Bruce Welch (born Bruce Cripps, 2 November
1941 in Bognor
Regis, Sussex,
England)
is an English
guitarist,
songwriter,
producer
and singer,
best known as a member of The Shadows.
Welch grew up with his Aunt Sadie in Chester
le Street, County Durham. After learning to play
the guitar,
he formed a Tyneside skiffle band called The Railroaders when he
was fourteen. His Rutherford Grammar School friend Brian Rankin (later
to be known as Hank Marvin, joined the group
and they travelled to London in 1958 for the final of a talent
competition. Although they did not win, they joined with members of
other entrant bands and formed The Five Chesternuts with Pete Chester
(born 1942),
son of comedian Charlie Chester on drums. in
September 1958 Welch and Marvin joined The Drifters, later to become
The Shadows, as Cliff Richard's backing band.
As well as success with The Shadows, Welch also acted as producer for
(among others) Cliff Richard and songwriter for his ex-fiancée, Olivia
Newton-John. He also released a solo single "Please, Mr Please", which
was not commercially successful, even though the song has been covered
by several recording artists.
Among songs written or co-written by Welch are the Shadows' hits
"Foot Tapper" and "The Rise And Fall Of Flingel Bunt", Marvin Welch
& Farrar's "Faithful" and "My Home Town", and Cliff Richard
hits "In The Country", "Summer Holiday", and "I Could Easily Fall (In
Love With You)".
He was the musical consultant for the West
End musical Buddy.
Welch plays occasionally with his second band, the Moonlight
Shadows, a Shadows-style band with Phil Kelly taking Hank Marvin's
place on lead
guitar.
He was appointed OBE (Officer of the
Order of the British Empire) in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours List
for services to music.
See also
- List of
bands/musicians from North East England
