly in shows that celebrated music from the 1960s. He stopped performing in 2010 because he wasn't feeling well.
Contents
Early life
Peter Sarstedt was born in New Delhi in 1941. At that time, India was under British rule, known as British India. His family had lived in India for a long time. His parents were both trained in classical music.
After India became independent from Britain in 1947, Peter's parents managed a tea plantation in a place called Darjeeling. Peter went to a boarding school there. Later, his family moved to Calcutta. In 1954, Peter's father passed away, and the family moved to Britain. They settled in south London just as rock 'n' roll music was becoming popular. Peter and his brothers started a skiffle group called the Fabulous Five.
Peter was the younger brother of Eden Kane, a pop star from the 1960s. Peter sometimes sang backup for Eden and even played bass for a short time. He was also the older brother of another pop singer, Clive Sarstedt.
Career
Hit recordings
Peter Sarstedt was best known for his song "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?". This song became number one in the UK in 1969. It was about a girl named Marie-Claire who grew up poor but became part of the fancy European "jet set." The song was number one in 14 different countries! It also won an Ivor Novello Award in 1970 for being the Best Song Musically and Lyrically. Peter later said his first wife, Anita, inspired the song.
His first album in 1969 reached number eight on the British music charts. His next song, "Frozen Orange Juice," reached number 10 in the UK in 1969. However, other songs he released after that didn't become big hits. Some of his other recorded songs include "Beirut" and "I Am a Cathedral."
An instrumental song from his first album, called "Overture," was used as theme music for a famous public service announcement in America.
Touring and later music
In the 1980s and 1990s, Peter Sarstedt often toured in the southern UK. He was part of "Solid Silver '60s" tours, which featured artists from the 1960s. He had moved back to England after living in Denmark for several years.
In the 1990s and 2000s, he kept releasing new albums and going on tour. In 1997, he released England's Lane. This album included a song called "The Last of the Breed," which continued the story from "Where Do You Go To." In 2007, he released an album of new songs called On Song.
Popular culture
People became interested in his music again when "Where Do You Go To" was used in two films by Wes Anderson in 2007: Hotel Chevalier and The Darjeeling Limited. In 2012, a collection of his demo songs (early versions of songs) was released.
Peter Sarstedt's last album, Restless Heart, came out in 2013. He performed live for the last time in 2010.
Personal life and death
Peter Sarstedt married Anita Atke in 1969 and moved to Denmark. They divorced five years later. His second wife was Joanna Meill. From 2013, he lived in a retirement home in Sussex, England. He was diagnosed with a condition called progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) in 2015. He passed away on January 8, 2017, at 75 years old. He is survived by his wife and two adult children.
Siblings
Peter Sarstedt had two brothers who were also singers:
- "Rick" Sarstedt (born Richard Graham Sarstedt, March 29, 1940, in New Delhi, India). He was known as Eden Kane and had a number one hit in the UK in 1961 with "Well I Ask You."
- Robin Sarstedt (born Clive Robin Sarstedt, January 21, 1944, in Ajmer, Rajasthan, India). He was the youngest brother. He had a hit song in 1976 called "My Resistance Is Low."
Discography
Peter Sarstedt released many songs and albums during his career. He put out 15 albums over 50 years. His first album, Peter Sarstedt, reached number 8 on the UK Albums Chart in 1969.
See also
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
- List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1960s
- List of performers on Top of the Pops
- United Artists Records
