Hull born David Whitfield had a style closer to light opera than that of a popular crooner, and commanded the respect of an admiring older generation through a period in which teenagers, not adults, would become the dominant record buyers. It was a style that he never changed despite the vagaries of fashion and the transient nature of the music industry of the time. He first came to wide public attention during 1950 after appearing in the Hughie Green hosted 'Opportunity Knocks' on Radio Luxembourg- a station that would become the focus for rock and roll music in the UK a few years later.

David Whitfield David's own chart career began less than a year after a proper chart, showing the relative sales of recorded music, had begun. He had previously joined the Royal Navy while still in his teens and became a popular performer with his fellow seamen whenever he was given the chance to sing. Although he took a job as a labourer after his demobilisation, he began entering talent contests- including the one for Hughie Green's radio show. It was from this that he found himself in demand nationally and was able to switch from carrying cement bags to singing in the West End of London. It was then a short step to his recording career with Decca. His first big successes were with 'Bridge Of Sighs' and the controversial 'Answer Me'. His greatest success however was with his powerful rendition of 'Cara Mia'- the lyrics of which he claimed to have contributed to himself. This song was so successful that it became the first major US hit for a British artist- an extraordinary feat for 1954.

The EP shown here was typical of David's output during the late 1950s. It contained four numbers that benefited well from his powerful, strident, singing voice. However, these were all songs that he'd already had issued as singles. Nevertheless, this EP with sleeve notes and a picture of the singer is an attractive package for Whitfield fans.

Despite David's wonderful voice, his record sales began to slip at the end of the 1950s and by the early 1960s his career had settled down into stage rather than studio work. His popularity and fame were sufficient to keep his splendid tenor voice in popular demand up until the end of his life. Sadly, David Whitfield died in Australia during 1980.

1950s & 1960s 45rpm UK Discography

1950s & 1960s 45rpm UK Discography
Chart		Recording - A/B Side	Catalogue
1954	#1	Cara Mia/ Love Tears And Kisses	Decca	F10327
1954		Smile/ How When Or Where	Decca	F10355
1954	#2	Santo Natale/ Adeste Fideles	Decca	F10399
1955	#8	Beyond The Stars/ Open Up Your Heart	Decca	F10458
1955	#3	Mama/ Ev'rywhere	Decca	F10515
1955		The Lady/ Santa Rose Lea Rose	Decca	F10562
1955		I'll Never Stop Loving You/ Lady Of Madrid	Decca	F10596
1955	#7	When You Lose The One You Love/ Angelus	Decca	F10627
1956	#3	My September Love/ The Rudder And The Rock	Decca	F10690
1956	#22	My Son John/ My Unfinished Symphony	Decca	F10769
1957	#9	Adoration Waltz/ If I Lost You	Decca	F10833
1957	#27	I'll Find You/ I'd Give You The World	Decca	F10864
1957		Without Him/ Dream Of Paradise	Decca	F10890
1957		Ev'rything/ Martinella	Decca	F10931
1958	#22	Cry My Heart/ My One True Love	Decca	F10978
1958	#16	On The Street Where You Live/ Afraid	Decca	F11018
1958	#30	The Right To Love/ That's When Your Heartaches Begin	Decca	F11039
1958		This Is The Lucia/ Love Is A Stranger	Decca	F11079
1959		Willingly/ William Tell	Decca	F11101
1960	#49	I Believe/ Hear My Song	Decca	F11289
1962		Impossible/ As Long As You Love Me	HMV	POP1015
1963		You Belong In Someone Elses Arms/ This Heart Of Mine	HMV	POP1180

David Whitfield recordings may be ordered here

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A very special thanks to Hull Local Studies Library for their help with our research projects.