Legendary British singer and actor Mike Berry – known as ‘The British Buddy Holly’ – has died aged 82 surrounded by his family, his manager confirmed today.
Berry, who had a 60-year music career, was the last surviving main star of the BBC sitcom Are You Being Served?, playing Mr Spooner in 21 episodes from 1981 to 1985.
He was also in 23 episodes of the original Worzel Gummidge as Mr Peters from 1979 to 1981, returning in the 2019 short ‘Scatterbrook Days’ which celebrated the show.
Berry started off his showbiz career as a singer and had two 1960s hits with ‘Don’t You Think It’s Time’ and ‘Tribute to Buddy Holly’, which earned him the nickname.
He also toured with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones and had a third major hit in 1980 with ‘Sunshine Of Your Smile’, but was still performing in recent years.
Berry most recently appeared in a sold-out show at the Half Moon live music pub in Putney, South West London, on February 23 with his backing band The Outlaws.
His manager and friend Peter Stockton said on Facebook today: ‘It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform everyone that the legendary Mike Berry died peacefully this morning, his family members by his bedside.
‘As we all know, Mike was an amazing, highly talented performer whose career spanned 64 years – his first hit being the haunting tribute to Buddy Holly in 1961.
Mike Berry was known for his hits ‘Don’t You Think It’s Time’ and ‘Sunshine Of Your Smile’
Mike Berry (left) appeared alongside John Inman (right) in the sitcom Are You Being Served?
Mike Berry was in 23 episodes of the original Worzel Gummidge as Mr Peters from 1979 to 1981
‘His last show on February 23 at The Half Moon was a sell out, and was testimony to his superb talent. He was also a gifted actor, highlighted by his performances in the iconic comedy Are You Being Served.
‘A tragic loss to our world of music, and I hope that he is now having a laugh with many of his old pals up in heaven.’
A statement from Chas and Dave said: ‘We’re shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of our good friend Mike Berry. Mike, of course, went all the way back with Chas as singer with The Outlaws having numerous hits together.
‘They teamed up again in 1980 to have another big hit with Mike’s ‘Sunshine of Your Smile’ single – which Chas arranged and produced. Our thoughts are with Mike’s family at this incredibly sad time.’
And Berry’s friend David Stark added: ‘I knew Mike for almost 50 years since 1976, one of the nicest guys in the biz always with a laugh and a smile.
‘His excellent sold-out show at the Half Moon Putney was only a few weeks ago, he was on terrific form and was due to do another one in the summer.
Mike Berry took part in BBC’s The Voice in 2016 and sang Buddy Holly’s ‘True Love Ways’
Mike Berry (right) was the last surviving star of the BBC’s Are You Being Served?, playing Mr Spooner in 21 episodes between 1981 and 1985. He is seen with co-star Frank Thornton (left)
Mike Berry performs at Albert Lee’s 70th birthday concert at Cadogan Hall in London in 2014
‘Very, very sad news indeed, RIP Mike you will be missed by everyone who knew you and your music for all these years.’
Berry was born in Northamptonshire during the Second World War on September 24, 1942, but six weeks after his birth his family moved to North Wales.
At the end of the war the family including his two sisters and brother moved to Stoke Newington in North London, and he attended William Patten Primary School.
Berry grew up watching performances by his mother Jerretta Bourne, known as ‘Jet’, who was an actress and singer who played the piano and piano-accordion.
He won a scholarship to Hackney Downs Grammar School aged 11, which was also attended by Michael Caine and Harold Pinter.
However, his father left home when he was aged 13, with Berry later recalling that he said his children were ‘the four biggest mistakes of my life’.
(From left) Wendy Richard, John Inman, Mollie Sugden, Mike Berry and Frank Thornton appear in the ‘Grounds for Divorce’ episode of the BBC TV sitcom Are You Being Served? in 1974
Mike Berry started off his career in showbusiness as a singer and had two hits in the 1960s
Berry left school aged 15 without sitting his O-Levels and instead went into the printing industry as a compositor’s apprentice.
It was also around this time that Berry began singing, after walking into a local pub hosting live music and asking if he could sing in front of the assembled crowd.
He sang a Buddy Holly song playing a concert Spanish guitar despite only knowing three chords, and later recalled: ‘The only thing that moved was my mouth to let the sound out. God knows what they must have thought – I don’t even remember leaving!’
But soon after he started a skiffle group with three friends called The Rebels, who later called themselves Kenny Lord and The Statesmen.
His later quit his job after being reprimanded for regularly getting in late because he was out gigging the night before, but then signed his first music contract and released his first hit ‘A Tribute To Buddy Holly’ in 1961.
In an interview with Teletronic in 2008, Berry said: ‘The memory I have to do with ‘Tribute’ was that having left the print I had a job in Berry’s Music shop – no relation – in Mare Street, Hackney in London, and I remember walking up Mare Street reading the ‘NME’, and there I was in the charts.
Mike Berry at a Buddy Holly Educational Foundation event at Abbey Road Studios in 2014
‘Nobody had told me and I was still working as tea boy for £7 a week. I also remember driving along and hearing ‘Don’t You Think It’s Time’ on Family Favourites on the Light Programme – Radio 2 to be – and I was very tickled with that, I felt I’d really arrived.’
‘A Tribute to Buddy Holly’ resulted in him going on tour with The Rolling Stones and Holly’s own backing group, The Crickets.
And in 1962, manager Brian Epstein invited Berry to headline a show featuring a then-relatively unknown group from Liverpool called The Beatles.
Legend has it that John Lennon was so impressed with Berry’s voice and stage presence that he wanted to write a song for him, but The Beatles shot to fame soon after and this never happened.
Berry went on to have a top ten hit with ‘Don’t You Think It’s Time’ in 1963, before he began an acting career with notable successes in the 1970s.
He also appeared in more than 50 commercials including for Blue Riband in the 1980s, singing the line: ‘I got those can’t get enough of those Blue Riband Blues’.
Mike Berry appears on the TV music show ‘Thank Your Lucky Stars’ in the 1960s
Berry got his break in Worzel Gummidge after recording an advert for TV Times magazine directed by James Hill, who was also casting for the show. He ended up starring in 23 episodes of the show as Mr Peters from 1979 to 1981.
His co-star Jon Pertwee then recommended him to his agent Richard Stone, who also managed scriptwriter David Croft.
When Mr Croft was trying to find someone to replace Trevor Bannister who was leaving Are You Being Served?, Mr Stone recommended him – which is how he ended up in that show for 21 episodes between 1981 and 1985.
Also during this period, in 1980 he earned a gold disc for his version of the 1913 composition ‘The Sunshine of Your Smile’, which stayed in the top ten for 12 weeks.
But acting took a back seat after Are You Being Served?, as he focused on his music career and touring around the country for the following decades – although he did have a cameo in The Bill in 1995.
In 2016, he was invited to take part in BBC’s The Voice and sang Buddy Holly’s ‘True Love Ways’ for judges will.i.am, Boy George, Ricky Wilson and Paloma Faith.
Mike Berry had two 1960s hits with ‘Don’t You Think It’s Time’ and ‘Tribute to Buddy Holly’
That same year, Berry was asked how he wanted to be remembered after his death, and replied: ‘I’d like people to recognise that I’m a better than average singer, because I think I am.’
Asked whether he would like to be remembered as a singer rather than an actor, he added: ‘Oh I think so. It would be nice but I haven’t done enough good acting work, although I did get some good reviews when I did the Willy Russell theatre play One For The Road.’
He was also asked whether he would have liked to have been as big as The Beatles or The Rolling Stones, saying: ‘Probably, but I think I always knew I didn’t have that superstar quality. I knew I was a good singer and to me that’s all that matters.
‘I was told by somebody that Brian Jones thought I was one of the best singers in the country. I did a couple of tours with the Stones. Mick Jagger once asked me how I hit the high notes hard and true, and I thought ‘I dunno, I just do it!’
Berry continued touring until his last gig in February, playing hits by the likes of Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee, Elvis, Chuck Berry, The Everly’s, Rick Nelson and Eddie Cochran.
He had two sisters, Valerie and Pamela, and a brother called Peter.