Ricky Valance dies aged 84: Star who sang ‘Tell Laura I Love Her’ passes away in hospital after long battle with dementia
- Valance, 84, has died following a long battle with dementia, his agent confirmed
- Singer was born in Monmouthshire, Wales in April 1939 and saw military action
- His hit ‘Tell Laura I Love Her’ reached Number One in the UK in 1960 despite its controversy – making him the first Welshman to have a solo UK Number One
- Valance, who was living in Lincolnshire before he died, is survived by his wife
Welsh singer Ricky Valance has died aged 84 following a battle with dementia.
Valance, born David Spencer, became the first Welshman to have a solo UK Number One hit with the song Tell Laura I Love Her in 1960.
The singer was born in Ynysddu, Monmouthshire, Wales in April 1939, and joined the RAF aged 17 before going pursuing a career in the music industry.
His agent told the BBC that he had been diagnosed with dementia and had been in hospital since before the start of lockdown.
Ricky Valance, born David Spencer, became the first Welshman to have a solo UK Number One hit with the song Tell Laura I Love Her in 1960
The singer was born in Ynysddu, Monmouthshire, Wales in April 1939, and joined the RAF aged 17 before going pursuing a career in the music industry (pictured in 2015)
Valance was lead soprano in his local church choir as a child, before joining the Air Force and seeing active service in north Africa.
Three years later, he returned to the UK and started performing in clubs in the north of England – before being signed and recording Tell Laura I Love Her.
Tell Laura I Love Her was a controversial song upon its release, with the lyrics detailing the story of a boy called Tommy who loved a girl called Laura.
The ‘teenage tragedy song’ was banned from airplay by the BBC, but sold more than a million copies and reached Number One.
Valance was lead soprano in his local church choir as a child, before joining the Royal Air Force and seeing active service in north Africa
Valance is survived by his wife Evelyn, and the two lived in Skegness in Lincolnshire. He had previously lived in Spain where he performed on the Costa Blanca
It spent 16 weeks in the charts, becoming Valance’s only major hit.
In 2015, Valance was given an award at a St David’s Day concert at the Wales Millennium Centre for being the first Welshman to have a UK Number One hit.
In 2017, he released a final single, called Welcome Home, to raise money for the Royal Air Force Museum and RAF Association.
Valance is survived by his wife Evelyn, and the two lived in Skegness in Lincolnshire. He had previously lived in Spain where he performed on the Costa Blanca.
Fans took to social media to mourn his passing, with several Lauras telling how they were named by their parents after the song. One said: ‘I’d be a rich lady if I had £1 for every time I’ve had Tell Laura I Love Her sang to me. Rest in peace Ricky Valance’
Fans took to social media to mourn his passing, with one fan tweeting: ‘Ricky Valance, RIP. Great singer from Wales. His Tell Laura I love her song was tear jerking.’
Another wrote: ‘Another one gone. RIP. Hope Laura is waiting for you.’
Several social media users – going by the name Laura – were especially saddened.
One posted: ‘Ricky Valance song – “Tell Laura I Love Her”, is the reason my parents called me Laura. The amount of times the song was sung to me.’
Another commented: ‘I’d be a rich lady if I had £1 for every time I’ve had Tell Laura I Love Her sang to me. Rest in peace Ricky Valance’.