Is roger whittaker still alive

Although there was never any such phenomenon as Whittakermania, Roger Whittaker, who has died aged 87, built a huge international following in a career that spanned six decades.

He was also an expert whistler. German media outlet Bild confirmed that the musician had died on Wednesday 13 September in a hospital in the south of France. Born in Nairobi, Kenya in to English parents, Whittaker was raised around music. His grandfather sang in various clubs and his father played the violin; in turn, he learnt to play the guitar. Whittaker enrolled at university in South Africa after two years of national military service in the British colonial army. He arrived in Britain in to study zoology, biochemistry and marine biology at the University of Bangor in Wales. Whittaker went on to sell close to 50 million records and received platinum, gold and silver awards during his career.

Is roger whittaker still alive

The singer died on Wednesday, Sept. September he left us in peace in the presence of his family. He touched so many hearts with his music during his lifetime and will always live on in our memories. The family requests privacy as we go through this time of grief and we thank you for your understanding. Roger will be greatly missed, his legacy will forever live on in our hearts and in his art. The singer was exposed to music through his family: his grandfather frequently sang in clubs, while his father played the violin. Trending on Billboard. It was also his first and only track to reach the Hot , peaking at No. After becoming fluent in German, Whittaker catered to his fanbase and spent the s and onward performing in the country, in addition to releasing 25 albums in German. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox.

Roger Whittaker photographed with his guitar on October 22,

The folk singer was famous for his hit song Durham Town and for his expert whistling. Now, The Sun can reveal he died from a stroke at his home in France on September 13th. The funeral will be in France next week with a memorial service in the UK to follow at a later date. He said: "I'd like to be remembered as somebody who wrote some pretty good songs - the sort of songs that people will listen to again and again. The legend was born in Nairobi to English parents in before moving to Britain in September He explained: "In over 30 years of singing and playing musical sounds - the wonderful drumming, and those marvelous, infectious rhythms - have played a great part in everything I have ever written and sung.

Folk singer Roger Whittaker, famous for his hit song Durham Town and expert whistling, has died at the age of His other hits included The Last Farewell and New World in the Morning, and he sold nearly 50 million records around the world, his website said. They included German and French, allowing him to appeal to a wide audience, especially in Germany, where he was particularly popular. Whittaker was born in Nairobi, Kenya, in , while his parents were from Staffordshire, England. Whittaker studied medicine after doing compulsory national service in Kenya, where he spent two years in the colonial Kenya Regiment fighting the Kenya Land and Freedom Army, or Mau Mau, who wanted independence from the UK.

Is roger whittaker still alive

Although there was never any such phenomenon as Whittakermania, Roger Whittaker, who has died aged 87, built a huge international following in a career that spanned six decades. No one gets hysterical with excitement. And yet Roger Whittaker is one of the most popular entertainers in the world. Though he did not rack up chart hits as prolifically as the Beatles or Abba, his frequent TV and live appearances made him a household name in many countries. He made several recordings in German, singing the lyrics phonetically since he could not speak the language. He was never fashionable, but never out of fashion with his audience.

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London: Tembo. Florida Today. His grandfather sang in various clubs and his father played the violin. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? The Washington Post. In , Whittaker undertook his first tour of the United States. Roger Whittaker photographed with his guitar on October 22, Close the menu deadline-logo-svg. Powered by WordPress. From the s onward he had great success and a devoted fan base in Germany singing in German. The Journal.

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Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments. By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. Most viewed. By the time he moved to the U. Whittaker said of the incident: "It will affect me for the rest of my life, but I believe we should all live without hate if we can". Related Stories. The New York Times. New York: Viking Penguin. He was Retrieved 24 September The Washington Post. He touched so many hearts with his music during his lifetime and will always live on in our memories. In March , Whittaker announced on his website that a Germany tour would be his last, and that he would limit future performances to "occasional concerts". Elyria, OH. Beautiful, warm, catchy songs.