Roger Whittaker

Roger Whittaker (Nairobi, March 22, 1936) is a Kenyan/English singer/songwriter and musician with worldwide record sales nearing 50 million.

Related Topics:
Nairobi - March 22 - 1936 - Kenya

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Although he was born in Kenya, Whittaker's parents were originally from Staffordshire, England. Roger was drafted into national service, and he spent two years in uniform in the Kenya Regiment. In 1956, Roger was demobilized and decided that it was time to concentrate on a career in medicine. He enrolled at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. After 18 months, he left the university and joined the civil service education department to try teaching. The University of Bangor in Wales was suggested.

Related Topics:
Staffordshire - England - Kenya Regiment - University of Cape Town - South Africa - University of Bangor - Wales

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Roger arrived in Britain in 1959. For the next three years, he studied zoology, biochemistry, and marine biology and received a B.Sc.

Related Topics:
Zoology - Biochemistry - Marine biology

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He landed his first major breakthrough when he was signed to appear on an Ulster Television show called "This And That." In the spring of 1964, Roger met his future wife, Natalie, and they were married on August 15th. They lived in England with their five children, Emily, Lauren, Jessica, Guy and Alexander.

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In 1986, he published his autobiography, So Far, So Good, co-written with his wife.

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In the 1990s Roger had knee replacement surgery. He moved to Ireland and settled down by the River Shannon. In 2003 he again toured Germany. After recovering from heart problems at the end of 2004, he started touring in Germany in 2005, and then in UK from May to July.

Related Topics:
Ireland - River Shannon - Germany

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He is also a successful composer of his own hits and has had many hit singles and sold millions of records all over the world since his first big success The Leavin' (Durham Town). He has a distinctive deep voice, although at the start of his career his trademark was whistling, at which he continues to practice now. After moving to and living in Britain for several years he had success at a Belgian music festival representing Britain with his (whistling) song Mexican Whistler, and later made an album Whistling All Over The World, but the songs Mammy Blue (not his own composition) and Durham Town were his biggest successes. He later had his own TV series and is known for inviting viewers to submit lyrics which he sets to music. It was in this way that The Last Farewell was composed, probably his biggest single success, and a number one in many countries.

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