Susan Maughan

Marion Susan Maughan, known professionally as Susan Maughan, was born on July 1, 1938, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. She grew up in Consett, County Durham, where her parents ran the Castleside Working Men’s Club and her grandparents managed the Burton Hotel. After moving to Birmingham in 1953, Maughan initially worked as a secretary before joining the Ronnie Hancox Dance Band in the late 1950s. This experience allowed her to learn music reading and writing skills. In 1961, she was introduced to Dick Katz, who helped her secure a position with the Ray Ellington Quartet. Maughan's breakthrough came with her fourth single "Bobby’s Girl", which reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart in October 1962. She signed with Philips Records and was produced by Johnny Franz, known for working with artists like Dusty Springfield and Shirley Bassey. Notable albums include Swingin' Susan (1963) and Sentimental Susan (1964). Maughan performed at the Royal Variety Performance in 1963 alongside Marlene Dietrich and The Beatles, and appeared in films such as What a Crazy World (1963) and Two Left Feet (1963). Her later albums include Hey Look Me Over (1967) and This Is Me (1974), released under Ember Records. Maughan also wrote several of her own songs, including "Hand a Handkerchief to Helen" and "The Verdict is Guilty". In the 1970s and 1980s, she made occasional appearances with other British artists from the 1960s but largely retreated from the public eye.