Fury’s Tornados will blow you away

Billy Fury’s tragic story and unforgettable music will be heard from the Charter Theatre stage on Friday, April 17.

Billy was born in the Dingle district of Liverpool, and was a shy young 19-year-old called Ronnie Wycherley when he went to the Birkenhead Essoldo in the hope of interesting the show’s star, Marty Wilde, with some of his compositions.

Half an hour later, rock impresario Larry Parnes had pushed him out onto the stage and re-christened him Billy Fury.

Billy was taken to London where he secured a record contract with Decca records, and in February 1959, went into the UK top twenty with his own compositions Maybe Tomorrow and Gonna Type A Letter.

In the career which followed, he had 29 chart hits and they included I Will, Last Night Was Made For Love, Wondrous Place, Jealousy, and Halfway To Paradise.

He enjoyed more hit singles in the 1960s than the Beatles.

But an illness followed him throughout his life. He had rheumatic fever, which left him with a weak heart. Billy died aged 42 in January 1983.

For more details or to buy tickets, call 01772 80 44 44 or see www.prestonguildhall.com/tickets.

Fury’s own band, the original Tornados remember fondly their precious times with him and re-play his timeless hits live.

And with young Colin Gold sensational as Billy himself, a night of fun and nostalgia is assured.

The show starts at 7pm and tickets are £20, and £18 concs.