Ricky Valance
| Ricky Valance | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | David Spencer |
| Born |
10 April 1939 Ynysddu, Monmouthshire, South Wales |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | Late 1950s–present |
| Labels | Columbia, Decca, Crystal |
Ricky Valance (born 10 April 1939) is a Welsh singer. He is best known for the number one single "Tell Laura I Love Her", which sold over a million copies in 1960.
Born David Spencer in Ynysddu, Monmouthshire, near Wattsville, South Wales, he is the eldest of seven children. He joined the RAF at the age of 17.
He started his musical career after leaving the military. He performed in local clubs for a couple of years before he was discovered by an A&R representative from EMI, placed with the record producer Norrie Paramor and signed to EMI's Columbia label. At the first recording session, Valance was given the chance to cover Ray Peterson's American hit, "Tell Laura I Love Her". He was rewarded with a number 1 hit in September 1960, thanks to airplay on Radio Luxembourg.
The BBC refused to play teenage tragedy songs like "Tell Laura I Love Her". Many American death rock records were simply never released in the United Kingdom.
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