Billy Fury - Songwriter

Billy Fury - Songwriter

by Pete Clemons

In a recent, and much enjoyed visit to Liverpool, I found time to visit the Billy Fury statue on the Albert Dock.

On the base of it were two plaques. One letting you know that the statue had been unveiled on the 19th April 2003 by the legendary Jack Good and councillor Eddie Clein.

Of course, Billy Fury wasn’t his real name. That was bestowed upon him by his manager Larry Parnes. The second plaque gives you Billy’s actual birth name which was Ronald Wycherley. And along with his name it also gives Billy’s birth date and the day we lost him.

It went on to read that Billy had been a legendary British rock ‘n’ roll star and a major UK chart artist, live performer and songwriter. And that Billy had, primarily, been a songwriter.

And being a singer as well as a songwriter was an unusual thing during the time that Billy began performing in the late 1950s.

So unusual in fact that Billy wrote some of his own songs under the pseudonym of Wilber Wilberforce. Whether that was due to his modesty, or if he just didn’t want the greater public to know, is open to debate.

But Billy, without doubt, went on to create a milestone album in British popular music.

The 'Sound of Fury' was a 10” album release. 10 tracks in total 5 on each side. It was recorded at Percy Phillips studio 38 Kensington in Liverpool. Numerous artists from Liverpool, including the very early manifestations of The Beatles, recorded there. The whole album was recorded in a day and, when released, cost 22 shillings to buy.

Joe Brown played on the album and commented how he initially thought the songs had been written by a R’n’ R / Country player. Not a guy from Liverpool.

Unusually, by the standards of and era, you find that 2 basses appear on the LP. One electric and one slapped.

During the albums production Jack Good was trying to recreate and capture the Sun sessions days of the 1950s. At the same time Jack didn't put his own spin on the album. He retained Billy's original thoughts of the songs. The way that Billy wanted them to sound.

After the 'Sound of Fury', Billy moved away from rock ’n’ roll to crooning and had huge hits such as 'Halfway to Paradise' which, in all honesty, became a style of singing he was more famous for.

The early part of the 1960s had seen Billy appear on the huge package tours that passed through the theatres of Coventry.

However, after the hits dried up, Billy Fury found himself, like many, on cabaret circuit and appearing at clubs such as Mr Georges in the lower precinct.

The working men clubs circuit also beckoned Billy Fury as he also appeared locally at venues like the Walsgrave WMC and the Wyken club.

Sadly, this was to be the fate of many from that era.