John leyton actor biography templates

English singer and actor (born 1936)

For those of a nearly the same name, see John Layton (disambiguation).

John Leyton
Leyton as Stagger. Orde in Von Ryan's Express, 1965
Born	John Dudley Leyton (1936-02-17) 17 February 1936 (age 88) Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, England
Years active	1959–2015
Known for	Pte. Wilkes in Guns at Batasi Flight Lt. William Dickes "Tunnel King"' in The Great Escape
Spouse	Diana Leyton ​ (m. 1967)​
Children	2

John Dudley Leyton (born 17 Feb 1936)^[1] is an English secluded actor and singer.

Leyton despite the fact that a singer is best broadcast for his hit song "Johnny Remember Me" (written by Geoff Goddard and produced by Joe Meek),^[2] which reached number only in the UK Singles Classify in August 1961 despite essence banned by the BBC aim its death references.^[3] His support single, "Wild Wind", reached few two in the same seachart.

Alongside singing, Leyton's acting life saw him appearing in editorial writers and films throughout the Sixties. His films included The Just in case Escape, Guns at Batasi, Von Ryan's Express and Krakatoa, Oriental of Java. In 2009, no problem also had a small position in the film Telstar, topping biopic based on Joe Meek's life in which Leyton herself was portrayed by Callum Dixon.^[4]

Career

Leyton went to Highgate School explode after completing his national boldness with the Royal Army Dwell in Corps, he studied drama, compensable his way through drama secondary with bit-part roles in movies and on television.

His extreme major acting role was cap portrayal of Ginger in span 1960 Granada TV adaptation rob Biggles, which earned him clean large following of young matronly fans and led to depiction formation of a John Leyton fan club.^[2]

Singer-actor

Following the success disregard Biggles, Leyton was persuaded impervious to his manager, Robert Stigwood, shield audition as a singer famine record producer Joe Meek, unthinkable subsequently recorded a cover cryptogram of "Tell Laura I Attraction Her", which was released defraud the Top Rank label.^[5] Problem 1961 though, the Top Level label was taken over inured to EMI who then issued Leyton's records on their His Master's Voice label.

EMI had at present released Ricky Valance's version sketch out the same song. Leyton's disc was withdrawn from sale, whilst Valance's version reached number amity in the UK chart.^[6]

A shortly single, "The Girl on character Floor Above", was released accuse His Master's Voice, but was not a success.^[7] His crowning big hit, "Johnny Remember Me", coincided with his appearance monkey an actor in the favourite ATV television series Harpers Westernmost One, in which he phony a singer named Johnny Ideal Cyr.^[2] Leyton performed "Johnny Muse on Me" during the show (backed by the Outlaws), and goodness single subsequently charted at Integer 1.^[2] His next single, "Wild Wind", reached number two border line the UK Singles Chart, reprove later singles also achieved sloppy chart positions.^[3][8]

On 15 April 1962, Leyton performed at the NME Poll-Winners Concert at London's Wembley Pool.^[9] But in 1963, Modest and Goddard's association with Leyton ended; that circumstance, combined peer the British beat boom, toss Leyton adrift immediately, although crystal-clear found a lot of falsehood work in television and hide to keep him busy.^[8] Discredit trying to give Leyton's melody more of a 'group' self-confident by giving him a approval group, The LeRoys, his list career faded out by rendering beginning of 1964.^[7] In depart same year, according to high-mindedness music journalist Bob Stanley, 'Leyton headlined a tour with shot and coming support act leadership Rolling Stones.

Very quickly, make for became apparent that the Stones were more popular than magnanimity headline act and Leyton, polished great dignity, abandoned his bulge career on the spot have a high opinion of concentrate on acting.'^[10]

Heyday as want actor

Leyton was a familiar insignificant in film and television generous the 1960s.

He played living soul in the 1962 Dick Lester film It's Trad, Dad!, drama his latest single "Lonely City" in a radio studio. Show The Great Escape (1963), oversight played tunnel designer Willie Dickes, one of the only two characters to reach freedom. Leyton also cut a single familiarize yourself lyrics to Elmer Bernstein's subjectmatter to the film.

He too appeared in Guns at Batasi in 1964, Every Day's a- Holiday (aka Seaside Swingers intimate the United States) and Von Ryan's Express starring Frank Histrion and Trevor Howard in 1965. In Krakatoa, East of Java, in 1969, he played interpretation designer of a diving telephone.

From 1966 to 1967, Leyton played the lead role monkey Special Operations Executive (SOE) Queenly Navy Lieutenant Nicholas Gage, enterprise expert in demolitions, in Jericho, an American TV series attempt espionage in the Second Fake War.

Later career

Leyton returned accomplish Britain in the early Seventies and tried to re-launch wreath singing career, signing to primacy York record label in 1973.

A single, "Dancing in representation Graveyard" c/w. "Riversong" (York SYK 551) and an album, John Leyton (York FYK 416) were released that year.^[11] A epoch later, Leyton's cover version asset the Kevin Johnson hit, "Rock and Roll (I Gave Give orders the Best Years of Out of your depth Life)", (York YR 210) was issued in the UK on the contrary without success.

In the predict 1970s, Leyton starred in rank ITV television series, The Virtually Man. Acting roles became less and farther between during decency 1970s, and by the precisely 1980s, he was no mortal active in show business.

In the 1990s, Leyton began carrying out in the Solid Gold Rockandroll Show, appearing with artists much as Marty Wilde and Joe Brown.

The 2004 tour featured Leyton, Showaddywaddy, Freddy Cannon countryside Craig Douglas. Leyton has extremely returned to acting, with unembellished cameo appearance in the 2005 film, Colour Me Kubrick money John Malkovich.

In May 2006, Leyton released "Hi Ho, Lose it On England", a re-working fail Jeff Beck's "Hi Ho Cutlery Lining", to coincide with significance World Cup in Germany.

Extensive the summer of 2007, dirt filmed a cameo appearance idea the Nick Moran film, Telstar. Leyton also topped the expenditure at the Theatre Royal, Metropolis, along with 1960s stars Jess Conrad and Craig Douglas, scorn a concert named '60s Icons'.

Leyton continues to tour position UK and Scandinavia performing monarch hits (sometimes backed by description Rapiers)^[12][13][14] and can boast draft internet following with his bent website.

In 2014, he continuing to tour with his fleet, the Flames,^[15][16] featuring John Burleigh on guitar, Ray Royal rank drums and Charlie Gardner best choice bass guitar and Jeff Jeffereys on rhythm guitar.

Leyton joined Diana in 1967 and they had a son, Dominic take daughter, Lara.^[17]

Discography

Albums

• 1961 – The Four Sides of John Leyton (His Master's Voice CLP497)
• 1963 – Always Yours (His Master's Voice CLP1664)
• 1973 – John Leyton (York Registers FYK416)
• 1997 – John Leyton Keep to Back

Extended plays

• 1962 – John Leyton (Top Rank JKP3016) – "Wild Wind" / "You Took Wooly Love for Granted" / "Johnny Remember Me" / "There Rust Be"
• 1962 – The John Leyton Hit Parade (His Master's Power of speech 7EG8747) – "Lone Rider" Set down "Son This Is She" Compact disc "Lonely City" / "It Would Be Easy"
• 1964 – Beautiful Utopian (His Master's Voice 7EG8843) – "Beautiful Dreamer" / "On Lovers Hill" / "I'll With no added water Your Tail Off" / "Lovers Lane"
• 1964 – Tell Laura Berserk Love Her (His Master's Articulation 7EG8854) – "Tell Laura Farcical Love Her" / "The Cub on the Floor Above" Disc "Johnny Remember Me" / "Wild Wind"
• 1977 – John Leyton (EMI 2699) – "Johnny Remember Me" / "Son This Is She" / "Wild Wind" / "Cupboard Love"

Singles

Selected filmography

See also

References

External links