Vince Hill

Hill first sang professionally in a public house called The Prospect in Margate, Kent, when he was fifteen years old.[4][5] However, the decision to become a full-time musician came after he had worked as baker, truck driver and coal miner.[5]

His first lucky break as a singer came when he read an advert in the Melody Maker magazine, which said The Band of the Royal Corps Of Signals needed a vocalist. He travelled to Catterick camp in Yorkshire where the band was based, did the audition and got the job. This offered Hill a way to do his National Service as well as experience performing all around the world.[3] After completing his military service, he toured with the musical Florodora, and he then became a singer with Teddy Foster's Band, a big band based in London.[4] At the beginning of the 1960s, Hill joined the critically acclaimed British vocal group, The Raindrops, which gave him his first opportunity to perform in television and radio shows, especially on the BBC radio show Parade of the Pops.[4] The Raindrops also had in its ranks Jackie Lee, Len Beadle and Johnny Worth.[4] After leaving The Raindrops, Lee went on to record the popular singles "White Horses", and "Rupert", whilst Johnny Worth worked as a songwriter (under his pen-name, Les Vandyke he wrote many hits including the early successes of Eden Kane and Adam Faith).[4]

By late 1961, Hill left The Raindrops for a fledgling solo career.[4][5] His debut entry in the UK Singles Chart was the Vandyke penned "The River's Run Dry", which went to No. 41 in June 1962.[4][6] In 1963, he participated in A Song for Europe, the UK heat of the Eurovision Song Contest, with another Vandyke penned song, "A Day at the Seaside".[4] The next few years proved fallow, as a succession of single releases failed to chart.[4]

In January 1965, Hill was offered an international recording contract with the EMI group which signed him to their Columbia label.[3] His first Top 20 chart success with his new label came a year later with "Take Me To Your Heart Again" – Hill's cover of the Édith Piaf hit, "La Vie En Rose", which climbed to no. 13 on the UK Singles Chart in 1966.[4][6]

"Roses of Picardy", composed during the First World War, was another Top 20 success, reaching No. 13 in the summer of 1967.[4][6] Further notable songs that he recorded included "Heartaches" (no. 28, 1966); "Merci Cherie" (written by the Austrian singer Udo Jürgens), which was the winning song in the Eurovision Song Contest 1966, (no. 36, 1966); "Love Letters in the Sand" (no. 23, 1967); "The Importance of Your Love" (music by Gilbert Bécaud; English lyrics by Norman Newell) and "Look Around (And You'll Find Me There)".[4][6] The latter track, taken from the soundtrack to the film, Love Story was another Top 20 hit, but proved to be his chart swansong, peaking at no. 12 in the latter half of 1971.[4][6]

His most successful hit was his cover recording of the Rodgers and Hammerstein song "Edelweiss",[4] from their 1959 musical The Sound of Music. The recording was a no. 2 hit in the UK Singles Chart in March 1967.[4][6] It was to become his signature tune for the rest of his career, which saw him top the bill at the London Palladium and Talk of the Town.[5] His album Edelweiss was also a hit album for EMI Columbia.[6]

Although known mainly for his voice, Hill was also a songwriter, and composed many songs with his musical director Ernie Dunstall. These were used on his studio albums and flip sides to his singles of the day. The Dunstall-Hill composition "Why Or Where Or When" was also notably recorded by Mr. Lee Grant and topped the New Zealand charts in 1968, whilst "I Never Did As I Was Told" was covered by Broadway star Robert Goulet in 1971.[3]

The overall winner of the 1973 Castlebar Song Contest with "I'm Gonna Make It" sung by Joe Cuddy.[7]

Hill's long-term recording contract with EMI Columbia came to an end in 1974, by which time he had released 14 studios albums and countless singles.[3]

In 1975, Hill signed to a new recording deal with CBS Records where he released a further three studio albums of contemporary song material.[4] Hill also continued to perform regularly in clubs, cabaret and various stage productions.

In 1976, Hill's life and career was celebrated when he was made the subject of an episode of This Is Your Life (presented by Eamonn Andrews).

During the seventies, Hill also made his début as a television host; his first series was for BBC television; They Sold A Million (1973). Next was the hugely successful The Musical Time Machine which began in 1975. Both series co-starred The Young Generation. Vince also hosted his own prime-time television show in Canada called Vince Hill At The Club, which was also aired in the United States of America.[3]

From the eighties onwards, Hill concentrated mainly on his live performances and continued to play all the top venues around the world, including London Palladium, Royal Albert Hall, Sydney Opera House and Talk of the Town, as well as appearing on cruise ships.[3] He would also continue to make guest appearances on popular television shows of the day, such as The Golden Shot, Seaside Special, Rainbow, The Good Old Days, 3-2-1 , Blankety Blank and Cash in the Attic.[8]

In 1982, Hill added acting to his CV, in the BBC radio drama, Tolpuddle (which he also wrote).[3] In 1983 he wrote and performed the song “It’s Maggie for me” as part of the 1983 general election campaign in support of Margaret Thatcher.[9] In 1988, ITV gave Hill his own midday entertainment show, Gas Street in which he made his début as a TV presenter and interviewer; the show also co-starred Suzi Quatro.[3]

In 1990, Hill took to the stage to play Ivor Novello in the stage play, My Dearest Ivor.[5] He also wrote the stage musical, Zodiac.[5] Hill’s stage acting continued thereafter and notably included a starring role as the cowardly lion in an adaptation of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of The Wizard Of Oz.[3]

In 2004, Hill was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent successful keyhole surgery. A year later, following a routine blood test, it was discovered he also had chronic myeloid leukaemia. Following extensive treatment, the illness was brought under control.[10]

In 2010, Hill published his autobiography, Another Hill to Climb (Bank House Books), in collaboration with Nick Charles.

In April 2012, Hill came out of semi-retirement to make a successful return to the stage for 'one night only' where he performed in a big band night at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. Vince recalls, "It was an absolute success — we sold out and I got a standing ovation. At that point, I just thought, ‘I’ve finished, that’ll do for me’.".[11]

In January 2014, Hill lost his only son, Athol, who was found dead aged 42.[12]

Hill and his wife Annie, who died in September 2016,[13] lived at their Oxfordshire home, close to the River Thames. The couple had two grandchildren.[3]

In March 2018, Vince came out of retirement again when he returned to the stage in The Good Old Days of Variety at the Cast in Doncaster.[14]

In September 2018, Vince appeared in his 'Final Farewell Show' at the Kenton Theatre in Henley on Thames.[15]

In December 2018, Vince was billed to host an event celebrating the BFI's Missing Believed Wiped at 25 at BFI Southbank.[16]

In December 2019, Vince was billed to play Baron Hard-up in Cinderella 2 – The Mrs Charming Years at Kenton Theatre in Henley on Thames. [17]

• Tolpuddle
• Zodiac
• My Dearest Ivor

• List of performers on Top of the Pops

• BBC Biography
• Official Vince Hill Website Discography
• Vince Hill recalls his appearance on This Is Your Life
• Biography and discography
• Vince Hill on IMDb