Roger Whittaker

A cheerful, pop storyteller who sold over 60 million records, Roger Whittaker was an old-fashioned type of entertainer who charmed audiences with his mild-mannered, upbeat melodies and sentimental singalong hits. Born to British parents in Nairobi, Kenya on March 22, 1936, he relocated to the UK to study at the University of Bangor, Wales. He then abandoned a career in biochemistry when he started writing songs and singing in local bars, eventually landing a deal with Fontana Records in 1962. He made his name on the continent when he won a prestigious song contest in Belgium and his single "Mexican Whistler" reached number 1 in three European countries. But his big breakthrough hit came years later in 1969 when "Durham Town (I'm Leaving)" reached number 12 in the UK. Initially his style was built on acoustic guitar songs accompanied by his baritone voice and unique whistled melodies before he adopted more of a lounge crooner persona and scored a hit with his classic signature anthem "The Last Farewell". The torch ballad reached number 2 in the UK, made the Top 20 in the US, won an Ivor Novello Award, sold over 11 million copies, and was even covered by Elvis Presley. His full-length release New World in the Morning (1971) became his most successful album. Though he failed to follow up that acclaim in the UK and US with later albums Magical World of Roger Whittaker (1975), Reflections of Love (1976) and When I Need You (1979), his popularity remained high in Europe (particularly in Germany), and he continued touring and recording and performed at the golden wedding anniversary of President George Bush Snr. Roger Whittaker retired from touring in 2007, although he performed occasional live shows up through 2012, when he retired from all aspects of the music business. Alongside earning over 250 silver, gold, and platinum awards from around the worlds, he was honored with a Goldene Stimmgabel in Germany in 1986 and, two years later, a Badge Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors (BASCA). Roger Whittaker died on September 13, 2023, at the age of 87.