Sir Thomas Hicks OBE AKA Tommy Steele The full story in Kenny Denton's memoir "There Ain't No Rules In Rock n Roll"
Thomas Hicks, professionally recognised as Tommy Steele, was an English entertainer celebrated as Britain's inaugural teenage heartthrob and pioneer of rock 'n' roll. Born in Bermondsey, London, he was the child of Thomas Walter Hicks and Elizabeth Ellen Bennett, who were married in Bermondsey in 1933.
Tommy Steele came to prominence when a freelance photographer named John Kennedy spotted his potential as Britain's answer to Elvis Presley. In just six weeks, Steele ascended to top billing in numerous variety shows. Following his discovery at the 2i’s Coffee Bar, he swiftly delivered a string of chart topping singles, including, “Rock with the Caveman” and “Singing the Blues”. During his early career, he released his first three singles at a rapid pace with a new one hitting the shelves every three weeks. As the 1950s and 1960s witnessed a surge in homegrown musical talent, Steele transitioned to a successful career in stage and film musicals, leaving his pop-idol persona behind. On the West End stage, he took on the lead role of Hans Christian Andersen. In the world of cinema, he reprised his stage role, from both London and Broadway, in Half a Sixpence and assumed character roles in The Happiest Millionaire, although some critics felt his on-screen persona was somewhat overpowering. In Finian’s Rainbow, what is likely his most recognised film performance,
During the early 1970s, Tommy happened to own a modest West London recording studio known as Recorded Sound, located just minutes away from Pye Studios on Bryanston Street. In my quest for an encounter with him, I often dropped by to visit a friend who worked there and to enjoy a cup of coffee, all in the hope that fate would eventually bring me face to face with Tommy in his studio. I longed for the chance to meet the man I had once aspired to be like.
Sadly, two years passed without so much as a glimpse of the elusive Mr. Steele, let alone the opportunity for a handshake.
In the early 70s I was working at De Lane Lea in Wembley when, as luck would have it, a two-day weekend booking materialised to record the music for a Tommy Steele TV special. I immediately went after securing the job as engineer. Unfortunately, the television company adhered to stringent union regulations that dictated only their own engineers could handle the recording sessions.
Despite not having any work obligations that particular weekend, I made a conscious decision to linger around the studio's restaurant, hoping for an opportunity to cross paths with Tommy Steele himself. But much to my disappointment he never made an appearance during those sessions.
It was during the 90s that fate would bring me into contact with Tommy's daughter, Emma Steele. She booked a session at my studio, KD's, to record a couple of tracks. At the time our son Nathan was working alongside me and due to their similar ages, he and Emma quickly formed a close friendship.
The full story in Kenny Denton's memoir "There Ain't No Rules In Rock n Roll"
