 |
| Cilla Black has died aged 72 |
LEGENDARY singer Cilla Black has died aged 72.
It is understood her son Robert, who is also her agent, was the son who was holidaying with her in Spain.
Today, many famous faces paid tribute to the Liverpudlian on social media.
Carol Vorderman wrote: "Deeply shocked to learn that Cilla has passed away," she tweeted. "I hope you are now at peace lovely lady. Thank you for the lunches and the laughs."
"I am so sad and shocked by news about my good friend Cilla. She was a resplendent and rare talent. RIP," said Joan Collins.
Ronan Keating added: "Saddened to hear about the passing of Cilla Black. A true showbiz legend.
Showbiz legend Cilla shot to fame in the sixties after bagging a number one with "Anyone Who Had A Heart".
The song sold almost a million records, making it the biggest selling single by a female artist in the 1960s.
Cilla also had hits with "Alfie", "You’re My World", "Something Tells Me" and "Step Inside Love".
 |
| Cilla's career spanned over fifty years |
The star, who enjoyed a career spanning 50 years, passed away last night of "natural causes" at her villa in Marbella, Spain.
A Spanish police spokesman confirmed the news today.
She said: "I can confirm the death of British national Priscilla White, aged 72."
"We are still awaiting autopsy results but everything at this stage is pointing towards her death being the result of natural causes."
The singer went on to have a career on TV, fronting major shows such as Blind Date and Surprise Surprise.
Cilla was married for 30 years to her manager Bobby Willis until he died in 1999 of lung cancer, aged just 57, leaving her bereft.
She leaves three sons, Robert, Ben and Jack, as well as two grandchildren.
Cilla's death has shocked the world of showbiz and fans alike and a 'R.I.P Cilla Black Tribute Page' on Facebook was quickly set up for the public to pay their respects.
 |
| The Liverpudlian famously fronted ITV shows Blind Date and Surprise Surprise |
Today, many famous faces paid tribute to the Liverpudlian on social media.
Carol Vorderman wrote: "Deeply shocked to learn that Cilla has passed away," she tweeted. "I hope you are now at peace lovely lady. Thank you for the lunches and the laughs."
"I am so sad and shocked by news about my good friend Cilla. She was a resplendent and rare talent. RIP," said Joan Collins.
Ronan Keating added: "Saddened to hear about the passing of Cilla Black. A true showbiz legend.
 |
| The star fronted ITV shows Surprise Surprise and Blind Date |
Cilla was born Priscilla Maria Veronica White in Liverpool on May 27 1943 to John Patrick White and Priscilla Blythen.
Determined to become an entertainer from an early age, Cilla got a part-time job as a cloakroom attendant at Liverpool's famous Cavern Club, where she rubbed shoulders with The Beatles.
Today the club wrote on Twitter: "So sad to hear news of #CillaBlack passing. The Liverpool lass who started in the Cavern cloakroom and became a #Legend Rest in peace."
Cilla's impromptu performances at the iconic venue impressed The Fab Four and John Lennon persuaded their manager Brian Epstein, to audition Cilla.
Her first audition was a failure, partly because of nerves, and partly because the Beatles (who supported her) played the songs in their vocal key rather than re-pitching them for Black's voice.
In her autobiography What's It All About? she wrote: "The music was not in my key and any adjustments that the boys were now trying to make were too late to save me. My voice sounded awful. Destroyed—and wanting to die—I struggled on to the end."
In 1963, Brian did sign Cilla as his only female client.
A year later, the red-head found chart fame with the Burt Bacharach hit "Anyone Who Had a Heart".
The single spent three weeks at number one in the UK charts and sold over a million copies worldwide.
Cilla's success was quickly replicated with "You're My World", "It's for You" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'".
Though her success in the States was limited, Cilla appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and Elvis Presley famously had a copy of "You're My World" on his jukebox at Graceland.
 |
| Cilla was signed by Beatles manager Brian Epstein in 1963 |
Last year, Cilla's early career and romance with Bobby was explored in a three part ITV drama, in which she was portrayed by Sheridan Smith.
It is understood her son Robert, who is also her agent, was the son who was holidaying with her in Spain.
Showbiz legend Cilla shot to fame in the sixties after bagging a number one with "Anyone Who Had A Heart".
The song sold almost a million records, making it the biggest selling single by a female artist in the 1960s.
Cilla also had hits with "Alfie", "You’re My World", "Something Tells Me" and "Step Inside Love".
 |
| Sheridan Smith played the Liverpudlian in the 2014 biopic 'Cilla' |
The singer went on to have a career on TV, fronting shows such as Blind Date and Surprise Surprise.
Cilla was married for 30 years to her manager Bobby Willis until he died in 1999 of lung cancer, aged just 57, leaving her bereft.
She leaves three sons, Robert, Ben and Jack, as well as two grandchildren.
Cilla's death has shocked the world of showbiz and fans alike.
Cilla was born Priscilla Maria Veronica White in Liverpool on May 27 1943 to John Patrick White and Priscilla Blythen.
Determined to become an entertainer from an early age, Cilla got a part-time job as a cloakroom attendant at Liverpool's famous Cavern Club, where she rubbed shoulders with The Beatles.
Her impromptu performances at the iconic venue impressed The Fab Four and John Lennon persuaded their manager Brian Epstein, to audition Cilla.
Her first audition was a failure, partly because of nerves, and partly because the Beatles (who supported her) played the songs in their vocal key rather than re-pitching them for Black's voice.
In her autobiography What's It All About? she wrote: "The music was not in my key and any adjustments that the boys were now trying to make were too late to save me. My voice sounded awful. Destroyed—and wanting to die—I struggled on to the end."
 |
| Cilla was married to her manager Bobby Willis for 30 years |
In 1963, Brian did sign Cilla as his only female client.
A year later, the red-head found chart fame with the Burt Bacharach hit "Anyone Who Had a Heart".
The single spent three weeks at number one in the UK charts and sold over a million copies worldwide.
Cilla's success was quickly replicated with "You're My World", "It's for You" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'".
 |
| Cilla began her career in the sixties, when she impressed John Lennon at the Cavern Club |
Though her success in the States was limited, Cilla appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and Elvis Presley famously had a copy of "You're My World" on his jukebox at Graceland.
Last year, Cilla's early career and romance with Bobby was explored in a three part ITV drama, in which she was portrayed by Sheridan Smith – a perfomance which won Cilla's approval.
"Sheridan is absolutely terrific. I can’t fault her," she said, before adding "but God knows how she sang so well with those false teeth in."
Post a Comment Blogger Facebook Disqus