Petula Clark, CBE is a British singer, actress and composer. Clark’s professional career began during World War II, as a child entertainer on BBC Radio. In 1954 she charted with \”The Little Shoemaker\” — the first of her big UK hits. In late 1964 Clark’s global success extended to America with a four-year run of singles. In America Clark was dubbed ‘the First Lady of the British Invasion’ Clark has sold more than 68 million records.
About Petula Clark in brief
Petula Clark, CBE is a British singer, actress and composer. Clark’s professional career began during World War II, as a child entertainer on BBC Radio. In 1954 she charted with \”The Little Shoemaker\” — the first of her big UK hits. In late 1964 Clark’s global success extended to America with a four-year run of career-defining, often upbeat, singles, many written or co-written by Tony Hatch. In America Clark was dubbed ‘the First Lady of the British Invasion’ Clark has sold more than 68 million records. She also has enjoyed success in musical films and in stage musicals. Clark was born to Doris and Leslie Noah Clark in Ewell, Surrey, England on 15 November 1932. Clark was discovered by director Maurice Elvey, who cast her as orphan Irma in his drama Where I Know I’m Going. She was also known as ‘Britain’s Shirley Temple’ and considered a British Army mascot by the British Army, whose troops plastered her photos on their tanks for good luck as they advanced in battle. Clark has been awarded a CBE for services to music. She has also been awarded the OBE forservices to music and the BAFTA for music for services to radio and television, and the O.C.A.E. award for service to the music industry. She is a patron of the Royal Institute of Music, the Royal College of Music and the British Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Clark is a member of the Musicians’ Union and the Royal Society of London, and has been knighted for her musical contributions to the arts.
Clark’s stage name of Petula was invented by her father; he joked it was a combination of the names of two former girlfriends, Pet and Ulla. Her first ever live audience was at the Colliers’ Arms in Abercanaid, near Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, in 1939. In October 1942, the nine-year-old Clark made her radio debut while attending a BBC broadcast with her father. She was there trying to send a message to an uncle stationed overseas, but the broadcast was delayed by an air raid. When the air raid siren went off other children were upset and a call went out for someone to step forward and sing to calm them. Petula volunteered and they liked her voice so much in the control room they recorded her. Her song was Mighty Rose. As a child Clark sang in the chapel choir and showed a talent for mimicry, impersonating Vera Lynn, Carmen Miranda and Sophie Tucker for her family and friends. In 1944, she performed in the film Where I’m Going, starring in which she was the orphaned widow of General Elvey. She performed for George VI, Bernard Montgomery and Bernard and Bernard Montgomery, Nicknamed Nicknamed the Sweetheart. In addition, Clark frequently toured the UK with fellow fellow performer Julie Andrews. At the age of 12, she was cast as precocious orphan Irma, who waifed in his weepy weepy drama Going I’m going.
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