The late Kenneth Arthur Dodd, known professionally as Ken Dodd, was born on 8 November 1927 in Knotty Ash, Liverpool, England. He began his career as an entertainer in the mid-1950s, initially gaining recognition for his stand-up comedy and ventriloquism skills. His breakthrough moment came in September 1954 when he made his professional debut at the Nottingham Empire. His rapid-fire delivery of one-liner jokes and his use of a distinctive 'tickling stick' prop became hallmarks of his performances, which often lasted several hours. He released his first notable singles in the early 1960s, including "Once In Every Lifetime" (1961) and "Pianissimo" (1962). His album Presenting Ken Dodd was released in 1962. Throughout the 1960s, he had several hit singles as a ballad singer, with notable tracks including "Tears" (1965) and "Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Empty Arms)" (1972). His career spanned over six decades, during which he released numerous albums such as With Love in Mind (1971), Now and Forever (1983), and Ken Dodd and the Diddymen (1987). He was knighted in the 2017 New Year Honours for his services to entertainment and charity. He continued performing until the end of 2017, passing away on 11 March 2018 at the age of 90.
