Paradise – Billy Fury 40th Anniversary Concert

30 Nov 2023

Liverpool Empire

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In the 40th year of his premature death, a celebration of the life & achievements of Dingle born Ronald Wycherley, who when re-named Billy Fury, went on to score 29 chart hits including – Last Night Was Made For Love, Wondrous Place, A Thousand Stars, Halfway To Paradise, Like I’ve Never Been Gone & Jealousy.

Performing Billy’s hits live & recounting true stories include –

Tony Crane – Merseybeats [“Sorrow”, “It’s Love That Really Counts, “I think Of You”]

Vince Eager – [Larry Parnes’ star & Billy’s London flatmate]

Dave Berry – [“Memphis Tennessee”, “The Crying Game”,”Little Things”]

Beryl Marsden – [Ex Steam Packet with Rod Stewart, Mick Fleetwood & Peter Green]

Chris Raynor – [Billy’s lead guitarist 1970-76]

Some above artists may not appear on all tour dates.

Tributes are paid to Billy by Marty Wilde, Joe Brown onscreen

Born in the Dingle district of Liverpool, a shy young 19 year old Ronnie Wycherley went to the Birkenhead Essoldo in the hope of interesting the show’s star, Marty Wilde, with some of his compositions. Thirty minutes later rock impresario, Larry Parnes had pushed him out onto the stage and re-christened him – Billy Fury.

Billy was taken to London where he secured a record contract with Decca records, and in February 1959 enters the UK top twenty with his own compositions “Maybe Tomorrow”/”Gonna Type A Letter”. It is the first of an unbelievable 29 hit records. He goes on to sell more records for Decca than any other artist, including the Rolling Stones. (He scored more hit singles in the 60’s than the Beatles!).

This would all have been a fairy tale had it not been for an illness that was to follow him throughout his life – and ultimately claim him.