Child are a British pop group that released a number of records, including a top-10 single in 1978. The band were originally a four-piece, consisting of Dave Cooper (guitar), Graham Bilbrough (vocals) and twins Keith (bass guitar) and Tim Atack (drums). Following the release of the first four singles Dave Cooper left to form rock band Crash Alley and Mike Mckenzie joined on bass guitar with Keith Atack switching to guitar. Their biggest hit was a cover of the

Conway Twitty Harold Lloyd Jenkins (September 1, 1933 – June 5, 1993), better known by his stage name Conway Twitty, was an American singer and songwriter. Initially a part of the 1950s rockabilly scene, Twitty was best known as a country music performer. ...

song "

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", which was a top ten hit in 1978. Child was reformed by Graham Bilbrough in 2021, with new members of the band Andrew Dures, Steve O Brien, Tony Endecott, and Dave Walker.

History

Child were formed in the early 1970s consisting of Graham Bilbrough (born 1958), Dave Cooper (born 1957) and twin brothers Keith and Tim Atack (born 1959). The members were in their early teens at the time, performing under the name Reincarnation.They were spotted by Mike Devere, Mike offered to manage the band, he set about creating the bands image and got them their first record contract. Mike managed the band until the early eighties.Their first single was released in 1976 but failed to chart. After touring and many television appearances, the group secured a record deal with

Ariola Ariola (also known as Ariola Records, Ariola Express, Ariola-Eurodisc and BMG Ariola) is a German record label. In the late 1980s, it was a subsidiary label of the Bertelsmann Music Group, which in turn has become a part of the international ...

Hansa. With this label the group achieved their first chart hit after appearing on ''

Top of the Pops ''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British record chart television programme, made by the BBC and broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show. For most of its histo ...

''. The song was a cover of

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' hit "

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", and reached number 38 in the UK. Following this up with another cover, the formula worked even better and the group had a top 10 hit with "

", which earned them a silver disc from the BPI for sales in excess of 250,000. In 1979, they scored their third chart hit with (another cover) "

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", which reached number 33. Their first album for Ariola Hansa (entitled ''The First Album'') again earned them a BPI silver disc. Their second album, ''Total Recall'', was less successful and the group disbanded soon afterwards in 1980. Despite being a pop band in the punk age, Child were voted the second most popular UK band amongst teenage girls in a 1978 poll conducted by the magazine ''

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''. Keith and Tim Atack went on to become session musicians, backing the likes of

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and

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in the 1980s. They also formed a singing duo under two different names, Atack (early 1980s) and The Duel (late 1980s), but neither found success. Keith went on to form the

Eagles Eagle is the common name for the golden eagle, bald eagle, and other birds of prey in the family of the Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of Genus, genera, some of which are closely related. True eagles comprise the genus ''Aquila ( ...

tribute band the Illegal Eagles in the 1990s and still plays with them. Tim became musical director to

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before becoming a film and television score composer, writing for films such as ''

The Invention of Lying ''The Invention of Lying'' is a 2009 romantic comedy fantasy film written and directed by comedian Ricky Gervais and writer Matthew Robinson in their directorial debuts. The film stars Gervais as the first human with the ability to lie in a world ...

'' and '' Cemetery Junction'' as well as the love theme from ''

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'', which went on to be covered by

Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most Cultural impact of Beyoncé, ...

Discography

Albums

Singles

Love You Forever, No 7 Heritage Chart 2023. I Love How You Love Me, No 1 Heritage Chart 2024. I'm On The Outside (Looking In), No 1 Heritage Chart 2024.

References

External links

* {{Authority control English pop music groups People from Ackworth, West Yorkshire Hansa Records artists