b. David Holgate Grundy, 6 February 1941, Woodhouse, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. With his long-serving backing group, the Cruisers, Berry was signed to Danny Betesh's Manchester-based Kennedy Street Enterprises, and, after signing to Decca Records, found success with a version of Chuck Berry's "Memphis Tennessee" in 1963. Cover versions of Arthur Crudup's "My Baby Left Me" and Burt Bacharach's "Baby It's You" were also minor hits, but the band's breakthrough came with Geoff Stephens' "The Crying Game", which reached the UK Top 5 in August 1964. Berry's stage act and image was strong for the period and featured the singer dressed in black, erotically contorting his body and playing with the microphone as though it were a writhing snake. Bobby Goldsboro's chirpy "Little Things' and Ray Davies" "This Strange Effect' - which became the Netherlands" biggest-selling record ever - provided further chart success, which concluded with the much-covered B.J. Thomas opus, "Mama", in 1966. In the late 70s, Berry was one of the few 60s stars held in any esteem in punk circles, epitomised by the Sex Pistols' revival of "Don't Gimme No Lip Child", one of Berry's 1964 b-sides. The next decade saw a resumption of his recording career and he continues to tour abroad, appearing regularly on the cabaret/revivalist circuit. He released a pure blues album in 2004.

Listen to Dave Berry at Finetune.

• This Strange Effect

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