Bruce Welch

Bruce Welch (born Bruce Cripps, 2 November1941 in Bognor Regis, Sussex, England) is an Englishguitarist, songwriter, producer and singer, best known as a member of The Shadows.

Welch grew up with his Aunt Sadie in Chester le Street, County Durham, though they later moved to Newcastle on Tyne. After learning to play the guitar, he formed a Tyneside skiffle band called The Railroaders when he was fourteen.

 His schoolfriend Brian Rankin (later to be known as Hank Marvin, joined the group and they travelled to London in 1958 for the final of a talent competition. Although they did not win, they joined with members of other entrant bands and formed The Five Chesternuts with Pete Chester (born 1942), son of comedian Charlie Chester on drums. in September 1958 Welch and Marvin joined The Drifters, later to become The Shadows, as Cliff Richard's backing band.

As well as success with The Shadows, Welch also acted as producer for (among others) Cliff Richard and songwriter for his ex-fiancée, Olivia Newton-John. He also released a solo single "Please, Mr Please", which was not commercially successful, even though the song has been covered by several recording artists.

Among songs written or co-written by Welch are the Shadows' hits "Foot Tapper" and "The Rise And Fall Of Flingel Bunt", Marvin Welch & Farrar's "Faithful" and "My Home Town", and Cliff Richard hits "In The Country", "Summer Holiday", and "I Could Easily Fall (In Love With You)"

He was the musical consultant for the West End musical Buddy.

Welch plays occasionally with his second band, the Moonlight Shadows, a Shadows-style band with Phil Kelly taking Hank Marvin's place on lead guitar.

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