LAST RECORD FOR SINGER WHO BEAT ELVIS TO TOP SPOT
MORE than 50 years after becoming the first Welshman to have a number one chart hit, Ricky Valance has released his final song. Valance’s 1960 song Tell Laura I Love Her made rock ’n’ roll history when it sold more than a million copies, beating Elvis Presley to the e number one slot.
Now 57 years later,ter, the Ynsyddu-born singer has been back in the studio to record Welcome Home, which he hopes will raise £1m for r the Royal Air Force Association – £1 for or every record he sold in 1960.
After a heart attacktack two years ago the former miner, who o got his break when a producer heard him singing in a London pub, said he had to slow down. But he was determined ed to record one last song.
Valance, who turnsurns 81 in April, has dedicated his retirement irement recording to the RAF Association. on.
Born David Spencer,encer, he joined the RAF aged 17 after leaving school to follow his father down wn the mines aged 15.
He says he saww the RAF as a way to get out of the valleys,, which held little prospect, and out of the mine, which was damaging his health.
“My father told me to get out of the pit and the dust so I joined the RAF.
“I wanted to get t back in the saddlee and record again in and I wanted my retirement song to mean something so I am dedicating it to the RAF Association on because joining the RAF was my wayy of getting out of the valleys.”
Valance still visits his sister in Blainaa and relatives in Abertillerytillery but says he doesn’t get home to Wales as much as he’d like.
But he says tuning into television talent show The Voice with Tom Jones reminds him of home.
“Some of the singers on The Voice are damned good. I met Tom Jones and our paths crossed during my career.”
Leaving Nine Mine Colliery for the RAF, Ricky – who is now a great-grandfather – was determined to make singing his career and said it was a dream come true to sign to Columbia Records. After Tell Laura I Love Her, he had a string of
other hits including Jimmy’s Girl, which sold more than 100,000 copies and was number one in Austria and Scandinavia, and Movin’ Away, which also made it to number one in Australia and Scandinavia. His singles Why Can’t We and Don’t Play Number 9 also made it into the UK Top 50 in the 1960s. He lives in Skegness with wife Evelyn, who is from Abertillery.