Cliff Richard burst onto the rock'n'roll world in 1958 with his hit single Move It. He was then known as Britain's answer to 'Elvis Presley' as a major pop star and has had nearly 150 hit singles in the UK charts.
"We Dont Talk Anymore" is his best-selling single with almost five million copies sold worldwide. "Private Collection" is his best-selling album with almost two million copies sold.
He represented the United Kingdom in The Eurovision Song Contest (Concours Eurovision de la chanson) in 1968 - "Congratulations" & 1973 - "Power to all our friends".
His sisters are Jacqueline Ann (born 21 November 1947), Joan (born 1950) and Donella "Donna" (born 1943).
He has more Top 10 hits than any other artist - 65 at the last count (including 14 no.1s).
He is the third artist after Elvis Presley and The Beatles (joint 17) with the highest number of #1 hits in the UK.
He had 14 #1 hits between 1958 and 1999 - including his single "The Millenium Prayer" which reached #1 in November 1999.
He sparked rumors of a retirement on December 1999 after several radio stations playlisted his single "The Millennium Prayer" on that month.
He is the only singer in the history of music to have a #1 hit in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
He figures prominently in Brendan OCarroll s hilarious comic novel, "The Mammy" in which Agnes Browne, the main character, fulfills her life-long dream of "a dance with Cliff Richard on Christmas Eve" at the end of the novel. In the film Agnes Browne (The Mammy), he was replaced by Tom Jones , who plays himself.
He was awarded the O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 1980 for his services to music. He was knighted for services to charity in 1995, becoming the first of several UK pop stars to be knighted.
He was estimated in 2006 to have sold 250 million albums during his career.
He was the winner of the British Record Industry Award for British Male Solo Artist in 1977. He was the winner of the British Phonographic Industry Award for British Male Solo Artist in 1982. He was the winner of the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution in 1989.
On 11 November 2004, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame for his outstanding contribution to British music and integral part of British music culture.
He announced his conversion to Christianity in 1966. He has never married and claims to have observed a celibate lifestyle since then.
He was spoofed in an episode of the BBC television series "Doomwatch" , "Doomwatch" {Sex and Violence (#3.12)} , which has never been transmitted due to fears Richard would take legal action.
There is no room in my life for drugs, fights, divorce, adultery,sadism, unnecessary fuss and sex.
The media seemed to want to have an answer to Elvis. What they forgot,was he was not a question. There was no answer to Elvis. Elvis will,always be Elvis. He will be the prototype rock and roll singer. He gave,this new music a shape, a face, and the rest us just tried to tag on,and some of us got lucky.
Being out of tune, I find it unforgivable.
[on "Millennium Prayer"] That was one of the hardest number ones I have,had. I was confused by all the negative reaction and Mistletoe and Wine,may have kicked that off. I had found myself in the charts way past my,[supposed] sell-by date and maybe that annoyed people.
[in 2014] For many months I have been aware of allegations against me of,historic impropriety which have been circulating online. The,allegations are completely false. Up until now I have chosen not to,dignify the false allegations with a response, as it would just give,them more oxygen. However, the police attended my apartment in,Berkshire today without notice, except, it would appear, to the press.
But Jesus changes your attitude towards yourself and towards other people.
Financial support is one thing, but I always think what becomes really sacrificial is your time. .
