David Essex

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About David Essex

David Essex, born David Albert Cook on 23 July 1947 in Plaistow, in London's East End, is an English singer-songwriter and actor.

David Essex, born David Albert Cook on 23 July 1947 in Plaistow, in London's East End, is an English singer-songwriter and actor. The son of an East End docker and an Irish Traveller mother, he began recording in 1965, initially working as a drummer before moving to lead vocals, and released his first single, "And the Tears Came Tumbling Down," on Fontana Records that year.

He broke through in 1973 with the film That'll Be the Day, in which he starred, and its accompanying single "Rock On," a spare, echo-laden production that sold over a million copies and reached number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Between 1973 and 1994 he placed nineteen singles in the UK Top 40, including two number ones, "Gonna Make You a Star" (1974) and "Hold Me Close" (1975), and sixteen albums in the Top 40.

Alongside his recording career, Essex established himself in musical theatre and film, starring as Che in the original 1978 West End production of Evita, for which he received an Olivier Award nomination, and appearing in the 1980 film Silver Dream Racer. He later took the role of Eddie Moon in the BBC soap EastEnders (2011). He was appointed OBE in 1999 for charitable services, particularly to Voluntary Service Overseas.

Essex remains a significant figure in British pop and stage history despite limited recognition in the United States, and continues to tour and release music.

Sources

• Wikipedia
• Wikipedia