Born on February 24, 1936 in Brixton, Southeast London, England.
Birth Name: Gerald James
Received an OBE in 2011.
Has two daughters Sasha & Natalie and two grandsons.
Jess has been married to his wife Renee, a former Miss Camay Model, for over 50 years. Her name was Renee Van Kullbergen which she changed to Renee Bergmann when she became one of England's top models and found fame by being Miss Camay "You look a little lovelier each day with beautiful pink Camay".
Biography
Jess Conrad is one of the most versatile stars to emerge from the 1960’s. He’s had hit records, starred in cult movies, headlined in the most successful stage shows of the day and guested on dozens of top TV shows. He truly is a living legend (and he knows it!).
Born Gerald James in Brixton, South East London, Jess won the equivalent of The X Factor of its day, the Oh-Boy show. Jack Good was the producer, the Simon Cowell of his era and who also produced Wham and Boy Meets Girl.
Voted England's "Most Popular Male Singer" in the 1961 NME Annual Poll, teen idol Jess had a lucrative contract with Decca. His hit records included Mystery Girl, Cherry Pie and Hey Little Girl in your Powder Blue. When he would later achieve cult status, Kenny Everett included his song This Pullover, on green vinyl The World's Worst Record Show.
During his heyday, Jess played the London Palladium, Wembley Pool and went on to tour around the globe with fellow British and American rock 'n' roll and pop stars of the day including, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Brenda Lee, Billy Fury, Marty Wilde, Joe Brown, Eden Kane and Johnny Kidd to name a few.
On the silver screen, Jess had a small role in Follow a Star with Norman Wisdom and before long he reached leading man status. Jess starred in Rag Doll with Hermione Baddeley, The Queen’s Guards with Raymond Massey and cult hit Konga with Michael Gough. One of his proudest achievements was his role as Barney Lee in The Boys, a gritty crime drama helmed by top director Sydney J.Furie with a soundtrack by The Shadows.
Jess also guested on various top TV shows of the day including Dixon of Dock Green, Armchair Theatre, Space 1999, Are you Being Served? and as Philip Bailey on Crossroads.
Into the 1970's Jess continued to make records for Decca, Columbia, Pye, and President labels and turned his talents to musical theatre. Jess received rave reviews as Jesus in Godspell and originated the role of Joseph in Joseph & His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which broke box office records at the time as a smash hit. Bill Kenwright credits Jess as earning him his first million pounds!
In the 1990s Jess found a new legion of fans as he starred with Jim Davidson in the bawdy pantomime, Sinderella, which went on a sell-out nationwide tour. Jess also guested on The Generation Game where he’d often be ribbed by host Jim for his singing. On snooker quiz show Big Break, contestants were given a box set of Jess Conrad's hit singles as a consolation prize!
In the 2009 film Telstar: The Joe Meek Story, the role of Jess Conrad was played by EastEnders star Nigel Harman. He appears in one scene, depicting his backstage fight with Heinz and his biting of Heinz's nose. Jess himself played the role of Larry Parnes in the film.
Jess has been fundraising events through his association as both player and manager of the Showbiz XI Football Team for over 50 years, which earned him an OBE in 2013. Also that year, Jess was voted in as King Rat, a hundred-year-old tradition, for The Grand Order of Water Rats.
Jess Conrad is one of the most enduring and best-loved stars and continues to delight fans both on stage and screen. His gold discs include The Andrew Lloyd Webber Songbook, The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection, Dreamboats & Petticoats Three Steps to Heaven which sold 100,000 copies in 2012. Recently, he popped up on BBC TV’s The Last of The Summer Wine as a tramp and he’s currently starring in the British Movie, Mob Handed. He regularly tours the country with his one-man show, Up Close & Personal and recently wowed audiences in ITV's hit reality TV Series Last Laugh in Vegas alongside pals including Cannon & Ball, Su Pollard and Kenny Lynch.
Jess's latest project is playing Batman actor Adam West in a dramatization of his life. He'll also star in an upcoming episode of BBC's hit quiz show, Pointless. Jess is currently penning his autobiography that will chronicle his illustrious 60+ years in showbusiness, entitled 'Jess Conrad: From Blitz to Glitz'.
Facts and Biography above used with permission from Mr. Conrad. Thanks for your help!
TV Appearances
(2016)Mob Handed (The Judge)
(2012)Run for Your Wife
(2011)Zero (Lottery Presenter)
(2008)Telstar: The Joe Meek Story (Larry Parnes)
(2007)Escape to the Country
(2005)Last of the Summer Wine-Who's That Mouse in the Poetry Group? (Walker)
(2005)"Never Mind the Buzzcocks" Ep 16.10 (Mystery Guest)
(2004)Sinderella Comes Again (Prince Charming)
(2002)A Celebrity Audiance with Jimmy Jones (Audiance Member)
(2001)The Real Shirley Bassey (Interviewee)
(2000)The Unforgettable Diana Dors
(1999)Blondes: Diana Dors
(1998)This Is Your Life-Rick Wakeman
(1997)Another Audiance with Freddie Starr
(1995)Sinderella Live (Prince Charming)
(1993)The Punk and the Princess (Rachel's Father)
(1993)John Virgo: Playing for Laughs
(1989)Tank Malling (Celebrity/Cameo)
(1987)Miss Marple-The Body in the Library (Raymond Starr)
(1986)Absolute Beginners (Cappuccino Man/cameo)
(1985)Claudia's Story/Claudia (Man at Deli)
(1984)Miss Marple: The Body in the Library (Raymond Starr)
 1.1.jpg)
© British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)/Seven Network/A&E Television Networks
(1983)Punchlines! Ep 4.5
(1980)Night of One Hundred Stars
(1980)The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (Cameo)
(1979)It's a Knockout-It's a Celebrity Knockout 1979
(1978)Crossroads (Philip Bailey)
(1977)"Space: 1999" - The Lambda Factor (Mark Sanders)
All 5 images ©ITV Studios Global
Entertainment
(1972)The Flesh and Blood Show (Young Actor)
©Peter Walker (Heritage) Ltd.
(1970)"Softly Softly"
- Who Wants Pride...? ( David Marks)
(1970)From a Bird's Eye View-Difficult Passenger
(1970)Cool It Carol!/The Dirtiest Girl I Ever Met (Jonathan)
(1968)The Assassination Bureau (Angelo)
©Paramount Pictures
(1966)Hell Is Empty (Jess Sheppard)
(1965)The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders (First Mohock)
(1965)No Hiding Place-A Fistful of Trouble (Mick)
(1964)The Golden Head (Michael Stevenson)
(1964)"Crossroads" (Philip Bailey)
(1964)ready, Steady, Go! Ep 1.30
(1963)"The Human Jungle" - The Flip Side Man (Danny Pace)
 1.2.jpg)
©Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)/United Artists Television/Independent Artists
(1963)The Boys (Barney Lee)
.jpg)
©Galaworldfilm Productions/Atlas Productions
(1963)Aliki My Love (Barry)
(1962)No Hiding Place-The Front Man (Johnny)
(1961-1964)"Thank Your Lucky Stars"
(1961)Rag Doll/Young, Willing and Eager(Shane)
(1961)K.I.L. 1 (Ted-o)
(1961)Konga (Bob Kenton)
(1961)"Dixon of Dock Green" - The Burn-Up (Mike Jarrod)
(1961)"Thank Your Lucky Stars" Eps 1.2+2.6
(1961)
The Queen's Guards (Dankworth)
(1960)Too Young to Love (Peter Martin)
(1960)"Boy Meets Girls"
---- February 20th episode
---- February 13th episode
(1959)"The Four Just Men" - Panic Button (Carl Willett)
 1.14.jpg)
All 3 images ©Sapphire Films/Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
(1959)Konga (Bob Kenton)
©Merton Park Studios
(1959)Probation Officer Ep 1.8
(1959)Sapphire
(1959)The Ugly Duckling (Bimbo)
(1959)Friends and Neighbours (Buddy Fisher)
(1959)Follow a Star (Theatre Heckler #3)
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All 3 images ©The Rank Organisation
(1958)The Pack
(1958)Further Up the Creek (Signalman)
(1956)Extra Day (Distracted Boxing Spectator)
©British Lion Films/William Fairchild Productions
(1956)My Teenage Daughter/Teenage Bad Girl (Dancer)
All 3 images ©Wilcox-Neagle
(1956)Wicked as They Come (Dancer in Club)
©Frankovich Productions
(1956)Reach for the Sky
.jpg)
©Angel Productions/The Rank Organisation
(1956)Who Done It?
©The Rank Organisation/Michael Balcon Productions/Ealing Studios
(1955)The Cockleshell Heroes (Extra)
http://www.aveleyman.com
http://movie-dude.com/Jess%20Conrad.htm
Anonymous Contributors
AYBS Stats
AYBS Timeframe: 1983
Episode: "Memories Are Made of This"
Discography
U.K DISCOGRAPHY
DECCA RECORDS - The Singles (45r.p.m.)
CHERRY PIE / THERE'S GONNA BE A DAY (F11236) 1960
OUT OF LUCK / UNLESS YOU MEAN IT (F11259) 1960
MYSTERY GIRL / THE BIG WHITE HOUSE (F11315) 1961
THIS PULLOVER / WHY AM I LIVING? (F11348) 1961
(Note; "Why Am I Living" from the film "Rag Doll")
I SEE YOU / OH! YOU BEAUTIFUL DOLL (F11375) 1961
EVERY BREATH I TAKE / WALK AWAY (F11394) 1961
HEY LITTLE GIRL / TWIST MY WRIST (F11412) 1961 (Picture cover)
(Note; From the Bri-Lon Sweater Film)
PRETTY JENNY / YOU CAN DO IT IF YOU TRY (F11511) 1962
AS YOU LIKE IT / IT'S ABOUT TIME (F11620) 1963
(Note: "It's About Time" from the ATV series The Human Jungle. Episode "The Flip-Side Man") (See E.P. listing)
Album (33 1/3 r.p.m)
JESS FOR YOU (Decca LK4390) 1961 (Issued only in 'Mono')
(Walk Away/Why Am I Living/That's My Weakness Now/You Too/Rag Doll/Cherry Pie/(I Wanna) Love My Life Away/Little Ship/An Angel Cries/It Tears Me All To Pieces/Out Of Luck/Mystery Girl)
E.P'S (45 r.p.m)
JESS CONRAD (Decca DFE6666) 1961
(Mystery Girl/Just The Two Of Us/ (I Wanna) Love My Life Away/Maybe You'll Be There)
TWIST MY WRIST (Decca DFE6702) 1962
(Twist My Wrist/It Tears Me To Pieces/Walk Away/Every Breath I Take)
THE HUMAN JUNGLE (Decca DFE 8524) 1963
(With the Rhet Stoller Group)
(It's About Time/I Don't Care/One Of These Days/Down Home Tonight)
COLUMBIA RECORDS - The Singles
Take Your Time / I Know You (DB 4969) 1963
Pussycat / Tempted (DB 7223) 1964
Things I'd Like To Say/ Don't Turn 'Round (DB 7561) 1965 (Note: "Things I'd Like To Say" from the film The Golden Head )
PYE RECORDS
Hurt Me / It Can Happen To You (7N 15849) 1965 (Note: These tracks were produced by legendary record producer Joe Meek)
Little Bit Of Loveliness / Tin Pan Alley Rag (PY 133) 1966 (Recorded during a tour with Kathy Kirby. Issued in South Africa only)
PRESIDENT RECORDS
The Other Side Of Life / See The Tinker Ride (PT 269) 1969
Crystal Ball Dream / Pussycat (PT 292) 1970 (Note: "Pussycat" is a different song to that of Columbia DB 7223)
Here She Comes Again /My Idea (PT 357) 1971
ANTIC RECORDS
These Are Not My People / Yesterday Man (K11508) 1974(Recorded under the name 'MEN' this was with Troy Dante, also Dave Dee (of Dozy,Beaky,Mick and Tich fame) with Dave Dee producing,Junior Campbell of Marmalade plays guitar and backing vocals) The label was a subsidiary of Warner Brothers Records in the UK.
E.M.I.
Save It For A Rainy Day / Lock Up Your Daughters (EMI 2682) 1977 (Initial pressings came with a plain black and white picture cover)
K-TEL RECORDS
Kenny Everett's 'World's Worst Records Show' (NE1023) 1979 (Green Vinyl Pressing) Features Jess's re-recordings of "Cherry Pie", "This Pullover" and "Why Am I Living". (Plus other artists)
COMPACT DISC ALBUMS
The Andrew Lloyd Webber Songbook (Pickwick Label PK521) 1993 (Jess sings two songs "One More Angel In Heaven" from the musical "Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and ""Hosanna" from "Jesus Christ Superstar")
(Note: This CD has been re-issued with other printed covers , under the title THE ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER COLLECTION PWKS 4065 (Carlton Sounds Label)
(Also features Carl Wayne. Paul Jones, Stephanie Lawrence, Fiona Hendley)
JESS CONRAD-GOLDEN BOY OF THE SIXTIES (K-Tel Label ECD 3559)
This CD is the most interesting of Jess's more recent recorded work (2001) It features one new song "Salute The Kings & Queens of Rock 'n' Roll" some re-recordings of some of his sixties Decca cuts, plus previously unreleased recordings from the 1980's and 90's, from rock 'n' roll to MOR. 20 Tracks in all.
JESS FOR YOU (The 2003 CD Album)
Available ONLY at Jess's shows and on-line at this website (See JESS' SHOP)
VINYL- PRIVATE PRESSING 7" E.P. (33 1/3 r.p.m)
One other 'Collectable' record by Jess is his 1978 'Private Pressing' on the SRT Label.
This was sold at performances in theatre, cabaret etc. and titled "A SOUVENIR OF AN EVENING SPENT WITH JESS CONRAD" SRTS/CUS 046.
Tracks are; BE-BOP-A-LULA / FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING / WITHOUT A WORRY IN THE WORLD / DIZZY MISS LIZZIE / GIVE ME A STAR / CRYSTAL BALL DREAM. Issued in a picture cover E.P sleeve.
NEW FOR 2006/7. “Jess For You” the 1961 album and Decca singles re-mastered.
(Vocalion Label-CDK4326)
Audio/Video/Books/Official Websites
Official Website: http://jessconrad.com/
CDs
“Jess For You”-The Decca singles re-mastered.(Vocalion Label-CDK4326)
"Jess For You "– Special Edition .
(Click any CD cover above to go to Jess' Merchandise Page).
Listen to samples of songs by Jess Conrad
Any Dream Will Do
Mystery Girl
This Pullover
Magazine/Newspaper/Articles
Contact Info (Agent)
http://jessconrad.com/contact.html
Interviews
Jess Conrad Interview Thanks to Andrew who runs "The Croft & Perry Podcast"!
My Interview
Any funny recollections from AYBS that would be of interest to fans?
"I was cast as the Head of the Sports Department Mr Walpole because I played charity golf for the Variety Club of Great Britain and that's how it may have happened, but the show was always looking for Guest Stars and I guess I fitted the bill.
I became a very close friend of John Inman who was a fellow Water Rat. (Grand Order of Water Rats)."
How did you get cast for AYBS? It is interesting to me that you played a golfer and you seem to play golf in real life as well.
"One of the funniest stories from the filming of Are You Being Served / Memories are Made of This.... I went to wardrobe to sort out my costume. As is the case, more often than not, I wore my own clothes apart from the golf glove which the wardrobe person gave me the choice of two. Naturally I picked the one which was more eye-catching. And we were just about to shoot the scene when one of the technicians walking past the camera told the director in no uncertain terms that his so-called golf pro Mr Conrad was wearing the glove on the wrong hand!"
Very big thanks to Mr. Conrad for his contribution to the interview.
Charity
(May 2005) Pirates Adventure Charity Show
http://www.charity-golf.com/jess.htm
http://forum.magazine.spymac.com/docs/current.pdf
http://www.welshpoolwinterfestival.co.uk/welshpool_winter_festival_background.php
http://www.chichestercci.org.uk/mayjune05.pdf
Functions/Events
November 20-21, 2010
Memorabilia Show at the NEC in
Birmingham, UK
November 19, 2006-Comic Heritage Christmas Dinner
The Marriott Hotel, Regents Park, London w/Pamela Cundall
October 30, 2006 -Comic Heritage/Wendy Richard Luncheon
Grosvenor House Hotel/London w/David Croft and Nicholas Smith
April 10, 2006-Comic Heritage Jess Conrad 100 Years in Showbusiness Grosvenor House Hotel
Special Tribute to the Late Sir John Mills CBE
Comic Heritage/Sir John Mills Plaque Unveiling
Hills House in Denham
Sunday 9th April, 2006
Plaque unveiling - 11.30am - Hill House, Village Road, Denham, Bucks
Lunch - 12.30pm - Ballroom, Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London W.1.
December 2005
Used with permission from Dec at http://www.thebachelors.co.uk/
July 19, 2005 -Dancing In The Street
London’s West End/Cambridge Theatre
April 29, 2001 - The Plaque for Dusty Springfield (The Heritage Foundation)
Thora Hird Tribute
Theater/Plays
December 1981-"Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at The Grand Theatre Blackpool
(????)"Bye Bye Birdie"
Pantomimes
(1991)Cinderella (Thorndike Theatre, Leatherhead)
(1972)Dick Whittington (Wimbledon Theatre)
TV Plays
(1967)"Thirty-Minute Theatre"
- The Gun (Davo)
(1963)Armchair Theatre-The Paradise Suite
Gallery
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| Robert Winsor Charity Golf Match (May 10, 2005) | ||
| (Used with permission from Geoff Williamson Photography). | ||
