Dickie Pride

Dickie Pride (21 October 1941 — 26 March 1969) was a British rock and roll singer. He was one of Larry Parnes' stable of pop music stars, who did not enjoy as successful a career as most of his contemporaries. He was born Richard Charles Kneller at 74 Parchmore Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey. As a boy Richard Kneller visited the Royal School of Church Music in Croydon, where a career as an opera singer was suggested. Later on Pride was a member of a skiffle group, the Semi-Tones. Knellar had several poorly paid jobs. Russ Conway heard him performing at the Castle public house in Tooting, South London. Conway recommended him to Larry Parnes, who immediately signed him. Parnes gave him his stage name, Dickie Pride. At 16, he gave his first...