Twinkle (singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Twinkle
|
|
|---|---|
.png)
Twinkle in 1964
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lynn Annette Ripley |
| Also known as | Twinkle Ripley |
| Born | 15 July 1948 Surbiton, Surrey, England |
| Died | 21 May 2015 (aged 66) Isle of Wight, England |
| Genres | Pop music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1963–1980s |
| Labels | Decca Records |
Lynn Annette Ripley (born 15 July 1948 – died 21 May 2015) was an English singer and songwriter. She was known by her stage name Twinkle. In the 1960s, she became famous for her songs "Terry" and "Golden Lights".
Contents
About Twinkle's Life
Her Early Years
Lynn Annette Ripley was born in Surbiton, England. Her family called her Twinkle from a young age. She went to Queen's Gate School. Interestingly, Camilla Shand, who later became Queen Consort of the United Kingdom, was also a student there. Twinkle was also the aunt of actress Fay Ripley.
Starting Her Music Career
Twinkle began her music career very quickly at age 16. Her boyfriend at the time, Dec Cluskey, was in a popular group called The Bachelors. He helped her get noticed. Twinkle's father played a demo of her songs for Dec, who then shared it with his manager.
Her song Terry was about a boyfriend who died in a motorcycle accident. Many famous musicians played on the recording, including Big Jim Sullivan and Jimmy Page. These were "session musicians," meaning they were hired to play on recordings but were not part of the main band. The song had a dark and sad mood. It caused a lot of talk and was even banned by the BBC because some people thought it was in bad taste.
More Songs and Challenges
Twinkle wrote her next song, Golden Lights, too. By this time, she was no longer dating Dec Cluskey. The song's lyrics showed that she was not completely happy with the music business. She also recorded "A Lonely Singing Doll," which was an English version of a song that won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1965.
Another song, "Johnny," explored the story of a childhood friend who faced challenges. However, her producers wanted her to make more songs like "Terry." So, they chose other songs for her to sing, like "Tommy" and "The End of the World". Twinkle did not perform live very often. She sang Terry at a big music concert called the New Musical Express hit concerts. After releasing six singles with Decca Records, she stopped making music at 18 in 1966.
Later Music and Legacy
In 1969, Twinkle recorded a new song she wrote called "Micky." It had a sound similar to Motown music. This song was not widely promoted and did not become famous. Later, she recorded more songs inspired by her relationship with Michael Hannah, an actor and model who sadly passed away in 1974. These songs were not released until years later on special collections. Her later recordings were released under the name Twinkle Ripley. She even recorded a song with her father in 1975 under the name "Bill & Coo."
In the 1980s, the band The Smiths covered her song "Golden Lights." It appeared on their albums The World Won't Listen and Louder Than Bombs. Other artists also covered "Terry," including Mandy Smith in 1987.
Some of Twinkle's publicity photos from the 1960s are displayed in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Twinkle's Personal Life
In 1972, Twinkle married Graham Rogers. He was an actor and model known for appearing in Milk Tray chocolate adverts. They had two children, a son named Michael and a daughter named Amber.
Twinkle's Passing
Twinkle passed away on 21 May 2015, at the age of 66. She died on the Isle of Wight after a five-year battle with liver cancer.
Images for kids
-
Twinkle in 1964
