Sixty years ago this week saw Michael Holliday score his 2nd UK Number One single with ‘Starry Eyed’. It would be his last.
Born in Liverpool as Norman Alexander Milne, son of a seaman, he joined the Merchant Navy after finishing school and enjoyed his time developing his talent for singing – mostly in-front of his shipmates.
In the late 40’s while on shore leave in New York City, he won a talent contest and on his return home decided to take up singing.
He resigned from the Navy and starting singing around the clubs of Liverpool in his new legal name of Michael Holliday – using his mother’s maiden name.
Soon he was hired as a singer and guitarist in the Eric Winstone Band, before being signed to EMI’s Columbia label in 1955.
Between 1955-63 he was known as ‘Britain’s Bing Crosby’ and between 1956-60 was England’s top male singing star.
He scored a few hit singles but it was ‘The Story Of My Life’ written by Burt Bacharach & Hal David that propelled him to the top spot in 1958.
Another hit from the same year was ‘Stairway Of Love’ reaching No.3 and then his third and final Top 10 single was ‘Starry Eyed’ which spent a single week at No.1 during 1960.
During his rise, he was a regular on TV in various shows and even appeared in his own regular BBC TV series ‘Relax with Michael Holliday’ which ran for 10 episodes.
But as the 60’s moved forward, his popularity declined, his music mostly appealing to the older generation while their children grew on the new sounds of skiffle and rock n’ roll.
Despite the show business and stardom, he was an insecure man, a nervous wreck before going on stage and in 1961 had a mental breakdown.
He was a ladies man and eventually his wife left him, his rock.
In October 1963 he died in Croydon, Surrey of a suspected drug overdose of sleeping tablets.
He left a letter to his wife –
: “By the time you receive this I trust that I shall be at the Land of Nod. I thought it would be better if you found out this way as I am sure that it will get in the papers one way or another. I am sorry I had to do this but I am afraid I am so confused. If you could have spoken to me about it, it might have helped a little. Even my accountants have grown tired of me and deserted me. The income tax want their money by Wednesday or else. I guess I ain’t man enough to tackle it alone. If I can get word to you about the other world – if there is one – you know me, I will find some way of letting you know. I will let you know because a lot of people are curious about going beyond.”
