Cliff Richard; His Firsts 1940 to 1959 Quiz

Answer: Rodger Harry Webb

His Mum and Dad decided to call him Rodger, after his father and Harry after his Dad's late older brother. At the christening, on the 22nd Nov. 1940, his mother explained this to Cliff's Godmother who replied 'Oh no, it should be Harry Rodger'. The Vicar, hearing this promptly said 'I baptise thee Harry Rodger Webb'.

Frederick William was Cliff's rarely mentioned younger brother, born on 10th June 1942, who died not long after. Thomas Benjamin was Cliff's great grand-father and Brian Rankin is the birth name of Hank Marvin.

Answer: 1948

Both before and after gaining independence from Britain (in 1947) there was widespread unrest throughout India. It was fueled by religious differences as the country prepared to be physically divided into three; India and both West and East Pakistan. Like the majority of those of British blood the Webb's decided to leave. Cliff's dad originally wanted to migrate to Australia, however Cliff's mum wanted to be close to her mother who had already left India and settled in England. They arrived on the 'Ranchi' at Tilbury Docks on the 13th Sept. 1948.

Answer: Elvis

He first heard Elvis singing 'Heartbreak Hotel' on the car radio of a Citroen parked outside a Waltham Cross newsagent's. Not knowing who it was Cliff started listening to the American Armed Forces network for the answer. Once he had the answer he bought the record.

He would take it to school and sing along with it in the 'Prefects' room. Cliff soon had the swept back hair and sideburns as well.

Answer: Bill Haley and The Comets

It was Bill Haley, touring England on the strength of 'Rock Around the Clock', that Cliff saw. Speaking much later of his first rock concert Cliff said 'It's hard for me now to think of anything that has been as good as that [concert].... it was my first encounter. I had never been to a [rock] concert before and suddenly everything that we had heard on the radio was happening right before our eyes'. Cliff would later share the stage with Marty, the Kalin Twins and Phil Everley.

Answer: The 2 I's

The Drifters, formed in January 1958, being Cliff guitar and vocals, Terry Smart on drums and Norman Mitham on guitar, were playing at the 'Five Horseshoes' pub in Hoddesdon when John Foster approached them and said 'I will manage you and get you into the 2 I's in Soho.' They successfully auditioned and got two weeks work at this famous place. During this time Ian (Sammy) Samwell joined them as lead guitarist and a 16 year old girl, Jan Vane, started the fan club which evolved into the first Cliff Richard fan club.

Answer: 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy' & 'Breathless'

'The Drifters' recorded 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy' a Lloyd Price tune that Elvis had recorded and 'Breathless' an Otis Blackwell tune recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis. Only a few weeks before, on the 25th May 1958, John Foster had taken Cliff, Terry Smart and Ian Samwell to a Jerry Lee Lewis concert at the Kilburn State Theatre. Taking the group backstage, John introduced Cliff to Jerry as one of England's top rockers! A photo of this meeting still exists, as do the two historic recordings.

Answer: A dance hall manager wanted the change

Harry Greatorex, a dance hall manager of the Regal Ballroom in Ripley, saw them at the 2 I's. He wanted to book them as a singer with a backing band and felt Harry Webb and The Drifters didn't sound 'Rock'n'Roll' enough. Their manager, John Foster, then took the band to a pub to decide on a name. 'Cliff Richards and The Drifters' was agreed on when Ian Samwell suggested dropping the 's' as a tribute to Little Richard. So on the 3rd May 1958 the 'Regal' poster read 'Direct from the famous Soho 2 I's Coffee Bar - Cliff Richard & The Drifters'.

Answer: Ian (Sammy) Samwell

Ian (Sammy) Samwell wrote 'Move It' on a bus on the way to Cliff's house. It was recorded on 24th July 1958 using two session men, Ernie Shear on lead guitar and Frank Clarke on double bass, with Terry Smart on drums and Ian Samwell rhythm guitar. The story goes that the session engineer had to leave early so his young assistant took over and let the needle go into the red, giving this truly iconic British rock recording that 'edge'.

A short time later Cliff and The Drifters started a two week run at Butlin's Clackton. 'Radio Butlin', the on-site radio station played 'Move It' and Cliff heard his recording on the radio for the first time.

It later peaked at number two on the British charts.

Answer: Serious Charge

Cliff plays the younger brother of a lead character and gets to sing three songs, including 'Living Doll'. The film version is about 176 beats per minute. Re-recorded by Cliff and The Drifters [now Marvin, Welch, Meehan and Harris] at about 126 bpm, it became their first UK number 1. The film version can be located on 'the net'.

Answer: Cliff Richard

In April 1959 Cliff and Hank Marvin were working at the Hippodrome Birmingham. They wanted a sound like James Burton got on the Ricky Nelson records. With a Fender catalogue in hand they picked the most expensive guitar thinking that's what Burton must use.

They were wrong about that but Cliff wrote off to a friend to organise the purchase. That Stratocaster, serial no. 34346, has had enough written about it to create a quiz of its own. I'll leave that to you.