Kathy Kirby

Kathy Kirby
Kathy Kirby at the Eurovision Song Contest 1965
Background information
Birth name	Kathleen O'Rourke
Born	(1938-10-20)20 October 1938 Ilford, Essex, England
Died	19 May 2011(2011-05-19) (aged 72) London, England
Genres	Pop
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1963–1983
Labels	Decca Records

Kathy Kirby (born Kathleen O'Rourke; 20 October 1938 – 19 May 2011) was an English singer, reportedly the highest-paid female singer of her generation. She is best known for her cover version of Doris Day's "Secret Love" and for representing the United Kingdom in the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest where she finished in second place. Her physical appearance often drew comparisons with Marilyn Monroe. Her popularity peaked in the 1960s, when she was one of the best-known and most-recognised personalities in British show business.

Kirby was born in Ilford, Essex, the eldest of three children of Irish parents. Her mother Eileen brought them up alone after their father left early in their childhood. Kirby grew up in Tomswood Hill, Barkingside, near Ilford, and attended the Ursuline Convent School in Ilford where she sang in the choir.

Kirby's vocal talent became apparent early in life, and she took singing lessons with a view to becoming an opera singer. She became a professional singer after meeting bandleader Bert Ambrose at the Ilford Palais in 1956. She remained with Ambrose's band for three years and he remained her manager, mentor and lover until his death on stage in Leeds in 1971.

During the summer of 1957 Kirby performed at the Florida Park Restaurant in Madrid, and after returning to the UK not only performed with Ambrose's orchestra, but also with Nat Allen and his band. In 1959 Kirby joined vocalists Tony Mansell and Rikki Henderson in the Denny Boyce Band, and appeared regularly at the Lyceum Ballroom in London. In the summer of 1959 she made her solo cabaret debut at the Astor Club, and was subsequently signed to Pye Records in 1960 where she released two singles, "Love Can Be" and "Now You're Crying", which sold few copies but helped her get a six-month contract at Mayfair's Blue Angel nightclub. She adopted a "blonde bombshell" look and was compared to Marilyn Monroe.