Vince Hill

Vincent Brian Hill (16 April 1934 – 22 July 2023) was an English traditional pop singer, best known for his cover version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein show tune "Edelweiss", which reached No. 2 on the UK singles chart. He recorded 25 studio albums and several soundtracks, Outside his work in show business, he was a patron of the Macular Society, a UK charity for people affected by central vision loss.

Early life Vincent Hill was born in Holbrooks, Coventry, on 16 April 1934. He first sang professionally in a public house named The Prospect in Margate, Kent, when he was 17 years old.

His first opportunity as a singer came when he read an advert in Melody Maker magazine, which said that the Band of the Royal Corps of Signals needed a vocalist. He travelled to Catterick camp in Yorkshire where the band was based, performed the audition, and gained the job. This offered Hill a way to undertake his National Service as well as experience performing across the world. "Roses of Picardy", composed during the First World War, was another Top 20 success, reaching No. 13 in mid 1967.

Hill's long-term recording contract with EMI Columbia came to an end in 1974, by which time he had released 14 studio albums and countless singles.

In 1982, Hill added acting to his CV, in the BBC radio drama, Tolpuddle (which he also wrote). In 1988, ITV gave Hill his own midday entertainment show, Gas Street, in which he made his début as a TV presenter and interviewer; the show also co-starred Suzi Quatro. His autobiography, Another Hill to Climb (Bank House Books), written in collaboration with Nick Charles, was released in 2010.

Hill came out of semi-retirement in April 2012 to make a successful return to the stage for one night only in which he performed in a big band night at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. Hill said, "It was an absolute success — we sold out and I got a standing ovation. At that point, I just thought, "I've finished, that'll do me."

Athol, Hill's only son, was found dead, aged 42, in January 2014. Hill and his wife Annie, who died in September 2016, lived at their Oxfordshire home, close to the River Thames. Later that year, in September, Hill appeared in his 'Final Farewell Show' at the Kenton Theatre in Henley-on-Thames. In December 2018, Hill was billed to host an event celebrating the BFI's Missing Believed Wiped at 25 at BFI Southbank.

In December 2019, it was reported that Hill was to play Baron Hard-Up in Cinderella 2 – The Mrs Charming Years at the Kenton Theatre in Henley-on-Thames. Hill became a Patron of the Macular Society in October 2010. Hill suffered from AMD from 2011; this was a major reason for his reluctantly retiring from live performances. In support of the society, Hill donated all proceeds from sales of his Legacy greatest hits CD to the society to help beat macular disease. He also released a limited edition 2021 charity calendar, with proceeds going to the Macular Society. In August 2021, it was revealed via Twitter that he had recently suffered a stroke.

Hill died at home in Henley-on-Thames on 22 July 2023, at the age of 89.

Discography

Original albums at EMI Columbia Have You Met Vince Hill (1966) Heartaches (1966) Edelweiss UK Albums Chart No. 23 Edelweiss: Songs from the Musicals (The 1990s Sessions) (2017 Download, Demon Music Group) Vince Hill - His Greatest Love Songs (The CBS Years): A romantic collection of Hill's CBS recordings made between 1975 and 1977 (2017 CD & Download, Sony Music) Legacy: My Hits & Rarities (1965-1974): A 55th anniversary collection featuring Hill's eleven top 50 UK singles of the time (2017 CD) The Lost Sessions: 1969-1991

Singles Year Title(Songwriters) UK Singles Chart 1962 "The River's Run Dry"(Les Vandyke) 1966 "Take Me to Your Heart Again"(Édith Piaf/Louis Guglielmi/Mack David) 1966 "Heartaches"(Al Hoffman/John Clenner) 1966 "Merci Cherie"(Udo Jürgens/Thomas Hörbiger) 1967 "Edelweiss"(Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II) 1967 "Roses of Picardy"(Frederic E. Weatherly/Haydn Wood) 1967 "Love Letters in the Sand"(J. Fred Coots/Nick Kenny/Charles Kenny) 1968 "The Importance of Your Love"(Amade/Gilbert Bécaud/Norman Newell) 1969 "Doesn't Anybody Know My Name?"(Rod McKuen) 1969 "Little Blue Bird"(Vince Hill) 1971 "Look Around (And You'll Find Me There)"(Francis Lai)