There might not be a British teen idol quite as iconic as the one and only Cliff Richard. Many would go as far as to say that the 21.5 million single-selling singer is the UK’s answer to Elvis. So that should give you an indication of just how much of an impact he has had.
During the early days, Richard was a rock and roll sensation, with hits like “Move It” under his belt. But he would soon progress into mainstream pop as the ’60s came. While he is known for having been a teen idol back in the day, Richard has maintained consistent success throughout his life, right up until the present day.
Paul Anka (1950s)
One of Canada’s most precious stars, Paul Anka is one of the most famous songwriters of his (and our) time. Two of his greatest hits are “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” and “Lonely Boy.” So that should tell you everything. But wait, there's more.
Anka was born in Ottawa and got his big break thanks to his uncle, who lent him the $100 he needed to record his first song at 14 years old. One of the biggest names in the 1950s, Anka is still active. In 2009, Anka said that he co-wrote Michael Jackson’s hit “This Is It” and was awarded %50 in royalties.
Adam Faith (1950s)
One of the United Kingdom's very first pop stars, Adam Faith burst onto the scene in the late '50s and really came into his own during the early stages of the decade that followed. A rock and roll teen idol across the pond, Faith managed to get two consecutive No. 1 hits under his belt - first with "What Do You Want?" in 1959, and then "Poor Me" in the following year.
Faith was a consistent hitmaker during this time and eventually ventured into the world of acting - starring in shows such as "Budgie" and "Love Hurts." In 2003, Faith passed away after suffering a heart attack. He was 62 years old.
Tommy Steele (1950s)
Many regard Tommy Steele to be the UK's very first teen idol. And when you consider the fact that this crooner had his first hit single back in 1956 with "Rock with the Caveman," that actually makes perfect sense. Steele even had his rise to fame portrayed in the movie "The Tommy Steele Story."
Amazingly, the film's soundtrack was the first from the UK to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart. As the '60s progressed, Steele moved away from the rock and roll scene and became more of an all-around performer. In 2020, Steele got the ultimate British honor when he was knighted by the Queen for his contribution to British culture.
Marty Wilde (1950s)
Marty Wilde was certainly one of the people responsible for making rock and roll popular in the UK back in the '50s. With hit singles such as "Endless Sleep," "Sea of Love" and "Bad Boy," he was no stranger to chart success.
Wilde also had hits in both the '60s and the '70s, but it was his teen years that fans will best remember him for. And the success ended up running in the family - as his daughter Kim Wilde also made a name for herself in the world of pop - creating the '80s single "Kids in America," among others.