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Jess is one of the most versatile artists to emerge
from the 60's From his early success as a pop star Jess
went on to become an accomplished actor and has appeared
in many films, musicals and TV shows, as well as
continuing to present his individual style of cabaret
act.
He started his showbiz life as a Repertory Actor with the
famous 'Charles Danville Company' and played seasons in
Barnsley and Derby before being discovered by Jack Good
because he looked like a pop star, who immediately put
him on TV starring in the original 'Oh Boy' shows He
became a teenage idol, a pop star with many hit records
on the Decca label including 'Mystery Girl', 'Cherry
Pie', 'Pretty Jenny' and 'This Pullover' which found a
second lease of life in 1979 as Kenny Everett's favourite
worst record!
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Voted England's 'Most Popular Singer' in the 1961 new musical
express poll, Jess played the London Palladium, Wembly Pool and
Concert Tours throughout the world with his friends and fellow
rock stars of that era including Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent,
Brenda Lee, and England's Billy Fury, Marty Wilde and Johnny
Kidd.
In the early 70's he made the transition from Pop Singer to
Musical Star playing Jesus in H,M, Tennent's 'Godspell', for
which he received rave reviews, and creating the part of Joseph
and in Bill Kenwright's production of 'Joseph and His Amazing
Technicolour Dreamcoat', which played two seasons in the West End
of London and broke box office records in Blackpool during the
summer of 1982.
He has appeared in many films, musicals and television shows
as well as continuing to present a very individual style of
cabaret act in his special 'Sixties Celebration' show Recent
television appearances include; 'The Des O'Connor Show', 'Jim
Davidson Special', 'Rock Gospel Gala' I 'Pebble Mill', 'Big
Break', 'Paul Daniels Christmas Show' etc and in TV series such
as Phillip Bailley in 'Crossroads', Mr Warpole of Sports in ,
'Are You Being Served' and Raymond Starr in 'The Body in the
Library' I and a Miss Marple series which has been shown all over
the world, Jess is very honoured to have appeared in 12 Royal
Variety Shows.
Theatre work includes playing 'Conway Terl' in the nation-wide
tour of 'Leave Him to Heaven', 'Seagulls Over Sorento', 'Sweet
Charity' 'Boeing Boeing' and Eric in , A Slice of Saturday Night'
in London's West End, He also played Jesus in Rick Wakeman's The
Gospells at Gloucester Cathedral and on national tour, Jess has
stared in over 20 pantomimes including 'Cinderella' at the
Dominion Theatre appearing as Price Charming and the West End
musical romp 'Sinderella',
A keen sportsman, Jess is the player manager of the show business
Football Team and plays golf for the Variety Club of Great
Britain. He is a member of the Grand Order of Water Rats and he
as been raising money for a host of worthwhile charities since
the early sixties,
March 1999