Michael Holliday - Mike

Michael Holliday was something of an anomaly on the chart towards the tail end of the 1950s and early 60s. Whilst many of his contemporaries pursued success via the rock and roll route, including Cliff Richard, Tommy Steele and Billy Fury, Michael's recordings seemed steeped in nostalgia, something of a blast from the past. His style was heavily influenced by that of Bing Crosby, an artist Michael much admired, eventually earning him the nickname of 'the British Bing Crosby'. in the pre-Beatles days, Michael was something of a regular feature on the chart, actually topping the listings on two occasions, but the sudden arrival of Mersey beat and other rock and roll influenced recordings saw Michael somewhat cast adrift. He was still a popular draw on television, where his RELAXING WI th MICHAEL HOLLIDAY program was a ratings winner, and his albums tended to reflect the same kind of repertoire. MIKE, released in 1959, reveals his smooth, baritone voice to perfection, and whilst much of the material was dated even in 1959, it was still something of a pleasant and relaxing album. The voice sounds full and confident, so it is surprising to learn that Michael suffered badly from stage nerves, something that would undoubtedly play a part in his eventual dea th from an apparent drug overdose in 1963.