Cliff: An Intimate Portrait of a Living Legend

by Tim Ewbank, Stafford Hildred

Fifty years ago he was just the boy Harry Webb, performing in a local youth club. Now he is Sir Cliff Richard, the first rock star to be knighted, with a massive international fan base and a top ten hit in each of the last six decades. Yet, despite his huge public persona, the man himself remains a reserved and private figure.

Unflinching in its portrayal of the man behind the musical icon, this revealing biography marks fifty years of music from the first British pop star. His fellow musicians, co-stars, directors and Cliff himself talk candidly about his musical ascendance, the women in his life, his religious beliefs and his lasting regret that he has never broken America.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 6, 2007

Reviews

[Beth Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read and gives a good insight into the music world, especially in the late 50’s and 60’s. Also portrays Cliff as a human and doesn’t shy away from any of his mistakes or more negative qualities, although the overall picture of him is a positive one.

[Mike Balsom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the term that might apply here is "hagiography", as the authors raise Cliff Richard to saintly status in this adoration of the British legend. I picked the book up to add to my collection of music biographies because I never understood why he was so big in Britain but never really broke through to the same degree in North America. The authors don't give a lot of insight to that question, but I enjoyed reading about his life while searching up the songs, some familiar, some not so, and looking up clips of his film appearances in the late fifties and early sixties. He had a huge appreciation for Elvis, and indeed, Cliff Richard did become the British Elvis, mimicking many of the career moves made by Presley. The book is an enjoyable read, but many might find it a bit pedestrian.