How time slips away! 46 years ago a tiny British schoolboy became an overnight sensation. His name really was Laurie London, and he was born in London on January 19, 1944. On August 28, 1957, the 13 year-old Lawrence 'Laurie' London boldly jumped on stage during a live BBC radio show from Earl's Court in London, strapped on a guitar and sang the Ballad Of Jesse James. The crowd went wild and a his parents signed a contract on his behalf with EMI/Parlophone.

His debut 45, featuring Bert Weedon, was He's Got The Whole World In His Hands. It became a hit both in England and in the United States, and it became Laurie's signature tune. Hopes were high following a promotional trip across America that included appearances on Dick Clark's 'Bandstand' and 'The Ed Sullivan Show,' but he could never recapture that initial success in the States or in England. It was a different story in Europe, especially in Scandinavia and Germany, In Germany alone at least six 45s were cut in the German language with the smash Bum-Ladda-Bum-Bum among them. Laurie was a big star, and even appeared in three movies.

His last four English studio sessions at Abbey Road were produced by none other than George Martin, who of course later produced The Beatles. In 1959, Laurie’s voice broke and his career came to a halt – after 13 UK singles and one EP. A cover version of the Cliff Richard smash Lucky Lips (1963) and The Bells Of St. Mary (CBS, 1966) went unnoticed.

London quit the music biz except for a few rare public appearances. In the 1990s he ran a hotel (The Angel) in Petworth, West Sussex but sold it in 2000. These days he lives in North London.