Tributes have been paid to Coventry singing legend Frank Ifield, who has died aged 86

THE CURATOR of Coventry Music Museum has paid tribute to his good friend and city singing legend Frank Ifield, who has died aged 86.

Pete Chambers BEM told the Observer: “I had the pleasure of meeting him on a number of occasions – each time he was always a gentleman, affable and, despite his iconic status, remained approachable and down to earth.”

Frank was born in Coventry in November 1937 and moved to Australia at the age of three.

Years later, at the height of his fame, he made frequent appearances at The Coventry Theatre.

Pete added: “I remember the day Frank was going to be inducted into The Coventry Music Wall – I took him on a tour of his old Coventry.

“First we went to the site of the old Coventry Theater outside the Transport Museum, and reflected on the closure of the building.”

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Frank recalled doing the 1967 show there on his birthday.

He said he was expecting his baby to be born during the show.

Frank added to Pete: “Ted Rogers, who was hosting the show, came up towards the end of my act and announced to the audience ‘it’s a boy!’

“So it was a fabulous memory.”

Also at the theater site, Frank discovered that Frank Whittle was also born in Coventry and the reason Franks Ifield’s father had moved here was to invent a jet fuel supply.

He always thought it was amazing that he had a hand in Coventry Theater and there was a plaque, next to Frank Whittle’s statue and plaque.

Frank reflected on jet invention being something his father played in, adding: “We did quite well in Coventry.”

Then it was to Evenlode Crecent in Coundon where Frank was born.

Frank Ifield’s chart success

“I Remember You” was the song that changed everything for Frank.

It was an immediate success, selling around 102,500 copies in a single day.

It reached number one in the UK in 1962 and reached number five in America. It became the first record to sell a million copies in the UK.

In August 1962, Frank was again playing at the Coventry Theatre.

Pete said: “Three months later ‘Lovesick Blues’ was released and again it hit number one in the UK and there was no looking back for ‘Our Frank’.

“What happened next was to make history.

“When his next release, ‘The Wayward Wind’, hit the charts, Frank became the first artist in UK history to achieve a hat-trick of number ones in one year.

“It was a wonderful achievement.”

Unfortunately, his next single, “Nobody’s Darling But Mine”, would peak at number four.

But then “Confessing That I Love You” took him back to the top for the last time.

Pete said: “That was his star, in 1962 he had the Beatles as support – the public weren’t interested in these Liverpool lads, they came to see Frank.

“Frank was an honorary patron of the music museum and a great supporter.

“He came many times.

“I always hoped to see him for the last time, that unfortunately never happened, but the memories of his visits and that famous yodel will live on forever.

“RIP Frank.”