Kathy Kirby

Pop Singer

Birthday October 20, 1938

Birth Sign Libra

Birthplace England

DEATH DATE May 19, 2011 (72)

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About

Most famous for her 1963 cover of the Doris Day hit 'Secret Love,' this English vocalist also recorded such UK chart-ranked singles as 'Let Me Go, Lover!' and 'Dance On!' She was the runner-up in the Eurovision Song Contest of 1965.

Before Fame

As a young woman, she studied classical voice. She began her professional singing career in the mid 1950s as a member of Bert Ambrose's orchestra.

Trivia

She suffered from schizophrenia and had a tumultuous personal life that included affairs with British television host Bruce Forsyth and with her female fan Laraine McKay.

Family Life

She and her two younger siblings grew up in Essex, England, as the children of Irish parents. She was the longtime lover of British violinist and bandleader Bert Ambrose and was briefly married to a writer named Frederick Pye.

Associated With

Her physical appearance was often compared to that of Marilyn Monroe.