Adam Faith
Adam Faith
b. Terence Nelhams-Wright, Acton, London, 23 June 1940
d. Stoke-on-Kent, Staffordshire, 8 March 2003
 

1957-58
Begins music career playing in and manageing a skiffle group, the Worried Men.
Becomes house band at the 2i's.
Appear on the television show, 6.5 Special (aka Six-Five Special).
Producer Jack Good arranges a recording contract.

Adam Faith: “Jack Good and I were sitting in his flat and his wife had just had a baby.  He had a book of dis’ names and he thought I ought to change mine because Terry Nelhams didn’t sound right and besides there already was Terry Dene.  He tossed me the book and I flicked through and came to ‘Faith’ in the girls’ names and then ‘Adam’ at the start of the boys’.  Jack’s wife came and he said, ‘He’s chosen Adam Faith’ and she fell about laughing.” (Leigh 1996: 96.)
Peter Frame: “He took the names of two friends from Oxford, now living nearby: future lawyer Adam Fremantle and wine connoisseur journalist Nicholas Faith.” (2007: 283)
17 January 1958.  “(Got a) Heartsick Feeling” (Walker) / “Brother Heartache and Sister Tears” (Aaron Schroeder and Kay Twomey).  Released as HMV POP 438.  Adam Faith (vocals) with the Rita Williams Singers and Geoff Love and His Orchestra. 
20 November 1958.  “High School Confidential” (Lewis and Hargreaves) /  “Country Music Holiday” (Bacharach and David).  Released as HMV POP 557.  Adam Faith (vocals) with session musicians.  Geoff Love (music director).
 

1959
Eve Taylor (John Barry's manager) becomes Faith's manager.
He appears on television show Drumbeat and film Beat Girl.
6 May 1959.  “Ah, Poor Little Baby” (Koury) / “Runk Bunk” (Burton).  Released as Top Rank JAR 126.  Tony Hatch (recording manager) with John Barry (music director).  [Side B Tony Hatch arranger.]
23 October 1959.  “What Do You Want?” (Les Vandyke) / “From Now until Forever” (M. Nesbitt, H. Nesbitt, and Venis).  Recorded at EMI, 25 September 1959.  Released as Parlophone R 4591 on 23 October 1959.  Charts 20 November 1959 (UK #1).  Adam Faith (vocals) with Vic Flick (guitar), Les Reed (piano), and members of The John Barry Seven.  John Burgess (recording manager) with John Barry (music directors), Les Reed (arranger), and Malcolm Addey (balance engineer).
 

1960
15 January 1960.  “Poor Me” (Les Vandyke) / “The Reason” (John Barry).  Recorded at EMI.  Released as Parlophone R 4623.  Charts 22 January 1960 (UK #1).  Adam Faith (vocals) with members of the John Barry Seven.  John Burgess (recording manager) with John Barry (music director) and Malcolm Addey (balance engineer). 
8 April 1960.  “Someone Else’s Baby” (Les Van Dyke and Perry Ford) / “Big Time” (Lionel Bart).  Recorded at EMI.  Released as Parlophone R 4643 on 8 April 1960.  Charts 14 April 1960 (UK #2).  Adam Faith (vocals) with members of The John Barry Seven.  John Burgess (recording manager) with John Barry (music director) and Malcolm Addey (balance engineer).
17 June 1960.  “Johnny Comes Marching Home” (trad.) / “Made You” (Treavor Peacock and John Barry).  Released as Parlophone R 4665 on 17 June 1960.  Charts 30 June 1960 (both sides UK #5).  Side A arranged by John Barry and ___ Maitland.  John Burgess (recording manager) with Malcolm Addey (balance engineer).
9 September 1960.  “How about That!” (Les Vandyke) / “With Open Arms” (Burt Bacharach and Hal David).  Released as Parlophone 4689 on 9 September 1960.  Charts 15 September 1960 (UK #4).  Adam Faith (vocals) with John Barry and His Orchestra.  John Burgess (recording manager) with Malcolm Addey (balance engineer).
15 September 1960.  Adam’s Hit Parade released as Parlophone GEP 8811.  A1 “What Do You Want” & A2 “Poor Me” / B1 “Someone Else’s Baby” & B2 “Johnny Comes Marching Home.”  John Burgess (recording manager) with Malcolm Addey (balance engineer).
11 November 1960.  “Lonely Pup (in a Christmas Shop)” (Alexander) / “Greenfinger (Lewis).  Released as Parlophone R 4708.  Charts 17 November 1960 (UK #4).  Side A: Adam Faith with the children and accompaniment directed by John Barry.  John Burgess (recording manager) with Malcolm Addey (balance engineer).
 
Adam Faith [on admitting to premarital sex]: "The BMA had a committee to look at the morals of today's youth and they asked me to appear before them. They thought I was the voice of youth but I could only speak for myself. Evertything got quoted out of context and it prompted the BBC to get Ludovic Kennedy to chair a discussion between myself and the Archbishop of York. the public was surprised that a working-class pop star could talk. Whether I said anything intelligible or not, I don't know. (Leigh 1996: 99)
23 October, 2015