Adam FAITH Biography
Adam Faith enjoyed a series of different, successful careers, covering a period of six decades.  He rose from messenger to film editor in the fifties, to pop star in the sixties, to TV acting star, artist manager and record producer in the seventies, to financial investments guru and journalist in the eighties, to a TV star again and a Financial Entrepreneur in the nineties.  In the 21st century he continued his financial dealings and starred in more television programmes.

During that time he also pursued successful film and stage ventures, both in musical and serious drama productions.  Read on for the story of Adam's amazing life.
The Fifties The Sixties The Seventies The 80s & 90s The 2000s Adam's CV

THE FIFTIES

As plain Terry Nelhams from Shephards Bush, west London, he left school at the age of 15 in the summer of 1955. He always fancied a music and film career, and thanks to his mother who was a cleaner at Rank Screen Services, he got a job as a messenger there. Although he had a chance to go to Pinewood Studios as a clapper boy, he turned this down in favour of another messenger job with a company called TeleVision Advertising. This company produced commercials for the infant Independent Television. In 1956, after just six months, he landed a job as an assistant film editor with TVA, which he absolutely loved.
Also during 1956 he joined with some friends to form a skiffle group called the Worried Men. They got a few club and pub jobs, but the following year they secured a residency at the now legendary 2I’s coffee bar in Soho, central London, which provided a starting point for several rock ’n’ roll legends including Tommy Steele, Cliff Richard and Marty Wilde. He was spotted there by tv producer Jack Good who was directing the BBC pop show 6-5 Special at the time, and with his newly-acquired stage name, Adam Faith made two appearances on the show in 1958.

This exposure led to an invitation to make a couple of singles with EMI records during 1958, but they failed to make any impact on the charts. Adam had left TVA to concentrate on the tv and recording work, but success was not coming his way, and through some contacts he had made at TVA, he was able to get a job with another television company called Danziger, who were based at Borehamwood in Hertfordshire. Adam got the job of adding sound effects to the William Tell and Invisible Man shows which were in production at the time. Again Adam found himself doing a job he thoroughly loved.

Early in 1959, whilst still at Danziger, he got a call from musician John Barry, who he had met during his appearances on 6-5 Special. John offered Adam the chance to appear on the first three editions of a new weekly BBC pop show called Drumbeat. Adam took up the offer even though it would create problems with his job at Danziger. At the end of the three weeks, with the Danziger manager noticing Adam's absence on Fridays and Saturdays, Adam was able to secure a place on the remaining five months of the series. This enabled him, with some regrets, to leave Danziger's and to start again as a professional singer. He got the chance to record another single, this time for Top Rank, but this too failed to have any chart success.

The autumn of 1959, however, was to witness a dramatic change in Adam’s fortunes. John Barry introduced Adam to song writer Johnny Worth who offered to write for Adam. A recording session was fixed up with EMI’s Parlophone label, and John Barry was enlisted to provide the backing, for which he used his newly-devised pizzicato string sound. The result was the classic What Do You Want which featured Adam’s pronunciation of the word "baby" as "bye-bee", and which became one of his early trade marks. The single entered the charts at number 18, and quickly climbed to No 1 in December 1959, where it stayed for 4 weeks. At long last, Adam Faith was a star.

THE SIXTIES

Early in 1960, his follow-up, Poor Me, also made No 1, and over the next three years, he enjoyed a run of eleven Top 20 hits. In the early sixties, prior to the arrival of the Beatles, Adam was regarded as one of the three top British pop stars - the other two being Cliff Richard and Billy Fury.  He toured extensively on the pop show circuit, but in September 1961 made the unusual decision to try his hand at cabaret.  He had a practice run at the 21st birthday party held for the daughter of millionaire publisher Sir Edward Hulton. Within weeks of that event, Adam opened at east London's fashionable night spot of the day, The Room At The Top in Ilford.  Although the venture was regarded as a success, it did not convince Adam to pursue a lucrative career in Las Vegas, as did his pop successors Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdink.

During this period he also began his acting career, featuring in the films Beat Girl, Never Let Go, What A Whopper and Mix Me A Person. By 1963, though, along with his contemporaries from the 1950s, he began to struggle in the wake of the new Merseysiders with their beat music.  Adam met this challenge head-on.  He reformed his backing band - The Roulettes - and recruited Chris Andrews to write songs in the new Merseybeat style.  This plan gave Adam more hits during 1963 and 1964, the largest of which was The First Time, which reached No 5.

In December 1964, Adam, unwittingly, became involved in an international incident. He had agreed to go on tour of South Africa. At that time racial segregation (known as apartheid) was enforced in public places. Adam had been assured, however, by the South African promoter, Ronnie Quibel, that he would play to 90% mixed audiences - and Adam's union, Equity, gave their blessing. However, problems soon occurred in South Africa, and after making a negative statement about apartheid, Adam received death threats and had to be assigned body guards. 

During one of his concerts, two coloured girls were removed from the audience by armed police. Adam stormed off stage and refused to continue with the tour. Ronnie Quibel immediately took out a court order stopping Adam leaving country until £20,000 was handed over to cover losses from the cancelled concerts. He was placed under house arrest whilst EMI had the money transferred from London. Finally, Adam arrived back home and was given a hero's welcome. He was never paid for the concerts he had completed, and EMI deducted the £20,000 from his subsequent royalties.

In 1967, he married his long-time girl friend Jackie Irving, who was a professional dancer.  The wedding took place at Caxton Hall, Westminster on 19th August.  It was a big media event, and massive crowds thronged around the area, hoping to catch a glimpse of the couple.

New musical styles were constantly evolving in the second half of the sixties, and new artists and bands were making their mark.  By 1967, Adam was struggling with his recording career.  His final hit single had come in 1966 when Cheryl’s Goin' Home peaked at No 46.  None of his 1967 releases reached the charts, and his final single release of the sixties, in 1968, also failed.  


Adam and Jackie
Adam has never been a man to stand still, however, and he took an opportunity to move into theatre.  He made his stage debut, playing opposite Dame Sybil Thorndike in the Emlyn Williams play Night Must Fall.  The play was a success, and at the end of 1967 he finally gave up his singing career and moved into repertory theatre, playing up and down the country, where he could improve and hone his natural acting talent.

 

THE SEVENTIES


Adam as Budgie

 Adam's extensive work in repertory theatre lead his to his 1970s television acting career.  In 1970 he started work on the television series Budgie, written by Keith Waterhouse.  Adam was in the title role, playing a chirpy cockney, just out of prison, and scraping a living on the edge of the law.  His co-star was Iain Cuthbertson, as the scheming villain Charlie Endell who employed Budgie.  Two series, each of 13 episodes, were made, all in black and white, despite colour tv having begun in 1969.

1970 was also an exciting year for Adam from a family point of view. In December that year, his daughter Katya was born. The birth was premature, and the baby had to struggle for life, but she survived and grew into a fine young woman. In the early nineties she graduated at Harvard University, Massachusetts, and Adam was proud to be present at the ceremony.
Despite having given up singing, he remained keen on the music industry as a whole. In 1972 he discovered a new young singer called Leo Sayer, became his manager and record producer, and eventually steered him to a successful international career. He shared the work with Dave Cohen, an old friend who had been Adam's drummer in the early sixties. Even so, the size of the job put a considerable strain on Adam's health and marriage, especially during the period that he was producing Leo's first album whilst at the same time filming the second series of Budgie. The following year, Adam produced the first solo album for Roger Daltrey of The Who, which contained a number of songs written by Leo Sayer and Dave Cohen (who was about to change his name to David Courtney). A single taken from the album, Giving It All Away, reached number 5 in the charts during the spring of 1973.

But Adam had taken on too much and was having to work almost round the clock. This strain undoubtedly contributed to a serious car crash in the middle of the night on 14th August 1973. Adam suffered multiple injuries, and almost lost a leg. The leg was rebuilt, however, and with help from a physiotherapist, and sheer determination, Adam regained full use of his limbs. The injuries and the period of recovery kept Adam away from acting for many months. Although offers kept coming in, he had no desire to follow them up, and spent most of his time with his family.

He finally snapped out of this semi retirement early in 1975, when he was offered a major part in the David Puttnam film Stardust. The highly-acclaimed film starred David Essex as a rock singer, with Adam Faith as his manager. Then in July of that year, after a seven-year absence from the recording studio, Adam released a new album, titled I Survive. The title referred to that near-fatal car crash of 1973. The album was produced by Adam and David Courtney, with contributions from Paul McCartney. The work was critically well received, but neither it nor two singles released from it made any impact on the charts, and Adam was left considerably out of pocket.

Adam again buried himself in acting, and in 1976 he was on the West End stage in the play City Sugar. However, his love of music resurfaced, and in February 1978 he produced a new album for Lonnie Donegan. Called Putting On The Style, after an early Donegan hit single, it was a collection of re-recordings and new material, and featured contributions from Ringo Starr, Elton John and Brian May. The album reached No 51, and was Donegan's first chart entry for 15 years.


Cover of I Survive

1979 saw Adam begin another run in front of the film camera. He took a major role in the film Yesterday's Hero (which starred Ian McShane). He also co-starred with Roger Daltrey in McVicar, and had a part in Foxes, which had Jodie Foster in the starring role; both released in 1980.

 

EIGHTIES & NINETIES

As well as witnessing two Adam Faith films in the cinemas, 1980 was also the beginning of the Thatcherite years, when many peoples’ thoughts turned to wheeling and dealing and making plenty of money.  Never one to let chances pass him by, Adam took the opportunity to step on board the "yuppie" bandwagon and become a successful financial advisor to the elite.  This work was interrupted in 1986, when, complaining of chest pains, he was found to have seriously blocked arteries, and had to undergo open heart surgery.

With Anita Dobson
in Budgie the musical

Fortunately he made a full recovery, and was then invited to take up financial journalism. Adam wrote a regular column first in the Daily Mail, and then in The Mail on Sunday, offering his advice on investments to the general public. The air of easy money and materialism came to a natural end as the 1990’s opened. Prompted by some major financial losses, Adam pulled out of the consultancy work, but continued with his The Mail on Sunday page well into the mid-90s.

With more time available, he turned his attention yet again to acting. A return to the theatre saw him in the West End of London, alongside Eastenders star Anita Dobson in Budgie The Musical - a stage musical version of his 1970s tv show Budgie. Unfortunately, the venture was not well received, and it closed prematurely.

In 1991, he landed a plum part as co-star to Zoë Wannamaker in the bitter-sweet tv series Love Hurts which ran to three series over three years.  The storyline was almost biographic, featuring one Frank Carver, played by Adam, who started life humbly, but soon rose to the heights of financial whiz-kid, only to come crashing down again.

Adam returned to the recording studio in 1993.  Spurred on by his singing in Budgie, he recorded an album of covers and some new material, called Midnight Postcards.  Once again, it was a joint production with David Courtney.  It did respectably well in the album charts, selling 50,000 copies, but no hit singles came from it.

After the last series of Love Hurts, Adam went back on the boards.  First in 1994 he starred in a UK stage tour of the sixties play/film Alfie.  As soon as the UK tour was complete, Adam took the play to Los Angeles, where his daughter, Katya, directed.  This was followed by a UK tour of the award-winning Broadway musical A Chorus Line, during 1996, in which Adam took the starring role.

1998 saw Adam taking on the role of serious television documentary presenter.  He fronted a two-part programme on the subject of heart disease - a subject he was well able to discuss!  See the Adam Heart page.

 


Adam with
Zoë Wanamaker
in Love Hurts

TWO THOUSANDS

At the beginning of the new century, Adam continued to be excited by new business opportunities and new technology.  In 1999 he hit on the idea of a new cable and satellite television station which would provide personal financial advice and news.  With the backing of City financiers, The Money Channel was up and running in the year 2000.  The service was expanded to broadcast news and information over the internet and directly to mobile phones.  Adam's original stake had grown in value to several million pounds.  However, along with many other "new technology" ventures, the channel soon hit cash flow problems.  By May 2001, the investors refused to inject more finance, and the channel closed down, loosing Adam the millions he had invested.  It was subsequently reported that he had lost £30 million on the venture, and in October 2002 he was declared bankrupt, as a result.

During October and early November, 2000, Adam was heard broadcasting on BBC Radio 2.  He presented a programme called Rockin' In The Aisles.  The six-week series of half-hour shows was aired on Thursday evenings at 10pm, and looked at the films of the 50's, 60's and 70's that had rock 'n' roll sound tracks.  Adam played the soundtrack music and gave his opinion of both the films and the music, as well as asking other knowledgeable critics to give their views.

Gillian Taylforth with Adam		 In 2001 Adam was signed up to star in a new tv situation comedy series, co-starring with ex-EastEnder, Gillian Taylforth.  It was the first time ever that he had been in a sitcom, although his previous television dramas had had their lighter moments.  The sitcom was called The House That Jack Built, and featured Adam playing the part of Jack, the very successful director of a building company, with a grown-up, but somewhat dysfunctional, family.  Gillian Taylforth starred as his wife, Maxine.  

Six episodes were recorded early in 2002, and the series was broadcast on BBC1 during August and September 2002.  However, it seemed that only five episodes were actually aired.  The series had a somewhat lukewarm reception from the television critics, although his many fans spoke well of it.  Whether a second series would ever have been made is not known.

In August 2002, it was reported in the press that Adam, who had separated from his wife Jackie in 1995 after a couple of well publicised affairs, were back living together in a new home in the village of Tudeley, Kent.  Although their marriage was rocked by Adam's infidelities, they had never divorced, but lived separately for seven years.  The new home was a remote, rented, large red brick farm house in the Kent countryside.  On a radio interview at the time, Adam refused to comment on his personal life, but subsequent events showed the report to have been correct.

During the above-mentioned radio interview (on BBC Radio 2's Steve Wright Show on 9th August), whilst promoting his new sitcom, "The House That Jack Built", he also touched on future plans.  He said "I've got a strong sense I may go on the road maybe next September.  I've put together a one-man show, which will run through the decades of my life - 40's, 50's, 60's, right up to the present time".  Following his death in March 2003, it was indeed reported that he had been planning to tour with a one-man show during 2004.

In late December 2002, it was reported in the press that Adam had been cast for a role in one of the episodes of a new series of BBC1's  Murder In Mind.  The episode of the psychological thriller series, would co-star Jamie Theakston and Helen Baxendale, and have Adam playing the part of  a contract killer.  Filming took place between January and March 2003, and Adam was spotted filming in London early in the year.  The episode was broadcast on 3rd April 2003, and the end credits carried a commemoration for Adam.

 

Adam always enjoyed acting on stage, and in January 2003 he began a major national tour with the play Love & Marriage.  The play was a romantic comedy which explored the ups and down of a modern marriage.  It was written by Donald Churchill, who had written many plays, often for television, including episodes of the "Sweeney" during the seventies.

The play was originally scheduled to take place from January to April 2003, as follows:

21 - 25 January:  Bromley
27 Jan - 1 February:  Richmond
3 - 8  February:  Bath
10 - 15 February:  Cambridge
17 - 22 February:  Edinburgh		 24 Feb - 1 March:  Stratford
10 - 15 March:  Brighton
17 - 22 March:  Guildford
25 - 29 March:  Darlington
14 - 19 April:  Malvern

 
The Publicity Picture for
 the play Love and Marriage

It was during the tour of Love & Marriage that Adam finally succumbed to his history of heart problems.  He was appearing at the Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.  He had finished the evening performance on Friday 7th March, had supper with friends, and retired to his hotel room.  It was at about 2 am, that he called the hotel reception for assistance, as he was feeling unwell.  He was having a major heart attack.  An ambulance was called, and he was taken to hospital.  Doctors fought to resuscitate him, but they were unable to save him.  The news of his death was broken to stunned fans on Saturday morning, 8th March 2003.  He was 62.

On 16th March 2003, Adam's long time musical partner, David Courtney, sent the following message to this web site, in response to the many e-mails sent by heart-broken fans:
"Adam Faith was amongst the first 100 names chosen by the public to be inducted onto the Brighton Walk of Fame.  As President and Founder of the Walk of Fame, I would like to make it known that Adam's fans and admirers are welcome to show their respect and condolences by placing flowers in the area directly to the front of the Walk of Fame Cafe, where his name and plaque are displayed. The cafe and walk of fame is located at Brighton Marina Brighton Sussex".
David Courtney.

The funeral of Adam Faith took place on the afternoon of Wednesday 19th March at the chapel of Kent and Sussex Crematorium in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.  More than 100 friends and family, including his wife Jackie and daughter Katya, gathered for the entertainer's cremation, with a host of celebrities paying their respects.


Adam's last journey, in a wicker coffin

Unusually, a wicker coffin, covered in flowers, was used for the service.  Adam's agent, Alan Field, explained the unusual choice of casket.  He said "Jackie wanted something different and a bit special.  She heard about a firm in Somerset which made them, and she thought they were beautiful".

Celebrities including actress Zoe Wanamaker, Michael Parkinson, Leo Sayer, Sandie Shaw, and Roger Daltrey were present, as well as celebrity publicist Max Clifford and football manager Terry Venables.

After the ceremony Michael Parkinson said: "It was not jolly, that would be the wrong thing to say, but we had a few laughs.  It was a service of remembrance.  As much as anything else he was a singular man as sad as his death is when you think of him you cannot help smiling. He was one of my best friends. I loved him very much."

Roger Daltrey said: "I will miss him.  He was a one off.  He was a good mate."

Terry Venables - who wrote the 1970s TV drama Hazell - told reporters: "I've known him so long.  We go back many years.  It's such a shock.  I spoke to him a few days before and he was fine, his usual self.  I felt he was wonderful, great company, always pleased to see anybody and a supportive friend."

A small group of Faith's fans also went to the funeral.  Carole Wood, 54, from Ashford in Kent, said: "I was a fan of his from the very beginning and followed his career.  I went to see him when I was about 12.  It's the end of an era."

You can read other fan's comments in e-mails sent to this web site.  Click here.


Roger Daltry with other guests

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Adam Faith's Curriculum Vitae
Date of Birth: 23 June 1940
Place of Birth: Acton, west London, England
Original Name: Terence Nelhams (later, Terence Nelhams-Wright)
Marriages: Jackie Irving - 19 August 1967 at Caxton Hall, Westminster.
Children: One daughter, Katya, born 19 December 1970
Careers:
1955 Messenger at Rank Screen Services
1956 Messenger at TeleVision Advertising
1956-1957 Assistant Film Editor at TeleVision Advertising; Semi-pro musician
1958 Sound recordest at Danziger Productions
1959 Professional singer on BBC tv
1960-1967 Pop Star
1960-1962 Film Actor
1968-1969 Repertory Theatre Actor
1970-1972 TV Actor
1972-1976 Artist Manager
1972-1978 Record Producer
1975-1979 Film Actor
1982-1990 Financial Investments Advisor
1986-1994 Financial Journalist
1990-2002 Financial Entrepreneur
1991-1994 TV Actor
1990-2003 Stage Performer/Actor
2002-2003 TV Actor
  Adam passed away in the early hours of 8th March 2003.

 

 

 

These Web Pages created
1998-2003 by
Mike J Smith

The text of this Adam Faith biography is the copyright © 1998-2003 of Mike J Smith. 
Not to be reproduced elsewhere with permission.