When and where was Bill Harry born?
William Harry was born on the 17th of September 1938 at Smithdown Road Hospital in Liverpool. His childhood unfolded within a rough neighborhood near the city's dockyards, where poverty defined daily life.
Questions about Bill Harry
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What caused Bill Harry to lose his father during World War II?
His father John Jelicoe Harry died when a German U-boat torpedoed the SS Kyleglen British Steam Merchant ship on the 14th of December 1940. None of the crew survived that attack leaving young Bill without a parent before he turned three years old.
How did Bill Harry start publishing Mersey Beat in 1961?
The foundation of Mersey Beat began with a loan of fifty pounds from Jim Anderson a local civil servant introduced by photographer Dick Matthews. The first issue released on the 6th of July 1961 sold all five thousand copies within a short time.
Why were the Beatles declared the most popular group in Bill Harry's 1962 poll?
Harry held a poll to determine the most popular group which initially placed Rory Storm & the Hurricanes first but declared forty votes void due to identical handwriting and area. The results announced on the 4th of January 1962 placed the Beatles in first place printed in issue thirteen of Mersey Beat.
When did Bill Harry receive a gold award for Lifetime Achievement in Music?
Harry received a gold award for Lifetime Achievement in Music from the British Academy of Songwriters Composers and Authors in 1994. He participated in over three hundred fifty international television and radio shows throughout his career.