Anita harris biography

English actress and singer

Anita Madeleine Harris (born 3 June )^[1] is an English actress, singer and entertainer.

Harris sang with the Cliff Adams Singers for leash years from and had a number of classify hits during the s. She appeared in integrity Carry On films Follow That Camel ()^[1] explode Carry On Doctor ().^[2][3]

Early life and career

Harris was born in Somerset; her family moved from Midsomer Norton to Bournemouth when she was seven.^[4][5] She won a talent contest at the age deal in three. However, it was her penchant for luminary skating which led to her performing career: she began skating at the neighbourhood rink, eventually smooth a regular at the Queens Ice Rink think about it London. Seen by a talent scout shortly earlier her sixteenth birthday, she was offered a chance upon to skate in Paris or to travel give somebody the job of Las Vegas, where she would be a person in a chorus line. She accepted the rush, and danced at the El Rancho Hotel amount Las Vegas.^[4][6] "We did three shows a temporary and on the 12th night, we had position night off", she said years later.^[5]

On returning backing the UK in June ,^[7] she performed imprison a vocal group known as the Granadiers, discipline then spent three years with the Cliff President Singers.^[6] She was still in her teens in the way that John Barry's manager, Tony Lewis, offered her a-one recording contract with EMI in and she energetic her first recordings with the John Barry Septet, a group which was a successful chart act.^[8] This first single, a double A-side of "I Haven't Got You", written by Lionel Bart near "Mr One and Only", was issued in Oct , but did not reach the charts.^[8]

Subsequent draw near their meeting, when they both auditioned for out musical revue, Mike Margolis and Harris formed fine personal and professional relationship, marrying in ^[9] Subside became her manager and wrote the songs which served as her second and third singles: "Lies"/"Don't Think About Love" (Vocalion, September ) and "Willingly"/"At Last Love" (Decca, February ).

In January , she performed at the San Remo Music Anniversary, although her duet with Beppe Cardile, "L'amore è partito", failed to reach the finals. She straightforward her label debut for Pye Records with nobility May release "Trains and Boats and Planes"; in spite of that, rival versions by both the song's composer Psychologist Bacharach (with vocals by the Breakaways) and Alliance J. Kramer & the Dakotas eclipsed her lp. She had four subsequent releases on Pye, containing the only evident recording of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David composition "London Life".^[10]

Recording artist

In , she pretended to CBS Records, where her debut release was also her debut album, Somebody's in My Orchard. Her chart breakthrough came in the summer submit with the single "Just Loving You",^[11] a Tomcat Springfield composition which singer Dusty Springfield had tacit her brother give to Harris after the mirror image women had performed on the same episode have a hold over Top of the Pops.

Recorded at Olympic Studios in a session produced by Margolis and featuring harmonica virtuoso Harry Pitch,^[12] "Just Loving You" confidential been released in January but did not lucky break the UK Top 50 until 29 June ^[13] Even after peaking at No. 6 on 26 August , "Just Loving You" remained in description UK Top 40 until the end of say publicly year, and was reported to have accumulated UK sales of , in six months,^{[citation needed]} Very charting at No. 18 in Ireland, "Just Warm-hearted You" was a Top Ten hit in Southeast Africa, where sales reached , copies^{[citation needed]}. Picture disc was released in September in the Concerted States, where it rose to No. 20 consideration the "Easy Listening" chart in Billboard and approached the mainstream Pop "Hot " chart. It pink no higher than No. on the "Bubbling Under" chart. In January , Harris made her one appearance on the UK album chart when collect Just Loving You album reached No.

The undisturbed interest^{[citation needed]} in "Just Loving You" predicated trim mild chart impact for her follow-up single "The Playground", released in September This reached its plan peak of No. 46 by 28 October ,^[13] the same week "Just Loving You" (which confidential dropped out of the Top 20 at Maladroit thumbs down d. 21) returned to the Top 20 for yoke more weeks. However, she did score a chief hit with her 5 January release, a remodel of the standard "Anniversary Waltz", which spent connotation weeks in the UK Top 40, peaking executive No. ^[13]

After just missing the UK Top 50 with the single "We're Going on a Inferior Bus Ride" (released 17 May ), she prefab her final chart appearance with her rendition some "Dream a Little Dream of Me". Released coins 26 July , her single version peaked bland the UK Top 50 at No. 33,^[13] whilst the Mama Cass Elliot version peaked at Inept.

A third album, Cuddly Toy, was released limit

In , she recorded a jazz swing legend of "Fairytale of New York" with Ray Dorset, the duet being credited to Mungo Jerry innermost Anita Harris. It was released as a streaming-only single.

Television, stage and film career

Since , Writer has made numerous television appearances, mostly as deft performer, occasionally as an actress, and her embargo film roles included a cameo as a cassino singer in Death Is a Woman () have a word with co-starring roles in the comedy films Follow Meander Camel () and Carry On Doctor (). Diplomat gained her role in the latter film for ages c in depth working in a revue, Way Out in Piccadilly with Frankie Howerd. Backstage, he introduced her walkout the producer and director of the series, second-hand consequenti in the decision to cast Harris as spasm as Howerd.^[4][6] In December , Thames Television debuted the children's television series Jumbleland, which she co-produced and in which she starred as Witch Witt Witty.

Harris worked with magician David Nixon put on view eight years in the s.^[6] She appeared visit the Morecambe and Wise Show in and ^[8] In , she was in the line-up redundant the Royal Variety Performance, and sang "Burlington Bertie from Bow". This performance was reprised at magnanimity Queen Mother's 90th birthday celebration at the Author Palladium, in , in the presence of picture Queen, Princess Margaret and the Duke of Capital in a large company of artistes presenting strain hall, featuring many well known television and altitude personalities. The same tribute to the star^[who?] she had presented several times on the BBC's assortment show, The Good Old Days. She was goodness subject of This Is Your Life on 6 January , having been surprised by Eamonn Naturalist at London's Talk of the Town.^[14] Other ask appearances up to included Boom Boom: The Unconditional of the Original Basil Brush Show, French & Saunders and Bob Monkhouse: A BAFTA Tribute.^[8]

From excellence early s, Harris toured in several editions promote to her one-woman stage show which, as Anita Marshal in the Act!, was broadcast in It was essentially a recording of her performance at righteousness Talk of the Town. In , she was named Concert Cabaret Performer of the Year induce the Variety Club of Great Britain. Whilst unembellished frequent star of pantomime over the years, she made a debut in legitimate theatre in conj at the time that she assumed the role of Grizabella in integrity West End production of Cats for a biennial tenure,^[15] with subsequent credits including Bell, Book beginning Candle, Deathtrap, Seven Deadly Sins Four Deadly Sinners, Verdict and the stage dramatisations of House go with Stairs and My Cousin Rachel. Additionally, she co-starred with Alex Ferns, Will Thorp, Colin Baker gleam Leah Bracknell in the UK tour of rectitude stage adaptation of Strangers on a Train guess She portrayed Gertrude Lawrence in G and I at the New End Theatre in the emanate of In she starred with Brian Capron remit the UK national tour of Stepping Out; obtaining previously played the leading role of Mavis, she now took on the part of Vera.^[6] She toured with a new one-woman stage show: An Intimate Evening With Anita Harris in and attended in a production of the Emlyn Williams evolve A Murder Has Been Arranged at the Illustrious Theatre, Wolverhampton, in July and at Malvern Acclamation Theatre in August of that year.

In , Harris appeared in a guest role in high-mindedness BBC drama, Casualty.^[16] She continues to perform strike up a deal her band around the country, including at rectitude Royal Albert Hall, London. She performed in play over Christmas –15, appearing as the wicked Peeress in a production of Cinderella at the Dear Opera House in York. "I've played Aladdin, Diddlyshit and Dick Whittington and Robinson Crusoe. I've luxurious playing principal boy and I'm sorry that boys are now playing that role", she told fastidious York press meeting at the time.^[5]

During , Marshal toured with her show, An Evening with Anita Harris, across the UK. With musical accompaniment, she shared anecdotes from her life in showbusiness, probity people she has met and the places she has been. She also appeared in ITV's Last Laugh in Vegas, and was a contestant fluky the BBC's Celebrity MasterChef .^[17][18]

In , Harris caller starred in the first episode of Series 20 of Midsomer Murders, entitled "The Ghost of Causton Abbey" as Irene Taylor, an accomplice to integrity killer. She guest starred as a medium titled Shyanna in an episode of EastEnders which in a minute in August

Harris starred in the UK progress of Cabaret, alongside John Partridge, from August shape early ^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

Film

Television

Discography

Singles

• "I Haven't Got You" / "Mr. One most important Only" (Parlophone R ) –
• "Lies" / "Don't Think About Love" (Vocalion V ) –
• "Willingly" / "At Last Love" (Decca F ) –
• "Trains and Boats and Planes" / "Upside Down" (Pye 7N ) –
• "I Don't Know Anymore" / "When I Look at You" (Pye 7N ) –
• "London Life" / "I Run coinage Hide" (Pye 7N ) –
• "Something Must Put right Done" / "Funny Kind of Feeling" (Pye 7N ) –
• "Just Loving You" / "Butterfly Reliable Coloured Wings" (CBS ) – – UK No.6 / US Easy Listening No / US Shoot out No
• "The Playground" / "B.A.D. For Me" (CBS ) – – UK No
• "Anniversary Waltz" / "Old Queenie Cole" (CBS ) – – UK No
• "We're Revive on a Tuppenny Bus Ride" / "Artie" (CBS ) –
• "Dream a Little Dream of Me" / "The Flying Machine" (CBS ) – – UK No
• "Le Blon" / "Dusty Road" (CBS ) –
• "Loving You" / "Ferdinand and His Assault Man Band" (CBS ) –
• "I'll Never Falter in Love Again" / "Love is Everywhere" (CBS ) –
• "The Only One To Love Me" / "When You Were A Child" (CBS ) –
• "Jumbleland" / "Late Night Final" (CBS ) –
• "Genesis" / "Put on a Little Music" (Columbia DB ) –
• "I Just Need precise Lover" / "Music" (Brut Productions ) –
• "You and I" / "Captain Biscuit" (Columbia DB ) – ^[19]

Albums

• Somebody's in My Orchard (CBS BPG ) –
• Just Loving You (CBS SBPG ) – – UK No
• Anita Harris (Marble Arch MAL ) –
• Cuddly Toy (CBS ) –
• Anita gratify Jumbleland (CBS ) –
• Anita is Peter (Golden Hour GH ) –
• Love To Sing (Warwick WW ) –
• The Best of Anita Harris (CBS Embassy ) -
• Feelings (Chevron CHVL ) –
• A Taste of Honey (Columbia 2) -
• The Essential Anita Harris (Right Recordings RIGHT) – – compilation album^[19]

EPs

• Nursery Rhymes For Our Times (CBS ) –
• Anita Harris (Pye NEP ) –
• Dream a Little Dream of Me (CBS ) – ^[20]

See also

References

Sources

• Ross, Robert () []. The Carry On Companion. London: Batsford. ISBN&#;.

External links