Jackie Dennis (8 October 1942 – 28 September 2020) was a Scottish singer. He 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 Eve Taylor (born Evelyn Henshall, 28 February 1915 – 31 August 1983) was a British talent manager, notable as one of the early female music managers. She managed singers Adam Faith, Sandie Shaw and Val Doonican, and composer John Barry, ...

, and he appeared on the

television program Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, e ...

me, ''

Six-Five Special ''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 ''Six-Five Special'' was the BBC's first attempt at a rock-and-roll programme. ...

'', at the age of 15, and in a subsequent

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

spin-off.

Chart success

The

kilt A kilt ( gd, fèileadh ; Irish: ''féileadh'') is a garment resembling a wrap-around knee-length skirt, made of twill woven worsted wool with heavy pleats at the sides and back and traditionally a tartan pattern. Originating in the Scottish Hi ...

-wearing, spiky-haired pop singer enjoyed seven successful years in the show business and toured the world. "La Dee Dah" was his biggest UK

hit Hit means to strike someone or something. Hit or HIT may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities * Hit, a fictional character from '' Dragon Ball Super'' * Homicide International Trust, or HIT, a fictional organization ...

, reaching number 4 in the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

in 1958, whilst his

cover Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of co ...

of Sheb Wooley's "

Purple People Eater Purple is any of a variety of colors with hue between red and blue. In the RGB color model used in computer and television screens, purples are produced by Additive color, mixing red and blue light. In the RYB color model historically used b ...

" was his second and final UK hit, peaking at number 29. Dennis appeared on

Perry Como Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como (; May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was an Italian-American singer, actor and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century, he recorded exclusively for RCA Victor for 44 years, after signing ...

's US television show, where he was introduced as 'Britain's

Ricky Nelson Eric Hilliard Nelson (May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985) was an American musician, songwriter and actor. From age eight he starred alongside his family in the radio and television series ''The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet''. In 1957, he bega ...

' performing the song "Linton Addie". He latterly worked as a nursing home carer, before retiring and living in

Pilton, Edinburgh Pilton is a residential area of northern Edinburgh, Scotland. It is to the north of Ferry Road, immediately east of Muirhouse, and to the west and south of Granton, Edinburgh, Granton (the Boswall, Royston Mains and Wardieburn neighbourhoods). ...

, with wife Irene, to whom he was married for over 30 years. He died in September 2020 at the age of 77.

Discography

Singles

*"La Dee Dah" / "You're the Greatest" (1958) (

Decca Decca may refer to: Music * Decca Records or Decca Music Group, a record label * Decca Gold, a classical music record label owned by Universal Music Group * Decca Broadway, a musical theater record label * Decca Studios, a recording facility in W ...

F 10992) *"Miss Valerie" / "My Dream" (1958) (Decca F 11011) *"

The Purple People Eater "The Purple People Eater" is a novelty song written and performed by Sheb Wooley, which reached No. 1 in the ''Billboard'' pop charts in 1958 from June 9 to July 14, No. 1 in Canada, reached No. 12 overall in the UK Singles Chart, and topped ...

" / "You-oo" (1958) (Decca F 11033) *"More Than Ever" / "Linton Addie" (1958) (Decca F 11060) *"Lucky Ladybug" / "Gingerbread" (1958) (Decca F 11090) *"The Wee Cooper O' Fife" / "Come Along" (1959) (Decca F 11120) *"Summer Snow" / "Night Bird" (1959) (Top Rank JAR 129)

References

External links

*
Entry at 45cat.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dennis, Jackie 1942 births 2020 deaths Musicians from Edinburgh 20th-century Scottish male singers Scottish pop singers