From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Sat Nov 2, 2002  7:11 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Bruce Welch
 
BRUCE WELCH (By Shaun Mather)

Born 2 November 1941, Bognor Regis, Sussex, England

The musical career of Bruce Welch began in Rutherford Grammar School,
Newcastle, in 1957 when he formed his first skiffle group, the Railroaders,
with his mate Hank Marvin, who started out on banjo before progressing to
guitar. They entered a talent contest in London in 1958 and Bruce and Hank
decided to stay in town. They soon became members of Cliff Richard's
backing group The Drifters, later becoming The Shadows.

Bruce was the rhythm guitarist for the Shadows for thirty years, also
contributing backing vocals behind Cliff in the early years. He was also
a prolific writer and was responsible for discovering Olivia Newton-John,
becoming her producer. In the 1970's, Bruce produced Cliff's I'm Nearly
Famous album as well as the hit singles 'We Don't Talk Anymore', 'Devil
Woman' and 'Miss You Nights'. He wrote his autobiography 'Rock 'n' Roll
I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life' in 1989.

Official Shadows website: http://www.mcr26.freeserve.co.uk/Default.htm
Book: Bruce Welch with Howard Elson : Rock 'n' roll, I gave you the best
years of my life : a life in the Shadows. London : Viking, 1989, paperback
edition Penguin, 1990.