Cliff Richard: The Biography

by Steve Turner

Based on research from original sources and interviews with friends, family, and colleagues—many of whom have not spoken publicly before—this book gives the story of Cliff Richard's life as a rock-and-roller and a Christian, and includes photographs never before published.

Genres: Biography

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Steve Turner is an English music journalist, biographer and poet, who grew up in Northamptonshire, England. His first published article was in the Beatles Monthly in 1969. His career as a journalist began as features editor of Beat Instrumental where he interviewed many of the prominent rock musicians of the 1970s. He subsequently freelanced for music papers including NME, Melody Maker and Rolling Stone.

During the 1980s he wrote extensively for British newspapers and magazines on a range of subjects as well as producing his study of the relationship between rock music and religion, Hungry For Heaven, and co-authoring U2: Rattle & Hum, the book of the film. In the 1990s he began devoting himself to full-length books, the first being a best selling biography of British music star Cliff Richard, Cliff Richard: The Biography, in 1993, which stayed in the Sunday Times bestseller list for six weeks. At the same time he has written a number of poetry books for both adults and children. The first of his books for children, The Day I Fell Down The Toilet, has now sold over 120,000 copies, and total sales for his children's poetry collection now exceeds 200,000.

His published poetry books for adults are Tonight We Will Fake Love, Nice and Nasty, Up To Date, The King of Twist and Poems. His published poetry collections for children are The Day I Fell Down The Toilet, Dad, You're Not Funny, The Moon Has Got His Pants On, I Was Only Asking and Don't Take Your Elephant To School.

He now combines his book writing and journalism with poetry readings, lecture tours of America and Europe and consultancies. He lives in London.
Hungry for Heaven: Rock and Roll and the Search for Redemption(1988)
Van Morrison: Too Late to Stop Now (1993) Van Morrison
Cliff Richard: The Biography (1993) Cliff Richard
A Hard Day's Write: The Stories Behind Every Beatles Song (1994; updated in 1999 and 2005)
Jack Kerouac: Angelheaded Hipster (1996)
Trouble Man: The Life and Death of Marvin Gaye (1998)
Imagine: A Vision for Christians in the Arts (2001)
The Man Called Cash: The Life, Love and Faith of an American Legend (2004) Johnny Cash
Amazing Grace: John Newton, Slavery and the World's Most Enduring Song (2005)
The Gospel According to the Beatles (2006)
An Illustrated History of Gospel(2010)
The Band That Played On (2011)

Reviews

[Janette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally printed in 1993, Cliff Richard - The Biography has been revised, updated and reprinted four times in the intervening years. Such is the popularity of Cliff and his music that this book has been updated yet again for the 50th anniversary of his beginnings in the music scene.

Written with the co-operation of Cliff Richard, this book provides readers with a very detailed look at his life. As there have been at least two other biographies written of his life as well as his autobiography, “Single Minded”, author Turner said he spent some time searching for people who knew Cliff but who had not been interviewed about him previously, including his mother.

Turner provides a realistic and sensitive insight into Cliff’s life that allows readers to understand more fully the impact of being famous has on this Christian man who rose to stardom from humble beginnings; it also includes details of his charity work in recent years and a comprehensive index.

This is a well written book but I felt it was slowed down at times because of all the details Turner included. This book is certain to appeal more to dedicated Cliff Richard fans than a general reader like me

[Darla Ebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sir Cliff Richard's story is refreshing and a clear testimony of the power of Christ in a person's life, even someone as famous as Cliff still is. I liked the honesty and fearlessness of a popular singer who has taken an unpopular route in keeping the announcement of his faith before the masses. Sir Cliff never lets people forget to Whom he owes all he is.

[Alayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this book about Cliff Richard. Unfortunately, it was extremely boringly written and took me about 6 weeks to read because it just didn't grip me. I was tempted not to finish it but I hoped it would get better. It didn't.