Kathy Kirby

Kathy Kirby, born Kathleen O'Rourke on October 20, 1938, in Ilford, Essex, England, is a singer known for her contributions to pop and jazz music. Raised by her mother Eileen after her father left early in their childhood, Kirby showed an early aptitude for singing and took lessons with the aim of becoming an opera singer. Her professional career began in 1956 when she met bandleader Bert Ambrose at the Ilford Palais. In 1962, Kathy Kirby signed with Decca Records and released (He's a) Big Man, which became a hit in Vancouver. Her breakthrough came in 1963 with "Dance On!", peaking at number 11 in the UK and Number 1 in Australia. This was followed by an upbeat cover of Doris Day’s "Secret Love", reaching number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1965, she represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest with "I Belong", finishing second. Despite a successful career in the mid-1960s, Kathy Kirby's later singles failed to chart and she retired from show business in 1983 after performing her final concert in Blackpool. Kathy Kirby passed away on May 20, 2011. Posthumously, several albums were released including Greatest Hits, Disco Dance 60's and Love Songs.