With his backing group The Shadows, Richard dominated the British popular music scene in the late 1950s and early 1960s (ie the 5 year "Before-Beatles" period: 1958-1962), before and during The Beatles' first year in the charts in 1963. John Lennon once claimed that "before Cliff and the Shadows, there had been nothing worth listening to in British music."... - The Times. Nov 30th 2005.
A conversion to Christianity and subsequent softening of his music led to his having more of a pop than rock image. He has achieved the same impact in the United States despite several chart singles there such as Devil Woman, but he has remained a popular music, film, and television personality in the United Kingdom and he retains a following in other countries. Over his 51-year career he has amassed hundreds of gold and platinum discs and awards, making him one of the most successful singers of all time.
During six decades, Cliff Richard has charted many singles, and holds the record (with Elvis Presley) as the only act to make the UK singles charts in all of its decades (1950s-2000s). He is the only singer to have had a number one single in the UK in, officially, five consecutive decades, doing so from the 1950s through to the 1990s (though if you discount digital downloads and only count CDs, he has had a number one single in the UK in six consecutive decades, from the 1950s through to the 2000s--see the first paragraph of 'Works: Chart accomplishments' below --, a record generally considered impossible to be beaten). In the British charts, Richard has had more than 130 [single], albums and EPs make the UK top 20, more than any other artist. He has had 8 US Top 40 single entries, of which 3 peaked in the Top 10. He has sold more than 250 million records.
From Wikipedia
Cliff Richard & The Shadows
David Essex
Adam Faith
Shakin' Stevens
The Shadows
Frank Ifield
Jackie DeShannon
Bobby Vee
