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Riff-Raff (1991 Film)
''Riff-Raff'' is a 1991 British film directed by Ken Loach, starring Robert Carlyle and Ricky Tomlinson (the latter plays, and was in real life, a builder). It won the 1991 European Film Award Best Picture award. As with most Loach films, ''Riff-Raff'' is a realistic portrayal of modern Britain. It follows Stevie, played by Robert Carlyle, a Glaswegian recently released from prison who has moved to London and got a job on a building site turning a derelict hospital into luxury apartments. Plot summary Patrick 'Stevie' Logan is sleeping rough in London and seeks employment on a building site. Learning that he is homeless, Stevie's new workmates Larry, Mo and Shem volunteer to find him an empty flat to squat in on a nearby housing estate. Stevie meets struggling Irish actress and singer Susan (Emer McCourt) when he finds and returns a handbag belonging to her. This chance encounter leads to a turbulent relationship. Stevie rounds up some of the men from the building site to su ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ken Loach
Kenneth Charles Loach (born 17 June 1936) is a British film director and screenwriter. His socially critical directing style and socialist ideals are evident in his film treatment of social issues such as poverty ('' Poor Cow'', 1967), homelessness (''Cathy Come Home'', 1966), and labour rights ('' Riff-Raff'', 1991, and '' The Navigators'', 2001). Loach's film '' Kes'' (1969) was voted the seventh greatest British film of the 20th century in a poll by the British Film Institute. Two of his films, '' The Wind That Shakes the Barley'' (2006) and '' I, Daniel Blake'' (2016), received the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, making him one of only nine filmmakers to win the award twice. Early life Kenneth Charles Loach was born on 17 June 1936 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, the son of Vivien (née Hamlin) and John Loach. He attended King Edward VI Grammar School and at the age of 19 went to serve in the Royal Air Force. He read law at St Peter's College, Oxford [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Johnny Christopher
John (“Johnny”) Lee Christopher Jr. (born 1943 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American singer, guitarist, session musician and songwriter. Music career Christopher's singles included "(She's A) Girl Of Many Colors / The Teacher And The Pet" (1969) and "Love Stuff" (1972). As a songwriter, he wrote " Mama Liked the Roses" for Elvis Presley and co-wrote " Always on My Mind" with Mark James and Wayne Carson, a song first released by Gwen McCrae in 1972. Brenda Lee and Elvis Presley also recorded and released the song in 1972. The song has been covered by several well-known artists including John Wesley Ryles and the Pet Shop Boys. For Willie Nelson's 1982 cover, Christopher, James, and Carson won Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Country Song, 10 years after its original release. Christopher also co-wrote the 1974 song "If You Talk in Your Sleep" for Elvis Presley with Red West Robert Gene "Red" West (March 8, 1936 – July 18, 2017) was an American actor, fi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vivian Ellis
Vivian John Herman Ellis, CBE (29 October 1903 – 19 June 1996) was an English musical comedy composer best known for the song "Spread a Little Happiness" and the theme " Coronation Scot". Life and work Ellis was born in Hampstead, London in 1903 and educated at Cheltenham College. He began a musical career as a concert pianist, but became a composer and lyricist. His grandmother, Julia Woolf, had also been a concert pianist as well as composing an opera, ''Carina''. He had great success with the foxtrot song "Over My Shoulder" in the early 20s. This led to further contributions of pieces for several revues in the 1920s. Another hit song was his "Yale Blues" which had a dance step called the "Yale" and became a craze in 1927 both in the UK, Europe and the US. He became well known in the London West End theatre community for providing the music and collaborating in the production of a large number of musical shows, spanning from 1925 to 1958. Ellis dominated the musical thea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spread A Little Happiness
Spread a Little Happiness" is a song by the musical comedy composer Vivian Ellis and writer Clifford Grey from their 1929 West End musical ''Mr. Cinders''. In the original production it was sung by Binnie Hale as the character Jill Kemp;Gänzl and Lamb, pp. 131–132 a recording of her performance of the song was released by Columbia in 1929. In 1982, the song was sung in a revival of ''Mr Cinders'' at the King's Head Theatre, London and later at the Fortune Theatre after the show was transferred there. In this revised version the song was sung by Jim Lancaster, the male lead, rather than by Jill. The song was used as the theme tune for a 2009 BBC Radio 4 comedy series of the same title, written by John Godber and Jane Thornton, set in a Yorkshire sandwich bar. Sting version In 1982, English musician Sting covered the song for the soundtrack of the film ''Brimstone and Treacle'', reaching number 16 in the UK. Charts Weekly charts Other usage Comic book series '' The Sandm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ruth Pointer
Ruth Esther Pointer (born March 19, 1946) is an American singer–songwriter who is best known as the eldest member of the American family vocal group the Pointer Sisters. Career Joining her sisters in 1972, the Pointer Sisters released their first album in 1973. The group eventually found fame with songs like " Yes We Can Can" (1973), their country crossover hit, "Fairytale" (1974) and " How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side)" before Bonnie's exit in 1977. Continuing as a trio, the group found their biggest success covering tunes of rock, pop and new wave with singles such as "Fire" (1978), " He's So Shy" (1980), and " Slow Hand" (1981). The group found its biggest success with the release of the '' Break Out'' album in 1983 which featured hits such as "Automatic", "Jump (For My Love)", a re-released version of " I'm So Excited", "Neutron Dance", and "Baby Come And Get It". It's notable for featuring Ruth's lead vocals on " Automatic" and " Neutron Dance", which hit the top ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
June Pointer
June Antoinette Pointer (November 30, 1953 – April 11, 2006) was an American singer, best known as the youngest of the founding members of the vocal group The Pointer Sisters. Early life and career Born the youngest of six children to minister parents Reverend Elton and Sarah Pointer, June shared a love of singing with her sisters. In 1969, she and sister Bonnie founded ''The Pointers – A Pair''. The duo sang at numerous clubs, then became a trio later that year when sister Anita quit her job as a secretary to join them. The group officially changed its name to The Pointer Sisters. The trio signed a record deal with Atlantic Records and released a few singles, none of which made a substantial impact on the music charts. In 1972, sister Ruth joined the group, making it a quartet. The sisters then signed with Blue Thumb Records, and their career began to take off. The Pointer Sisters and solo career Releasing their self-titled debut album in 1973, the Pointer Sisters foun ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anita Pointer
Anita Marie Pointer (January 23, 1948December 31, 2022) was an American singer-songwriter, best known as a founding member of the vocal group the Pointer Sisters. She co-wrote and was the lead singer on their hit song "Fairytale", which garnered them their first Grammy Award in 1975. She was also the lead singer on many of their other hits, including " Yes We Can Can", "Fire", " Slow Hand", and " I'm So Excited". Early life and family Pointer was born in Oakland, California, on January 23, 1948, as the fourth of six children to Sarah Elizabeth (née Silas; 1924–2000) and Reverend Elton Pointer (1901–1979).Arkansas In Ink, Anita Marie Pointer (1948–) Retrieved July 15, 2020. Though she was born in California, Pointer's parents were natives of |
Trevor Lawrence (musician)
Trevor Lawrence is an American saxophonist ( baritone and tenor saxes), composer, arranger and record producer. As a session musician, Lawrence has performed both as a studio musician and as a touring musician in the horn sections for groups including the Rolling Stones with Steve Madaio and Bobby Keys and with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band along with Madaio, David Sanborn and Gene Dinwiddie that performed at the Woodstock music festival in 1969. As an arranger, Lawrence collaborated on Etta James' 1962 eponymous album and on the Pointer Sisters' 1982 ''So Excited!'' album, which he also co-produced. Personal life Lawrence was married to Lynda Laurence of the Supremes. They have a son, Trevor Lawrence Jr., born in 1973. Discography As producer/co-producer *1976: '' ...That's the Way It Is'' – Harry Nilsson *1982: ''So Excited!'' – Pointer Sisters *1984: ''In the Evening'' – Sheryl Lee Ralph As sideman *1969: ''Keep On Moving'' – The Butterfield Blu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
I'm So Excited
"I'm So Excited" is a song by American vocal group the Pointer Sisters. Jointly written and composed by the sisters in collaboration with Chris Christian, it was originally released in September 1982, reaching number 30 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100. This was followed by a remixed re-release in July 1984, reaching number 9 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. ''Billboard'' named the song number 23 on their list of "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs Of All Time". Background The song was originally recorded for and appeared on the Sisters' 1982 album, '' So Excited!'', and was subsequently released as a single. Upon its release, the single charted at No. 28 on the '' Billboard'' Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart, No. 30 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and No. 46 on the ''Billboard'' R&B Singles chart. Two years later, on the group's RIAA certified multi-Platinum album '' Break Out,'' a slightly remixed and edited version of the song was included and re released as a single. This time, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sandy Wilson
Alexander Galbraith "Sandy" Wilson (19 May 1924 – 27 August 2014) was an English composer and lyricist, best known for his musical '' The Boy Friend'' (1953). Biography Wilson was born in Sale, Cheshire, England, and was educated at Harrow School. In 1942 he won a State Scholarship for a wartime course at SOAS and was assigned to study Japanese. He was thus one of the so-called 'Dulwich Boys' who studied at SOAS and boarded at Dulwich College. While there he put together a satirical review titled 'A Matter of Course' based on his experiences on the Japanese course. He was one of the few not to complete the course and he subsequently served in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in Great Britain, Egypt and Iraq. After the war he went to Oriel College, Oxford and while a student wrote revues for the Oxford University Experimental Theatre Club and then attended the Old Vic Theatre School on a production course. Most of his work for the stage was material for revues, such as Hermione G ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. One of the most successful composers and performers of all time, McCartney is known for his melodic approach to bass-playing, versatile and wide tenor vocal range, and musical eclecticism, exploring styles ranging from pre–rock and roll pop to classical and electronica. His songwriting partnership with Lennon remains the most successful in history. Born in Liverpool, McCartney taught himself piano, guitar and songwriting as a teenager, having been influenced by his father, a jazz player, and rock and roll performers such as Little Richard and Buddy Holly. He began his career when he joined Lennon's skiffle group, the Quarrymen, in 1957, which evolved into the Beatles in 1960. Sometimes called "the cute Beatle", McCartney later involv ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Lennon
John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon's work was characterised by the rebellious nature and acerbic wit of his music, writing and drawings, on film, and in interviews. His songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney remains the most successful in history. Born in Liverpool, Lennon became involved in the skiffle craze as a teenager. In 1956, he formed The Quarrymen, which evolved into the Beatles in 1960. Sometimes called "the smart Beatle", he was initially the group's de facto leader, a role gradually ceded to McCartney. Lennon soon expanded his work into other media by participating in numerous films, including ''How I Won the War'', and authoring ''In His Own Write'' and ''A Spaniard in the Works'', both collections of nonsense writings and line drawi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
