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Roger Whittaker

Roger Whittaker
Roger Whittaker
Whittaker performing in 1976
Background information
Birth nameRoger Henry Brough Whittaker
Also known asRog Whittaker (note: billing for "The Charge of the Light Brigade", Fontana records single)[1]
Born(1936-03-22)22 March 1936
Nairobi, Kenya
Died13 September 2023(2023-09-13) (aged 87)
near Toulouse, France[2]
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer-songwriter
  • teacher
Instrument(s)
Years active1962–2013
LabelsFontana Records, Columbia Records, RCA Victor (US releases)
Websiterogerwhittaker.com

Roger Henry Brough Whittaker (22 March 1936 – 13 September 2023) was a Kenyan-born British singer-songwriter and musician.[3] His music is an eclectic mix of folk music and popular songs, the latter variously in a crooning or in a schlager style. He is best known for his baritone singing voice and trademark whistling ability as well as his guitar skills.

The Times observed that "[s]ome pop singers define the zeitgeist and many more follow it. A much rarer number of them defy it and Roger Whittaker counted himself proudly and unapologetically among them".[4] Despite not obtaining sustained chart success, he gained a large international following through TV appearances and live performances, with fan clubs in at least 12 countries (including Australia, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States). One admirer was US president George H. W. Bush, at whose home he was invited to perform.[5][6]

Whittaker is best known internationally for his 1971 single "The Last Farewell", which charted in 11 countries. In the United States, where the song was released four years later, it became his only entry in the Billboard Hot 100, and reached number one on the Adult Contemporary chart. Whittaker was widely known for his own compositions, including "Durham Town (The Leavin')" (1969) and "I Don't Believe in If Anymore" (1970). American audiences are most familiar with his 1970 hit album New World in the Morning and his renditions of "Ding! Dong! Merrily on High" and "The Twelve Days of Christmas". From the 1970s onward he had great success and a devoted fan base in Germany singing in German.[7] After being dropped by his record label RCA, he marketed his 1977 album All My Best on television, and it went on to sell nearly one million copies.[7][8] In total, he sold an estimated 50–60 million records during his career.[4][9]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference cat was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Smith, Harrison (19 September 2023). "Roger Whittaker, whistling balladeer who found global fame, dies at 87". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  3. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "About Roger Whittaker". CMT. Archived from the original on 15 December 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Folk singer Roger Whittaker dies aged 87". The Times. London. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  5. ^ Koch, Dorothy Bush (2006). My Father, My President: A Personal Account of the Life of George H.W. Bush. New York: Warner Books. p. 440. ISBN 9780446579902.
  6. ^ Raynor, Ken & Shiels, Michael Patrick (2017). I Call Him "Mr. President": Stories of Golf, Fishing, and Life With My Friend George H.W. Bush. New York: Skyhorse Publishing. pp. 97–98. ISBN 9781510724648 – via Internet Archive.
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Sweeting was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rea was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Lewis, Isobel (20 September 2023). "Roger Whittaker, 'Durham Town' singer and folk legend, dies aged 87". The Independent. London. Retrieved 24 September 2023.

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