John Dudley Leyton (born 17 February 1936)[1] is an English retired actor and singer.
Leyton as a singer is best known for his hit song "Johnny Remember Me" (written by Geoff Goddard and produced by Joe Meek),[2] which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in August 1961 despite being banned by the BBC for its death references.[3] His follow-up single, "Wild Wind", reached number two in the same chart.
Leyton went to Highgate School and after completing his national service with the Royal Army Service Corps, he studied drama, paying his way through drama school with bit-part roles in films and on television. His first major acting role was his portrayal of Ginger in a 1960 Granada TV adaptation of Biggles, which earned him a large following of young female fans and led to the formation of a John Leyton fan club.[2]
Singer-actor
Following the success of Biggles, Leyton was persuaded by his manager, Robert Stigwood, to audition as a singer for record producer Joe Meek, and subsequently recorded a cover version of "Tell Laura I Love Her", which was released on the Top Rank label.[5] In 1961 though, the Top Rank label was taken over by EMI who then issued Leyton's records on their His Master's Voice label. EMI had already released Ricky Valance's version of the same song. Leyton's recording was withdrawn from sale, whilst Valance's version reached number one in the UK chart.[6]
A second single, "The Girl on the Floor Above", was released on His Master's Voice, but was not a success.[7] His first big hit, "Johnny Remember Me", coincided with his appearance as an actor in the popular ATV television series Harpers West One, in which he played a singer named Johnny Saint Cyr.[2] Leyton performed "Johnny Remember Me" during the show (backed by the Outlaws), and the single subsequently charted at Number 1.[2] His next single, "Wild Wind", reached number two in the UK Singles Chart, and later singles also achieved lower chart positions.[3][8]
On 15 April 1962, Leyton performed at the NME Poll-Winners Concert at London's Wembley Pool.[9] But in 1963, Meek and Goddard's association with Leyton ended; that circumstance, combined with the British beat boom, cast Leyton adrift immediately, although he found a lot of acting work in television and film to keep him busy.[8] Despite trying to give Leyton's music more of a 'group' sound by giving him a backing group, The LeRoys, his chart career faded out by the beginning of 1964.[7] In that same year, according to the music journalist Bob Stanley, 'Leyton headlined a tour with up and coming support act the Rolling Stones. Very quickly, it became apparent that the Stones were more popular than the headline act and Leyton, with great dignity, abandoned his pop career on the spot to concentrate on acting.'[10]
Heyday as an actor
Leyton was a familiar face in film and television during the 1960s. He played himself in the 1962 Dick Lester film It's Trad, Dad!, performing his latest single "Lonely City" in a radio studio. In The Great Escape (1963), he played tunnel designer Willie Dickes, one of the only three characters to reach freedom. Leyton also cut a single with lyrics to Elmer Bernstein's theme to the film. He also appeared in Guns at Batasi in 1964, Every Day's a Holiday (aka Seaside Swingers in the United States) and Von Ryan's Express starring Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard in 1965. In Krakatoa, East of Java, in 1969, he played the designer of a diving bell. From 1966 to 1967, Leyton played the lead role as Special Operations Executive (SOE) Royal Navy Lieutenant Nicholas Gage, an expert in demolitions, in Jericho, an American TV series about espionage in the Second World War.
Later career
Leyton returned to Britain in the early 1970s and tried to re-launch his singing career, signing to the York record label in 1973. A single, "Dancing in the Graveyard" c/w. "Riversong" (York SYK 551) and an album, John Leyton (York FYK 416) were released that year.[11] A year later, Leyton's cover version of the Kevin Johnson hit, "Rock and Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)", (York YR 210) was issued in the UK but without success. In the mid 1970s, Leyton starred in the ITV television series, The Nearly Man. Acting roles became fewer and farther between during the 1970s, and by the early 1980s, he was no longer active in show business.
Leyton continues to tour the UK and Scandinavia performing his hits (sometimes backed by the Rapiers)[12][13][14] and can boast an internet following with his official website. In 2014, he continued to tour with his band, the Flames,[15][16] featuring John Burleigh on guitar, Ray Royal on drums and Charlie Gardner on bass guitar and Jeff Jeffereys on rhythm guitar.
Leyton married Diana in 1967 and they had a son, Dominic and daughter, Lara.[17]
1964 – Tell Laura I Love Her (His Master's Voice 7EG8854) – "Tell Laura I Love Her" / "The Girl on the Floor Above" / "Johnny Remember Me" / "Wild Wind"
1977 – John Leyton (EMI 2699) – "Johnny Remember Me" / "Son This Is She" / "Wild Wind" / "Cupboard Love"
