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Jazz Clarinetist Acker Bilk passed away yesterday at the age of 85. His hit, "Stranger On The Shore" was the biggest selling single of 1962 in the UK, and the first time a UK single reached number one on the billboard charts in the United States.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jzx664u5DA
I still love that record, and remember watching the BBC TV series for which it was used as the theme tune.
While 'Stranger On the Shore' was indeed the first official UK single to make #1 on Billboard, it is apparently the second UK record actually to be a US # 1 , following Vera Lynn [[now Dame Vera), with "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" at # 1 for many weeks in the summer of 1952, before Billboard first began publishing the Hot 100.
Dame Vera [['The Forces Sweetheart') has survived 'Acker', and is now in her 97th year :)
As a child I used to hear this song so much. RIP Mr Acker Bilk.
I remember the song. Thank you Mr Bilk Rest in peace.