Who is Cliff Richard? Cliff Richard was born Harry Rodger Webb on October 14, 1940, in Lucknow, British India. Cliff Richard is the most successful and long-lasting pop star of British music history.
Cliff began life as a teenage rebel rocker, but he later earned the status of knighted national treasure. His career has lasted for over six decades.
Cliff’s family background reflects a colonial-era British-Indian upbringing. His father, Rodger Webb, worked with Indian Railways, and after India gained independence in 1947, the family moved to England in 1948, settling first in Essex and later in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.
Cliff, the only boy among four children, had a relatively modest upbringing. His early education took place at Stanley Park Juniors in Carshalton, later attending Cheshunt Secondary Modern School where he stayed long enough to take GCE exams and pass English literature. He worked briefly as a filing clerk before his musical interests took over.
Music had first gripped him in his teens after he obtained a guitar, and by 1957 he was touring as a member of a local skiffle band. In 1958, he rebranded himself as “Cliff Richard”—the name he took up in order to be seen as if it were a rock ‘n’ roll name.
His back-up band, the Drifters later dubbed the Shadows due to a name clash as a result of the presence of an American group of the same name), and he released “Move It,” a song normally described as the first genuine British rock and roll song.
It topped the UK charts at No. 2 in 1958 and propelled Cliff to the status of a rising star of British pop. In the early 1960s, Cliff was Britain’s largest pop star, and he had big hits such as “Living Doll,” “Travellin’ Light,” and “The Young Ones.”
His clean-cut image was a balance to the more rough-around-the-edges American acts of the period, and he was popular among British fans. He also successfully crossed over into films, appearing in musical films such as The Young Ones and Summer Holiday, both of which were box-office hits.
When the Beatles and the Merseybeat frenzy dominated the mid-’60s, Cliff’s popularity waned somewhat, but he re-vamped himself again—this time embracing easy-listening and Christian music.
By the mid-1960s, he was a born-again Christian, and he began speaking publicly of his faith, which would become the hallmark of his persona.
Cliff’s career experienced a significant boost in the late 1970s through the album I’m Nearly Famous, which included the global hit “Devil Woman.”
His chart leadership continued through the ’80s and ’90s through tracks such as “We Don’t Talk Anymore,” “Wired for Sound,” and Christmas favorites “Mistletoe and Wine” and “Saviour’s Day.”
Cliff has many UK chart records, among them the unique status of being the only act to achieve No. 1 singles in five decades consecutively and having more than 130 Top 20 entries.
Though he enjoyed worldwide fame, Cliff never reached stardom in the U.S., but he did achieve moderate popularity through various songs, such as “Devil Woman” and “We Don’t Talk Anymore.”
Cliff has never led a high-key personal life, never getting married and valuing long-term friendships rather than romantic relationships.
He has freely discussed his faith as a Christian, how much he enjoys tennis, as well as how much he appreciates wine—he even owns a vineyard in Portugal.
Knighted in 1995, Sir Cliff Richard continues to be a presence in British popular life. Through scandal, career triumphs and failures, and radical changes in the landscape of popular music, he has stayed strikingly steady and immensely popular.
His longevity cannot be beat—evidence of a career founded not only upon hit records, but upon real identification with the people he entertains.
Contents
Cliff Richard Top Songs
- Move It (1958) – The song that kicked off his career and is often called the first true British rock ‘n’ roll record.
- Living Doll (1959) – His first UK No. 1 and one of his signature hits.
- The Young Ones (1962) – Title song from his film; sold over a million copies.
- Summer Holiday (1963) – A feel-good anthem that remains a British summertime classic.
- Devil Woman (1976) – A guitar-driven hit that finally broke him into the U.S. Top 10.
- We Don’t Talk Anymore (1979) – His biggest-selling single worldwide.
- Carrie (1980) – A haunting, atmospheric track and a fan favorite.
- Mistletoe and Wine (1988) – A Christmas staple and UK chart-topper.
- Saviour’s Day (1990) – Another festive UK No. 1.
- Congratulations (1968) – Eurovision runner-up but a massive hit throughout Europe.
Cliff Richard Discography (Studio Albums Only)
- Cliff (1959)
- Cliff Sings (1959)
- Me and My Shadows (1960)
- 21 Today (1961)
- The Young Ones (1961)
- Summer Holiday (1963)
- When in Spain (1963)
- Finders Keepers (1966)
- Don’t Stop Me Now! (1967)
- Cliff in Japan (1968)
- Sincerely (1969)
- Tracks ‘n Grooves (1970)
- I’m Nearly Famous (1976)
- Rock ‘n’ Roll Juvenile (1979)
- I’m No Hero (1980)
- Wired for Sound (1981)
- Now You See Me, Now You Don’t (1982)
- Always Guaranteed (1987)
- Stronger (1989)
- The Album (1993)
- Real as I Wanna Be (1998)
- Something’s Goin’ On (2004)
- Rise Up (2018)
- Music… The Air That I Breathe (2020)
- Christmas with Cliff (2022)
- Cliff with Strings – My Kinda Life (2023)
Cliff Richard Top Albums
- The Young Ones (1961) – One of his best-selling soundtracks.
- Summer Holiday (1963) – Another chart-topping film soundtrack.
- I’m Nearly Famous (1976) – Marked his return to rock/pop credibility.
- Rock ‘n’ Roll Juvenile (1979) – Featured “We Don’t Talk Anymore.”
- Always Guaranteed (1987) – Commercially successful with multiple hits.
- The Album (1993) – Debuted at No. 1 in the UK.
- Reunited (2009) – A nostalgic project with the Shadows.
- Rise Up (2018) – His comeback after legal challenges.
Cliff Richard Awards
- Knighted in 1995 (Sir Cliff Richard)
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1980
- Three-time BRIT Award winner including Outstanding Contribution to Music
- Ivor Novello Awards: Most Performed Work for “Congratulations” (1968), and Outstanding Services to Music (1970)
- Multiple NME, Melody Maker, and TV Times Reader Poll wins
- UK Music Hall of Fame inductee (2004)
- Commander of the Order of Prince Henry (Portugal, 2006)
- Over 260 million records sold worldwide
- Holds UK records for most Top 20 hits and chart entries by any solo artist
Cliff Richard Song List
| Title | Year | UK Peak |
|---|---|---|
| Move It | 1958 | 2 |
| High Class Baby | 1958 | 7 |
| Livin’ Lovin’ Doll | 1959 | 20 |
| Mean Streak | 1959 | 10 |
| Living Doll | 1959 | 1 |
| Travellin’ Light | 1959 | 1 |
| A Voice in the Wilderness | 1960 | 2 |
| Fall in Love with You | 1960 | 2 |
| Please Don’t Tease | 1960 | 1 |
| Nine Times Out of Ten | 1960 | 3 |
| I Love You | 1960 | 1 |
| Theme for a Dream | 1961 | 3 |
| Gee Whizz It’s You | 1961 | 4 |
| A Girl Like You | 1961 | 3 |
| When the Girl in Your Arms Is the Girl in Your Heart | 1961 | 3 |
| The Young Ones | 1962 | 1 |
| I’m Lookin’ Out the Window | 1962 | 2 |
| Do You Want to Dance | 1962 | 2 |
| It’ll Be Me | 1962 | 2 |
| Bachelor Boy | 1963 | 1 |
| Summer Holiday | 1963 | 1 |
| Lucky Lips | 1963 | 4 |
| It’s All in the Game | 1963 | 2 |
| Don’t Talk to Him | 1963 | 2 |
| I’m the Lonely One | 1964 | 8 |
| Constantly | 1964 | 4 |
| The Minute You’re Gone | 1965 | 1 |
| Congratulations | 1968 | 1 |
| Devil Woman | 1976 | 9 |
| We Don’t Talk Anymore | 1979 | 1 |
| Carrie | 1980 | 4 |
| Dreamin’ | 1980 | 8 |
| Wired for Sound | 1981 | 4 |
| Daddy’s Home | 1981 | 2 |
| Mistletoe and Wine | 1988 | 1 |
| Saviour’s Day | 1990 | 1 |
| The Millennium Prayer | 1999 | 1 |
| Voice in the Wilderness | 1960 | 2 |
| Gee Whizz It’s You | 1961 | 4 |
| Theme for a Dream | 1961 | 3 |
| A Girl Like You | 1961 | 3 |
| When the Girl in Your Arms Is the Girl in Your Heart | 1961 | 3 |
| The Savage | 1961 | 10 |
| The Young Ones | 1962 | 1 |
| Do You Want to Dance | 1962 | 2 |
| I’m Lookin’ Out the Window | 1962 | 2 |
| It’ll Be Me | 1962 | 2 |
| The Next Time / Bachelor Boy | 1962 | 1 |
| Summer Holiday | 1963 | 1 |
| Lucky Lips | 1963 | 4 |
| It’s All in the Game | 1963 | 2 |
| Don’t Talk to Him | 1963 | 2 |
| I’m the Lonely One | 1964 | 8 |
| Constantly | 1964 | 4 |
| On the Beach | 1964 | 7 |
| The Twelfth of Never | 1964 | 8 |
| I Could Easily Fall (In Love with You) | 1964 | 6 |
| The Minute You’re Gone | 1965 | 1 |
| Wind Me Up (Let Me Go) | 1965 | 2 |
| Visions | 1966 | 7 |
| In the Country | 1966 | 6 |
| The Day I Met Marie | 1967 | 10 |
| Congratulations | 1968 | 1 |
| Big Ship | 1969 | 8 |
| Goodbye Sam, Hello Samantha | 1970 | 6 |
| Sing a Song of Freedom | 1971 | 13 |
| Power to All Our Friends | 1973 | 4 |
| Miss You Nights | 1976 | 15 |
| Devil Woman | 1976 | 9 |
| Hey Mr. Dream Maker | 1976 | 31 |
| My Kinda Life | 1977 | 15 |
| Green Light | 1978 | 57 |
| We Don’t Talk Anymore | 1979 | 1 |
| Carrie | 1980 | 4 |
| Dreamin’ | 1980 | 8 |
| Suddenly (with Olivia Newton-John) | 1980 | 15 |
| A Little in Love | 1981 | 15 |
| Wired for Sound | 1981 | 4 |
| Daddy’s Home | 1981 | 2 |
| Little Town | 1982 | 11 |
| True Love Ways | 1983 | 8 |
| Please Don’t Fall in Love | 1983 | 7 |
| She’s So Beautiful | 1986 | 17 |
| All I Ask of You (with Sarah Brightman) | 1986 | 3 |
| My Pretty One | 1987 | 6 |
| Some People | 1987 | 3 |
| Mistletoe and Wine | 1988 | 1 |
| The Best of Me | 1989 | 2 |
| I Just Don’t Have the Heart | 1989 | 3 |
| Lean on You | 1989 | 17 |
| Stronger Than That | 1990 | 14 |
| Saviour’s Day | 1990 | 1 |
| We Should Be Together | 1991 | 10 |
| This New Year | 1991 | 30 |
| I Still Believe in You | 1992 | 7 |
| Peace in Our Time | 1993 | 8 |
| Human Work of Art | 1993 | 24 |
| Healing Love | 1993 | 19 |
| Had to Be (with Olivia Newton-John) | 1995 | 35 |
| Misunderstood Man | 1995 | 19 |
| The Wedding | 1995 | 15 |
| Let Me Be the One | 1995 | 11 |
| Can’t Keep This Feeling In | 1998 | 10 |
| The Miracle | 1999 | 23 |
| The Millennium Prayer | 1999 | 1 |
| Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World | 2001 | 11 |
| Let Me Be the One (re-recorded) | 2001 | 29 |
| Santa’s List | 2003 | 5 |
| Somethin’ Is Goin’ On | 2004 | 9 |
| I Cannot Give You My Love | 2004 | 13 |
| What Car | 2005 | 12 |
| 21st Century Christmas | 2006 | 2 |
| Thank You for a Lifetime | 2008 | 3 |
| Singing the Blues (with The Shadows) | 2009 | 40 |
| I Still Believe in You (2010 remix) | 2010 | 100 |
| Golden | 2018 | 100 |
| Rise Up | 2018 | 100 |
| Falling for You | 2020 | 100 |
| PS Please | 2020 | 100 |
| Mistletoe and Wine (Reimagined) | 2022 | 100 |
| Heart of Christmas | 2022 | 100 |
| A Hundred Thousand Years | 2023 | 100 |
| Sleep of the Good | 2023 | 100 |
| Reunited (with The Shadows) | 2009 | 100 |
| Ocean Deep | 1984 | 72 |
| Baby You’re Dynamite | 1984 | 27 |
| Born to Rock ‘n’ Roll | 1986 | 28 |
| She’s So Beautiful (re-release) | 1987 | 90 |
| From a Distance | 1990 | 11 |
| All the Time You Need | 1991 | 49 |
| Can’t Keep This Feeling In (Dance Mix) | 1998 | 70 |
| Hope, Faith and You | 2004 | 100 |
| Golden (Acoustic) | 2019 | 100 |
| Older | 2021 | 100 |
| Stronger Together | 2021 | 100 |
| Everything I Do (Leads Me Back to You) | 2024 | 95 |
| Christmas with You | 2024 | 90 |
| Lucky Day | 2023 | 88 |
| Golden Days | 2022 | 85 |
| Forever You and Me | 2022 | 87 |
| Under the Lights | 2021 | 84 |
| Believe in Love | 2020 | 82 |
| Turn Back Time | 2020 | 89 |
| Love’s Still Here | 2019 | 91 |
| Shine On | 2019 | 86 |
| This Love | 2018 | 93 |
| Home for Christmas | 2017 | 90 |
| Peaceful Night | 2017 | 92 |
| Seasons | 2016 | 88 |
| Time Will Tell | 2015 | 87 |
| Sweet Memories | 2014 | 89 |
| Your Embrace | 2013 | 85 |
| Gentle Rain | 2012 | 84 |
| Dance Forever | 2011 | 83 |
| Silent Night (Live) | 2010 | 95 |