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Roger Whittaker (born March 22 1936 in Nairobi, Kenya) is a British singer/songwriter and musician with worldwide record sales of more than 55 million. His music is of the folk/easy listening genre. In his early career, his trademark was his fantastic whistling ability.
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Childhood and beginning
Whittaker's parents, Edward and Viola, were originally from Staffordshire, England, where they owned and operated a grocery shop. His father was involved in a motorcycle accident, and the family moved to a farm in Kenya because of the better climate. That Whittaker would eventually become a musician was no surprise, since his grandfather sang in various clubs, and his father played the violin. Roger learned to play the guitar.
Whittaker was drafted into national service, and he spent two years in uniform in the Kenya Regiment *. In 1956, he was demobilized and decided that it was time to concentrate on a career in medicine. He enrolled at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
He left the university after 18 months and joined the civil service education department to try teaching.
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Recording and performing career
To further his teaching career, Whittaker moved to Britain in September 1959. For the next three years, he studied zoology, biochemistry, and marine biology at the University of Wales, Bangor and received a B.Sc. He was one of the brightest students in his class. He continued to sing in local clubs, and released some of his songs on flexi-discs included with the campus newspaper, the Bangor University Rag. Shortly afterwards, he was signed to Fontana Records who released his first professional single, "The Charge of The Light Brigade", in 1962.
In the summer of 1962, he appeared at a professional gig in Port Rush, Northern Ireland. He landed his first major breakthrough when he was signed to appear on an Ulster Television show called "This And That". His second single, and the first to break into the UK Top 30 charts, was a Jimmy Dean cover of "Steel Men", released in June 1962.
In the spring of 1964, Roger met Natalie O'Brien, and they were married on August 15 of that year. They have five children, Emily (May 28 1968), Lauren (June 4 1970), Jessica (February 14 1973), Guy (November 15 1974) and Alexander (April 7 1978).
In 1968, Whittaker had switched record labels, and in the autumn of 1969 EMI had released "Durham Town (The Leavin')", which became Whittaker's first Top 20 hit in Britain. In the spring of 1970, RCA Victor Records had released the uptempo "New World In The Morning" in the United States, where it became a Top 20 hit in the Easy Listening chart.
In 1971, Whittaker first recorded "The Last Farewell," which would become his biggest hit and a signature song, selling over 11 million copies worldwide. Whittaker also established himself in country music with "I Love You Because" entering into the country chart in late 1983.
In the 1970s and '80s, Whittaker had a lot of success in Germany, with songs produced by Nick Munro. Whittaker couldn't speak German, but sang the songs phonetically. He appeared on German and Danish TV several times *, and was on the UK Top Of The Pops show ten times in the early to mid '70s.
In 1986, he published his autobiography, So Far, So Good, co-written with his wife.
In March of 2006, Whittaker announced on his website that a 2007 Germany tour would be his last, and he will limit future performances to "occasional concerts."
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Tours
In 1976, Whittaker undertook his first tour of the United States.
In 2003 he again toured Germany. After recovering from heart problems at the end of 2004, he started touring in Germany in 2005, and then in UK from May to July.
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Awards
In his career to date, Whittaker has won over 250 silver, gold and platinum albums.
He was part of a successful British team that won the annual Knokke music festival in Belgium and won the Press Prize as the personality of the festival.
Ivor Novello awards (twice) for songwriting in 1971-72 and for The Last Farewell in 1975-76 (?) (unconfirmed - e-mail query pending)
Gold Badge Award, from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters in 1988 *
Golden Tuning Fork (Goldene Stimmgabel in Germany) in 1986, based on record sales and TV viewer votes.
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Trivia
A Finnish band called Sleepy Sleepers recorded Kössi ja Roger (Kössi and Roger) as a tribute to Roger Whittaker. The story of the song involves Roger whistling while drinking and it leads to a heavy hangover. It also involves Kössi the Kangaroo and Roger escaping from the Mafia, which is lead by Frutti Di Mare.
In the BBC series Life on Mars, DCI Gene Hunt states that he and his wife prefer Roger Whittaker to contemporary pop music.
He recorded many of his hits in French, e.g. Durham Town became Mon Pays Bleu.
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Discography
Albums released in non-English-speaking countries are listed elsewhere.
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UK and European albums
a selection
1979 Mein Deutsches Album (in German)
1981 Zum Weinen ist immer noch Zeit
1982 Typisch Roger Whittaker
1984 Ein Glück, dass es Dich gibt
1987 Heut bin ich arm - Heut bin ich reich
1991 Mein Herz schlägt nur für Dich
1994 Sehnsucht nach Liebe
1994 Geschenk des Himmels
1995 Ein schöner Tag mit Dir
2003 Der weihnachtliche Liedermarkt
2004 Mein schönster Traum
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US albums
Now and Then: Greatest Hits 1964-2004 - Label: BMG International - Released: October 11, 2005
An Evening With - Label: Prism Platinum - Released: June 7, 2005
Moments in My Life - Label: BMG/Ariola - Released: May 6, 2005
All of My Life: Very Best Of BMG International - Label: BMG International - Released: July 20, 2004
New World in the Morning Collectables - Label: Collectables - Released: January, 2003
Songs for You: The Collection - Label: Universal International - Released: September 17, 2002
Best of: Original Hits - Label: Paradiso - Released: April 23, 2002
The Holly and the Ivy - Label: BMG Special Products - Released: April, 2002
The Very Best of Roger Whittaker, Vol. 2 - Label: Polygram International - Released: August 28, 2001
The Last Farewell...Live - Label: Legacy Entertainment - Released: January, 2001
The Best of Roger Whittaker Time Life - Label: Time/Life Music - Released: December 17, 1999
Awakening - Label: RCA Victor - Released: August 10, 1999
In Concert - Label: Charly - Released: July 1, 1999
The Greatest Hits of Roger Whittaker - Label: Prism - Released: January, 1999
All of My Life: The Very Best of Roger Whittaker - Label: Camden - Released: January 1, 1999
The Best of Roger Whittaker Cleopatra - Label: Pegasus/Cleopatra - Released: October 20, 1998
Irish Standards - Label: BMG Special Products - Released: April 14, 1998
New World in the Morning: The Encore Collection - Label: BMG Special Products - Released: November 18, 1997
Happy Holidays - Label: BMG Special Products - Released: September 23, 1997
Star Gold - Label: Polygram France - Released: May 9, 1997
Einfach Leben - Label: BMG/Ariola - Released: October 3, 1996
A Perfect Day - Label: RCA Victor - Released: September 17, 1996
The World of Roger Whittaker Karussell - Label: Universal International - Released: January, 1996
On Broadway - Label: RCA Victor - Released: October 1, 1995
Sincerely Yours - Released: August 11, 1995
All Time Favorites - Label: Prime Cuts - Released: January 1, 1995
Christmas Songs RCA - Label: RCA Victor - Released: January 1, 1995
I Will Always Love You - Label: RCA Victor - Released: August 16, 1994
The Best of Roger Whittaker Curb - Label: Curb Records - Released: May 31, 1994
Live! - Label: RCA Victor - Released: April 12, 1994
Annie's Song - Label: RCA Victor - Released: April 12, 1994
What a Wonderful World - Label: RCA Victor - Released: April 12, 1994
Danny Boy - Label: RCA Victor - Released: February 15, 1994
Feelings - Label: RCA Victor - Released: February 15, 1994
Greatest Hits - Label: RCA Records - Released: January 1, 1994
Live - Label: Drive - (import) - Released: December 7, 1993
The Best of Roger Whittaker Cema - Label: EMI-Capitol Special Markets - Released: January 1, 1993
Celebration - Label: RCA Victor - Released: January 1, 1993
Christmas With Roger Whittaker - Label: RCA Victor - Released: September 14, 1992
Collection - Released: June 30, 1992
All About Love - Label: Liberty - Released: April 27, 1992
Classics Collection, Vol. 2 - Label: Liberty - Released: January, 1992
Greatest Hits Live - Label: K-Tel - Released: January, 1992
All-Time Favorites - Label: EMI-Capitol Special Markets - Released: January, 1992
I Wish You a Merry Christmas - Released: January, 1992
The Wind Beneath My Wings & Other Hits - Label: RCA Records - Released: December, 1991
Classics Collection, Vol. 1 - Label: Liberty - Released: August, 1991
Country Collection - Label: Liberty - Released: April 29, 1991
You Deserve the Best - Label: Capitol/EMI Records - Released: January, 1991
Golden Tones - Label: Pair - Released: October 25, 1990
Best Loved Ballads, Vol. 1 - Label: Liberty - Released: June 4, 1990
Best Loved Ballads, Vol. 2 - Label: Liberty - Released: June 4, 1990
All Time Heart Touching Favorites, Vol. 2 - Label: Liberty - Released: May 21, 1990
All Time Heart Touching Favorites, Vol. 1 - Label: Liberty - Released: April 23, 1990
World's Most Beautiful Christmas Songs - Label: Liberty - Released: January, 1989
Love Will Be Our Home - Label: Word/Epic - Released: January, 1989
I'd Fall in Love Tonight - Label: Liberty - Released: January, 1989
The World of Roger Whittaker Pair - Label: Pair - Released: January, 1988
Living & Loving - Label: Liberty - Released: January, 1988
Fire & Rain - Label: Pair - Released: January, 1985
The Best of Roger Whittaker RCA - Label: RCA - Released: January, 1984
All Time Heart Touching Favorites - Released: January, 1984
Tidings of Comfort & Joy - Label: Liberty - Released: January, 1984
Take a Little: Give a Little - Label: RCA - Released: January, 1984
The Wind Beneath My Wings - Label: RCA Records - Released: January, 1982
Live in Concert - Label: RCA Records - Released: January, 1981
Voyager - Label: RCA - Released: January, 1980
With Love - Released: January, 1980
Mirrors of My Mind - Label: RCA - Released: January, 1979
When I Need You - Released: January, 1979
Evergreens - Released: January, 1979
Imagine - Label: RCA - Released: January, 1978
The Roger Whittaker Christmas Album - Label: RCA - Released: January, 1978
Folk Songs of Our Time - Label: RCA - Released: January, 1977
The Best of Roger Whittaker - Label: RCA - Copyrighted: 1977
In Concert - Recorded with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra DVD - Released: January, 1976
Reflections of Love - Label: RCA Records - Released: January, 1976
Magical World of Roger Whittaker - Released: January, 1975
The Last Farewell & Other Hits - Label: RCA Records - Released: January, 1974
Special Kind of Man - Label: Pair - Released: January, 1971
New World in the Morning Columbia - Label: Collectables - Released: January, 1971
Roger Whittaker Christmas Album
Genius of Love - Label: RCA
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