Michael Holliday

The diminutive Liverpool singer, real name Norman Alexander Milne, was born on 26 November 1924.  Popular in the late 1950s, he  was a British crooner nicknamed 'The British Bing Crosby' although his style was more akin to that of Perry Como.

Michael Holliday's career in music began by winning an amateur talent contest, ‘New Voices of Merseyside’, at the Locarno Ballroom, West Derby Road, Liverpool. Then, while working as a seaman in the Merchant Navy, Michael was persuaded to enter a talent contest at Radio City Music Hall in New York and again, he won. This inspired him to seek a career in show business. In 1951 he secured two summer season’s work as a vocalist with Dick Denny's band at Butlin’s Holiday Camp, Pwllheli.

In March 1953 he joined the Eric Winstone Band, another Butlin’s contracted band that toured when the summer season's work was over. They also broadcast occasionally for BBC Radio. In December 1954 Holliday wrote to the BBC requesting a TV audition. His audition came in April 1955 and he made his first TV appearance on The Centre Show on 22 July 1955. This TV performance was seen by Norrie Paramor, then head of A&R for EMI's Columbia record label. He was signed as a solo artist to 's Columbia label, by the record producer, Norrie Paramor. Holliday enjoyed a strong hit run on the British charts with Nothin' To Do (1956), Gal With The Yaller Shoes (1956), Hot Diggity (1956), The Story of My Life (1958) Stairway Of Love (1958) and Starry Eyed (1960).

A superb baritone vocalist with great phrasing, he suffered with a poor memory and frequently garbled song lyrics on stage. Holliday also suffered from stage fright and had a mental breakdown in 1961; he committed suicide two years later, dying from a suspected drugs overdose in EMI, Surrey.   More than three thousand people, mostly women, attended his funeral in Liverpool. Cliff Richards and the Shadows, Tommy Steele and Shirley Bassey were amongst those who sent wreaths.