Profiles

Before The Beatles Liverpool gave birth to one of Britain's first pop stars, Billy Fury.

With a string of hits from the late 1950's through to the early 1960's Billy Fury, real name Ronnie Wycherley, was one of the biggest youth stars of his day.

Discovered by showbiz impressario Larry Parnes at the Essoldo Theatre in Birkenhead, Fury went on to be one of the UK's biggest musical stars with hits including 'Halfway to Paradise', 'Wonderous Place' and 'Margo'.

Although he never had a UK number one hit Billy Fury thrilled a generation of fans, John Lennon was once photographed asking him for his autograph.

A statue of Bill was unveiled in Liverpool by his mother Jean and brother Albie Wycherley in 2003. It stands on the banks of the Mersey behind the Pier Master's House at Liverpool's Albert Dock.

In later years Fury became a keen lover of nature and turned his swimming pool into a bird sanctuary.

Billy Fury is honoured by a statue

He visited Cornwall in the aftermath of the Torrey Canyon oil spill to care for birds caught in the slick.

Like his Dingle neighbour Ringo Starr, Billy Fury had spent a large amount of his childhood in and out of hospitals and health problems were to dog him throughout his life.

Recurring ill health contributed to his early death at the age of 43 on 28 January, 1983.

Between 1959 and 1983 Billy fury scored 29 hit singles and he blazed a trail for a tradition of youthful pop stars.

Do you have memories of Billy or other Liverpool pop stars? Add them to BBC Memoryshare.