Charles Edward Springall, known by the stage name Charlie Drake, was born on 19 June 1925 in Elephant and Castle, Southwark, south London. As a singer, he began his career at the age of eight, winning a chorus place in a Harry Champion music hall production. His first television debut occurred in The Centre Show (1953), and he made a significant impact on television through various shows, including Laughter in Store (1957), Drake's Progress (1957–58), and Charlie Drake In… (1958 to 1960), where he was known for his opening catchphrase "Hello, my darlings!" His career faced a temporary setback in 1961 when an accident during a live broadcast left him with a fractured skull. Despite this, he returned to television and won an award at the Montreux Festival in 1968 for The Charlie Drake Show. His recording career included several notable singles produced by George Martin on the Parlophone label. His first hit single, "Splish Splash", reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart in 1958. Following this, he released "My Boomerang Won't Come Back" in 1961, which charted at number 14 in the UK and number 21 in the US. His notable collaborations include working with Peter Gabriel, who produced his single "You Never Know" featuring Sandy Denny on backing vocals and Phil Collins on drums. Charlie Drake passed away on 23 December 2006.
