Born on 6 February 1966, Rick Astley's musical career began at the age of 10 in the local church choir. During his schooldays, Rick formed and played in a number of local bands. Employed during the day as a driver in his Father's market-gardening business. Rick played the club circuit at night in bands such as 'Give Way' - specialising in covering Beatles and Shadow's songs - and FBI. Frequently playing in front of five people, three of them bar staff, FBI achieved no small degree of local success - entering and winning a number of local competitions. It was the legendary soul nights however at the nearby Wigan Pier Club which gave Rick a clearer idea of the type of music he wanted to be involved in.
In 1985 Rick was spotted singing with FBI in a Northern club by Pete Waterman. With his partners Mike Stockman and Matt Aitken, Pete had even then been responsible for writing and producing a large number of hit records. The Stock, Aitken and Waterman story since then, is a success story without equal in the British Music Industry. Pete Waterman immediately recognised Rick's unique vocal strength and talent. Without delay he set about persuading Rick to come and work down in the PWL Recording Studios in London.
The following eighteen months for Rick were spent watching, listening and learning about making records. Initially he simply provided the tea and coffee for the artists, producers, engineers and all the other people who kept this 24 hour a day, 7 days a week operation going. But as Rick himself says:
"Working as a teaboy may have helped my confidence but not everyone else was so pleased. I could never remember who had milk or how many sugars, and I had an unusual talent for spilling tea on the recording console. It's a good job the records are doing so well because I would have made a terrible waiter."
The classic pop record 'Never Gonna Give You Up'. although deceptively simple was the result of the long time Rick had spent working with Pete, Matt and Mike. Recorded in 1986, it was not until August 1987 that 'Never Gonna Give You Up' was number 1 in Britain for 5 weeks. In America some months later it topped George Michael from the top of the American charts. The number 1 position launched Rick into a whirlwind of promotional appearances and a hectic schedule which hardly gave him minutes to himself. When the record became a big hit in Europe, not even one second of the day was his. Nothing went to Rick's head and he remains, to this day, completely unaffected bu his spotlight.
It is always difficult to follow a debut single when it goes to number one and is such a big success. However with the pen and production work of Stock, Aitken and Waterman, Rick did many artistes could not do - namely come up with another winner in his single 'Whenever You Need Somebody'. Released on the 19 October, the record was to be the title track from the forthcoming album and Rick's second chart hit. In the UK it reach number 3.
The album 'Whenever You Need Somebody' came out on November 16 1987 and went straight to number 1. By Christmas it had sold well over half-a-million copies. Sales which many established, let alone new, singers can only dream of. With four tracks written by Rick himself, the album was conclusive proof to everybody that Rick was here to stay. The stout full-bodied voice of Rick Astley filled dance floors all over the world. The versatility of his voice being amply demonstrated with his treatment of both the up-tempo dance numbers and the slow and soulful ballads.
It was a slow and soulful ballad that was to be his next single. In fact it was Rick's version of the one of the greatest of all ballads - 'When I Fall In Love' - Nat King Cole's classic rendition was a chart hit in 1957. When he recorded it, Nat had been singing for the best part if 25 years. Rick had been singing professionally for less than twenty-five months! However, the attitude of the red-haired kid from Newton-le-Willows was typically enthusiastic:
"When it was suggested that I do 'When I Fall In Love', I was dead pleased...it was different to what I was doing before."
The initial idea was to do it with just a piano. The end result was as fine an interpretation of the song as anyone could do. Released on November 30, 'When I Fall In Love' entered the chart at number 2 and became one of the biggest selling records throughout the month of December. Accompanied by a scenic snowy video shot in Sweden, and backed with a typical Astley up-tempo dance track - 'My Arms Keep Missing You' - Rick's third single was the perfect accompaniment to Christmas 1987.
As the old year ended and the new one began, Rick spent his time picking up all the various awards from newspapers and magazines for everything from best new artist to most fanciable boy. In addition his career in Europe and America went from strength to strength. At February's BPI Awards in London (the music equivalent to the Oscars). and in front of a global television audience eatimated at 100 million - Rick won the Best British Single Category for 'Never Gonna Give You Up'. That same month 'Together Forever'. the next single from his album was released. It got to number 2 in the charts as Rick flew back from yet another promotional trip to America, to get ready for his first visit to Japan and Australia.
During the summer and early autumn, Rick took a well earned rest, writing songs and generally taking stock of the success that he had achieved, preparing himself for the next stage of his career. The first U.K. tour dates were announced and it was confirmed that the shows would form part of a proposed world tour with dates in Europe, The Far East, Australasia and America to follow. In the meantime work commenced in the studio on Rick's second album.
The first results of this were heard on the 12 September with the release of Rick's first self-penned and self-produced single, 'She Wants To Dance With Me'. As with all his records this stormed into the charts immediately - despite the fact that Rick had been away from the scene since 'Together Forever' in March. However, the singles progress was rudely interrupted by a fire at the recording studios that week. This, in half-an-hour, effectively destroyed a good deal of the work. Rick had already put into the forthcoming album. On holiday at the time it was not until Rick came back that a full assessment of the damage could be made, and Rick once again could start work.
It says more about Rick and the people around him than anything that without hesitation he threw himself back into the work of re-recording those bits that had been lost. The next single 'Take Me To Your Heart' was released on November 14th, and the album 'Hold Me In Your Arms', November 28th 1988.
Containing ten tracks, 'Hold Me In Your Arms' matched all the expectation that his first - 'Whenever You Need Somebody' - had raised. As well as 'She Wants To Dance With Me', Rick had written and coproduced six tracks on the album. Also included was his cover of 'Ain't Too Proud To Beg', a song which he had frequently done in the early days. In all, 'Hold Me In Your Arms' is a second installment in Rick's career and further confirmation of the kid from Newton's talent and determination.
This spirit shines through the albums and his live performance. It is impossible to dislike Rick. He's warm, genuine and extremely open and honest. You would be hard put to guess that he's a down-to-earth, quiet, unassuming character. Genuinely likeable, Rick is good at what he does.
-- Rick Astley Tour Book 1988/1989 Europe/Japan
