Cliff Richard Biography

Fast Facts

• Got a guitar when he was 16 and formed a vocal group a year later
• Took on the name Cliff Richard in 1958 when he became the lead singer of a rock and roll group
• Released his debut album, Cliff, in 1959
• Sang the UK entry in the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest, "Congratulations"; the song lost the competition by one point
• Received a knighthood in 1995
• Released the single "Thank You for a Lifetime" in 2008, in honor of his 50th year in music
• Performed at Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee concert in 2012
• Was a torch runner in the 2012 Olympic torch relay
• The only singer to have had a UK number one single in five consecutive decades
• Started the Cliff Richard Charitable Trust, which issues grants and supports charities around the UK