Jackie Dennis
Encyclopedia
Jackie Dennis was discovered by the comedians Mike and Bernie Winters
in 1958. The brothers brought him to the attention of the show business agent Eve Taylor
, and he appeared on the television program
me, Six-Five Special
, at the age of 15, and a subsequent film
spin-off.
singer enjoyed seven successful years in the world of show business and toured the world. "La Dee Dah" was his biggest UK
hit
, reaching #4 in the UK Singles Chart
, while his cover
of Sheb Wooley
's "Purple People Eater
" was his second and final UK hit peaking at #29.
Dennis appeared Perry Como
's US
television show, where he was introduced as 'Britain's Ricky Nelson
' performing the song "Linton Addie".
Dennis now works as a nursing home
carer and lives in Pilton Park, Edinburgh with wife Irene, who he has been married to for over 25 years. He has a stepson Steven, stepdaughter Susan, and adopted son Andrew, as well as seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Mike & Bernie Winters
Mike & Bernie Winters were English brothers who formed a comedy double act, consisting of Mike Winters, born Michael Weinstein and Bernie Winters, born Bernie Weinstein...
in 1958. The brothers brought him to the attention of the show business agent Eve Taylor
Eve Taylor
Eve Taylor is notable as one of the early female music managers. She is particularly notable for her management of singers Sandi Shaw and Adam Faith, and of composer John Barry.-History:...
, and he appeared on the television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
me, Six-Five Special
Six-Five Special
The Six-Five Special is a British television programme launched in February 1957 when both television and rock and roll were in their infancy in Britain.-Description:...
, at the age of 15, and a subsequent film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
spin-off.
Chart success
The kilt-wearing, spiky-haired popPop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer enjoyed seven successful years in the world of show business and toured the world. "La Dee Dah" was his biggest UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
, reaching #4 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, while his cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Sheb Wooley
Sheb Wooley
Shelby F. "Sheb" Wooley was a character actor and singer, best known for his 1958 novelty song "Purple People Eater"...
's "Purple People Eater
Purple People Eater
"Purple People Eater" is a novelty song, written and performed by Sheb Wooley, that reached #1 in the Billboard pop charts in 1958.-Composition:...
" was his second and final UK hit peaking at #29.
Dennis appeared Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
's US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television show, where he was introduced as 'Britain's Ricky Nelson
Ricky Nelson
Eric Hilliard Nelson , better known as Ricky Nelson or Rick Nelson, was an American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor...
' performing the song "Linton Addie".
Dennis now works as a nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
carer and lives in Pilton Park, Edinburgh with wife Irene, who he has been married to for over 25 years. He has a stepson Steven, stepdaughter Susan, and adopted son Andrew, as well as seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Singles
- "La De Dah" / "You're the Greatest" (DeccaDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
F 10992) - "Miss Valerie" / "My Dream" (Decca F 11011)
- "The Purple People Eater" / "You-oo" (Decca F 11033)
- "More Than Ever" / "Linton Addie" (Decca F 11060)
- "Lucky Ladybug" / "Gingerbread" (Decca F 11090)
- "The Wee Cooper O' Fife" / "Come Along" (Decca F 11120)