Perhaps the most successful artist in the history of British pop music, Cliff Richard produced hit after hit from the 1950s through the 1980s. Undergoing several image changes and molding himself to fit an ever-changing music industry, Richard has showed nearly unparalleled staying power throughout his tenure.

Like many artists after him, Richard's musical beginnings came with a gift; in this case, it was a guitar given to him as a young boy. Richard formed a vocal group called the Quintones in the late ‘50s and eventually formed a band named The Drifters. The group played the England club scene as Richard honed his craft. After the band recorded a demo comprised of a few tracks, an EMI producer saw the potential in Richard and offered him a solo record deal. Remaining loyal to his fellow band mates, Richard insisted that the Drafters be signed as a whole and his request was granted. The group would change their name in an effort to avoid confusion with the American band of the same title.

Richard started to garner his fair share of attention, good and bad, with his gyrating, Elvis-like performances on stage. As the ‘50s turned into the ‘60s, Richard really began to hit his stride, scoring a multitude of hits in a small window of time. Between 1958 and 1969, more than 40 of his songs would land in the top 20.

While the rise of British acts like the Beatles gained prominence in the United States, Richard found his primary audience in his home country of England. He altered his style in the ‘70s and ‘80s, prolonging his relevance on the charts. He remains as one of the most popular entertainers of his era in England. His resume includes countless hit singles, a massive discography and even a few appearances in films.