Billy Fury's Tornados head to Birmingham

Twenty-eight years after the death of legendary rock and roller Billy Fury, his band are bringing his hits back to Birmingham.

Fury's Tornados remain Billy Fury's longest ever serving band and continue to tour in the hit show Halfway to Paradise - The Billy Fury Story with all original members.

Now in its 15th year and featuring Colin Gold as Fury, they remember their old friend and boss by performing live hits including I Will, Last Night Was Made For Love, Wondrous Place, Jealousy, Halfway To Paradise and many more.

Billy Fury – Halfway to Paradise will be at the New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, on Wednesday, October 26, 2011. Tickets are £19.50 plus fees from the box office on 0844 871 3011 or online at www.atgtickets.com/birmingham

Born in the Dingle district of Liverpool, a shy 19-year-old Ronnie Wycherley went to the Birkenhead Essoldo in the hope of interesting the show's star, Marty Wilde, with some of his songs.

Thirty minutes later rock impresario Larry Parnes had pushed him out on to the stage and re-christened him Billy Fury. Billy was taken to London where he secured a record contract with Decca records and in February 1959 entered the UK top 20 with his own songs Maybe Tomorrow and Gonna Type A Letter.

It was the first of an unbelievable 29 hit records and he went on to sell more records for them than any other artist, including the Rolling Stones (He scored more hit singles in the 60's than The Beatles!).

Fury's Tornados came into Billy's life in 1970. It had been four years since his last major hit, but Billy was still a big star and found huge audiences in the new cabaret venues that were emerging all over the UK.

Glam rock may have been taking over Britain, but Fury's Tornados were still having to deal with the fan hysteria after each show.

Guitarist Chris Raynor says: "He was 6ft tall, handsome and a big star with a terrific voice but he was also very shy and quite a nervous performer. This had a devastating affect on the females. They all fancied him. After each performance it was quite usual for the band to be keeping the dressing room door on its hinges!."

It was during this period in 1972 that Billy was to make his final film, a cameo appearance as Stormy Tempest in the David Essex/Ringo Starr classic That'll Be The Day.

Fury's Tornados continued to back Billy until his retirement through ill health in 1976. Billy and his partner, Lisa, went to live in a farm in Wales. In 1982 a new recording contract with Polydor Records bought Billy out of retirement but January 28, 1983, Billy lost his final battle with heart illness.

Fury's Tornados are Colin Gold as Billy Fury, Chris Raynor (lead guitar/vocals), Charlie Elston (keyboards/vocals), John Raynor (drums/vocals), and Graham Wyvill (bass/double bass/vocals).