Tommy Steele: A Life in the Spotlight

In the summer of 1956, while on shore leave from the Merchant Navy, Thomas Hicks was spotted playing a new type of music in a coffee bar in London. Having never heard anything like this ‘rock’ performed in Britain, he became an overnight sensation - never returning to his ship.He changed his name to Tommy Steele and for 65 years he has been Britain’s greatest showman.In a remarkable career spanning radio, records, Broadway and Hollywood, Tommy Steele started the rock revolution in the UK before moving to lighter, family entertainment and becoming a well-loved household name. He received an OBE for Services to Entertainment in 1979 and a knighthood for Services to Entertainment and Charity in 2020.He has conquered the West End, Hollywood and Broadway; holds records for the longest-running one-man-show in the London’s West End and also the record for most appearances at the hallowed London Palladium.However, his remarkable career has never been detailed accurately and comprehensively - until now. Authorized by Sir Tommy Steele himself, A Life in the Spotlight offers readers a detailed insight into the career of an unrivaled entertainment legend, with countless facts, stories, details and anecdotes never before committed to print.Table of Contents1 Ready to Rock 19562 The Golden Year 19573 Rockin’ Around the World 19584 A Handful of Steele 19595 Stooping to Conquer 19606 It’s All Happening 1961-19627 So, This Is Broadway? 1963-19658 The Sixpenny Millionaire 1966-19679 Looking to the Rainbow 1968-196910 Wonderful Applause 1970-197911 What a Glorious Feeling 1980-198912 What A Star! 1990-199913 Steele Going Strong 2000-2021FinaleAppendix 1 ‘If A Picture Paints A Thousand Words’-The artworkAppendix 2 ‘What a Picture!-FilmographyAppendix 3 ‘Tommy Steele and a Show’-The Television specialsAppendix 4 ‘Hit Record’-DiscographyAppendix 5 ‘Come On In!’-The BBC radio seriesAppendix 6 ‘An Evening with Tommy Steele’-The complete stage shows. Read more