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Shakin' Stevens (born Michael Barrett, March 4, 1948) is a Welsh rock and roll singer born in Cardiff, who has the distinction of being the top selling UK singles artist of the 1980s. He began his career fronting Shakin' Stevens and the Sunsets, a 1950s influenced rock'n'roll outfit. An early break for the band arrived when they were given a support slot for the Rolling Stones in December 1969. Despite landing a recording contract with Parlophone the following year, the band found success hard to come by (at least in their native Great Britain, though they had hit singles in other countries).
His recording career spans more than 35 years, although it was not until 1980 that he saw commercial success in his native land. In the UK alone Stevens has charted no less than 33 top 40 hit singles in the sales charts, making him one of the most charted (and biggest selling) acts of all-time.
He was the youngest of 11 children born in Ely, South Glamorgan to Jack and May Barratt. His father was a Great War veteran who by 1948 was working in the building trade. The oldest of his siblings were born in the later part of the 1920s, and by the time of his birth some of them were already married and had children of their own. Jack Barratt died in 1972 at the age of 75, while May survived until 1984 and the age of 79.
Shaky married his wife Carole on 7 October 1967 and they have three children.
He began his career during the mid 1960s, fronting Shakin' Stevens and the Sunsets, managed by Paul Barrett. The Sunsets were a 1950s influenced rock'n'roll outfit from Penarth, South Glamorgan. An early break for the band arrived when they were given a support slot for The Rolling Stones in December 1969. Despite landing a recording contract with Parlophone Records the following year, the band found success hard to come by, at least in their native Great Britain, though they had hit singles in other countries. After seven years of constant touring and recording, Shaky left the band in 1977 and gained a lead role in Jack Good's "Elvis!" musical.
Regular TV appearances on the revamped TV show Oh Boy led eventually to his first chart success, a reworked version of a Buck Owens song "Hot Dog", which Owens would go on to re-record using Stevens arrangement which had been created by pedal steel guitar player B.J. Cole.
In 1979, Shaky signed what was to be his most successful management deal with Freya Miller, and in 1981, he had his first UK number 1 with "This Ole House" and would have 10 more songs reach the top 5, including three number 1 hits with "Green Door", "Oh Julie" and "Merry Christmas Everyone", while "You Drive Me Crazy" and "A Love Worth Waiting For" reached number 2 in 1981 and 1984 respectively.
His 1984 hit "Teardrops" featured Hank B. Marvin on guitar and Stevens has often featured famous musicians such as Albert Lee, Roger Taylor, Bonnie Tyler and more recently Tony Joe White on his recordings. In the mid 80s, Stevens reunited with former producer Dave Edmunds to record an album Lipstick, Powder and Paint and the Christmas smash Merry Christmas Everyone, which was a number 1 hit over Christmas 1985. Its release was put back one year to avoid coinciding with the runaway success of Band Aid.
"A Rockin' Good Way" (credited to "Shakey and Bonnie", i.e. Shakin' Stevens and Bonnie Tyler)(1984) Epic (UK #5, Austria #9, Germany #22, Ireland #1, Netherlands #8, Norway #4, Sweden #11, Switzerland #10) "A Love Worth Waiting For" (1984) Epic (UK #2, Austria #13, Germany #26, Ireland #2) "A Letter To You" (1984) Epic (UK #10, Germany #44, Switzerland #21) "Teardrops" (1984) Epic (UK #5, Austria #14, Germany #25, Ireland #5) "Breaking Up My Heart" (1985) Epic (UK #14, Austria #23, Germany #31, Ireland #7) "Lipstick Powder And Paint" (1985) Epic (UK #11, Austria #24, Germany #52, Ireland #11, Switzerland #22) "Merry Christmas Everyone" (1985) Epic (UK #1, Germany #75, Ireland #3) "Turning Away" (1986) Epic (UK #15, Ireland #11) "Because I Love You" (1986) Epic (UK #14, Ireland #13) "A Little Boogie Woogie (In the Back of My Mind) (1987) Epic (UK #12, Ireland #9) "Come See About Me" (1987) Epic (UK #24, Ireland #15) "What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For" (1987) Epic (UK #5, Ireland #8) "Feel The Need In Me" (1988) Epic (UK #26, Ireland #17) "How Many Tears Can You Hide" (1988) Epic (UK #47) "True Love" (1988) Epic (UK #23) "Jezebel" (1989) Epic (UK #58) "Love Attack" (1989) Epic (UK #28, Ireland #27)
Last edited by wills on 14th June 2008, 8:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Take One (1980) Epic - Released On LP, Cassette & CD Marie Marie (1980) Epic - Released On LP & Cassette This Ole House (1981) Epic - Released On LP, Cassette & CD Shaky - Green Door (1981) Epic - Released On LP, Cassette & CD Hot Dog (1982) Epic - Released On LP & Cassette Give Me Your Heart Tonight (1982) Epic - Released On LP, Cassette & CD The Bop Won't Stop (1983) Epic - Released On LP, Cassette & CD Greatest Hits (1984) Epic - Released On LP, Cassette & CD Lipstick Powder And Paint (1985) Epic - Released On LP, Cassette & CD Let's Boogie (1987) Epic - Released On LP, Cassette & CD A Whole Lotta Shaky (1988) Epic - Released On LP, Cassette & CD
Last edited by wills on 14th June 2008, 8:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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