HELEN SHAPIRO
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HELEN was born in Bethnal Green and bought up in Clapton East London.With the release of her singles 'Don't Treat Me Like A Child'[No. 3], 'You Don't Know' [No. 1] and "Tell Me What He Said" [No. 2] at the tender age of fourteen she achieved international stardom, following up these discs with half a dozen more single hits plus best selling EP's and LP's. She appeared many times as a London Palladium headliner and topped the bill in a nationwide tour of Britain with the Beatles as her support act! During this time she won many awards including the Variety Club's Silver Heart as The Most Promising Newcomer, The Melody Maker Award as Britain's Most Popular Female vocalist and runner up to Top World Female Singer. By the age of 19 she'd sold millions of records world-wide and had three silver discs to her credit.
As a bill-topping star she has appeared all over the world and after her first string of international hit records and major TV appearances, moved on to star in pantomime, caberet and films while continuing to release records quite frequently. She has appeared extensively in the theatre including appearances in ; "I'll Get My Man", "How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" and "Never Too Late". In the West End she has appeared in "The French Have A Song For It" and as Nancy in Lionel Bart's "Oliver". She played Sally Bowles in "Cabaret" and created the part of Brenda Welbeloved in the musical "'Ello, 'Ello, ' Ello!". She also starred in the American musical "Seesaw" to great critical acclaim. Helen appeared in 22 episodes of the TV soap opera "Albion Market" and often pops up on TV progammes like "Call My Bluff".
With the release of her album 'Straighten Up and Fly Right' in 1983 the jazz world sat up and took notice of her voice and this led to her fantastically successful concerts with Humphrey Lyttelton and his band, and their big-selling albums 'Echos Of The Duke' and 'Humph 'n' Helen'. They have played to packed houses all over Europe and the UK. Helen teamed up with the late Benny Green for the Johnny Mercer tribute show "The Quality Of Mercer" and the album of this show also proved a great favourite. Humph 'n Helen's latest album is entitled "Sing ,Swing Together". Helen has also guested with The BBC Big Band and THe BBC Concert Orchestra.
In 1990 Helen recorded the first of her phenomenally successful gospel albums entitled 'The Pearl'. This was followed by the equally successful albums 'Kadosh' [1992], and 'Nothing But The Best' [1995], which contained a duet with Cliff Richard. Helen's fourth gospel album is entitled 'Enter Unto his Gates'. Helen's gospel outreach evenings are presented to packed houses all over the UK and she has also presented these evenings in South Africa and Russia.
Helen's autobiography entitled 'Walking Back to Happiness' [what else!] was published in 1993 and she was the gob-smacked subject of 'This Is your Life' in 1995. In 1998 Helen headlined a 50 date sell-out UK tour with The Searchers and The Swinging Blue Jeans. Over the years she regularly performed in concert with Craig 'Only Sixteen' Douglas as her guest. In 1999 Helen's new show with her band, entitled 'Simply Shapiro' was premiered and this has also proved to be a big success. Helen contiues to mix her jazz with her gospel and her pop and regularly records new albums. She is one of our most enduring stars are there are, no doubt, many chapters still to be written in the Helen Shapiro career as she continues to thrill audiences world-wide with that unique voice.
Helen retired from showbusiness at the end of 2002 but continues to tour with her Gospel Outreach evenings
EMI released a 3CD set containing 90 tracks and entitled 'The Ultimate Helen Shapiro' in February 2011. This was to celebrate Helen's 50th Anniversary Copyright © 2011 John Williams...... HELEN SHAPIRO
(see the Manna Music Website) and her new Gospel album is entitled 'What Wondrous Love Is This' (release date 10th February 2010). Helen's very first record was released on 10th February 1961!
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HELEN SHAPIRO
HELEN SHAPIRO
