From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Fri Mar 29, 2002  2:19 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Eden Kane
 
EDEN KANE

Born Richard Sarstedt, 29 March 1942, Delhi, India

Richard Sarstedt was born in India, but returned with his parents to England
while he was still a child. His first recording (1960) was sponsored by Cadbury:
'Hot Chocolate Crazy', an advertising jingle used on Radio Luxembourg.
By this time he had created the name 'Eden Kane' for himself. This was
thought more fashionable at the time than Sarstedt. The new name,
allegedly inspired by the film 'Citizen Kane', had similar biblical
connotations to that of the highly successful Adam Faith. His natural good
looks enabled him to get a part in the 1960 film 'Drinks All Round', but then
came the opportunity to record 'Well I Ask You' which was penned by UK
songwriter, Les Vandyke. This proved to be a smash hit (# 1) and was followed
up with two more Vandyke songs, both of which reached the UK top ten.
Next came a revamp of the old standard 'I Don't Know Why', some of which
was spoken rather than sung. This also managed the chart's upper reaches,
but then the string of hits halted despite a return to Vandyke with 'House
To Let'. Even changing his recording company to Fontana did nothing to
restore fortunes. However, after a gap of more than eighteen months, record
buyers finally sent 'Boys Cry' to # 8, a song more suited to his growling
vocal style than some of his previous material. The song also met with great
popularity in Australia which encouraged the singer to go and live there,
though he also spent long periods in the UK and the USA. His two younger
brothers, Peter and Robin, also enjoyed individual chart success though unlike
Eden they decided to retain the Sarstedt name. Eden and his wife Charlene have
now made their permanent home in Los Angeles. However, he still makes regular
trips back to the UK for concert appearances.