They’ ve performed on some of the most instantly-recognised songs in the soundtrack to our lives, but how many of these Teessiders who’ ve performed on UK top 40 hit singles could you have named? Tees Life co-editor DAVE ALLAN tells us more …
Teesside’ s
TOP POPS
of the
Chris Rea( Born in Middlesbrough) Rea enjoyed his first top 40 hit in 1978 with‘ Fool If You Think It’ s Over’, the first of 13 UK top 40 hits, accompanied by two No 1 albums. He has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide.
David Coverdale( Saltburn) Initially part of Deep Purple, where he enjoyed album but not single success, Coverdale achieved 14 top 40 hits as frontman for‘ 80s rockers Whitesnake including‘ Is This Love’ and‘ Here I Go Again’.
Paul Rodgers
( Middlesbrough) Rodgers was lead singer of rock band Free, who hit No 2 with‘ All Right Now’ in the early‘ 70s – one of four top 40 hits – before enjoying three more hit singles in the mid-‘ 70s with Bad Company, who also achieved two US No 1’ s. Rodgers has also performed extensively with Queen.
James Arthur( Saltburn) The Redcar-raised 2012 winner of X-Factor already has five top 40 hits including two number ones,‘ Impossible’ and 2017 success‘ Say You Won’ t Let Go’, from his No 1 album‘ Back from the Edge’.
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Amelia Lily
( Middlesbrough) Nunthorpe-born Lily finished third in 2011’ s X-Factor behind winners Little Mix. She enjoyed three top 40 hits including a No 2 with her debut single‘ You Bring Me Joy’, and also featured on the No 1 hit‘ Wishing on a Star’ by the X-Factor Finalists.
Paul Smith( Billingham) The former Stockton Riverside College lecturer has enjoyed eight top 40 hits as front man of Maximo Park including‘ Our Velocity’, a top 10 success in 2007.
Micky Moody( Middlesbrough) Moody was guitarist in rockers Whitesnake with fellow Teessider David Coverdale between 1978-84, during which time they enjoyed seven top 40 hits including‘ Fool For Your Loving’. Moody later played on one of Sheena Easton’ s top 40 hits whilst he has performed live with Eric Clapton, Paul Weller and Meat Loaf.
Roy‘ Chubby’ Brown
( Grangetown) The comedian guested on a remake of Smokie’ s‘ Livin’ Next Door to Alice’ which reached No 3 in 1995.
Paul Smith has enjoyed chart success with
Maximo Park.
Chris Norman( Redcar) Born in Redcar but raised across the country, Norman was lead singer of soft rock band Smokie as they racked up 11 top 20 hits between 1975 and 1978 including‘ If You Think You Know How to Love Me’. As a solo artist, he later enjoyed a number one hit in Germany, whilst also co-writing‘ This Time( We’ ll Get it Right) for the 1982 England World Cup squad.
Steve Pinnell
Drummer Pinnell joined Smokie in 1986, the year his fellow Teessider Chris Norman left the band. Their UK hey-day was behind them, but Pinnell was joined by‘ Chubby’ Brown, on the re-recording of‘ Livin’ Next Door to Alice( Who the F *** is Alice?)’, while the band have enjoyed many European hits.