Cliff Richard's real name: Why did Sir Cliff change his name? What was it before?

Cliff Richard's real name: Why did Sir Cliff change his name? What was it before?

Sir Cliff Richard has delighted fans for years and years with his music. 

When he started out, he was just an 18-year-old, fronting a band. Back then he was a very different man from the one now delighting the public, but what was his name?

Young Harry was interested in the skiffle and at 16 his parents bought him a guitar, after which he started singing with people from his school.

The author of his song Move It, Ian Samwell, suggested that he change his last name to Richard, in homage to Little Richard.

Little Richard was a real influence on Sir Cliff, and this felt like a fitting name.
It was also reported that it was suggested that he changed his name to Cliff, since he sounded more rock & lsquo; n & rsquo; roll, however it is unclear if this was the impetus behind the name.

According to Smooth Radio, it was 1950s businessman Harry Greatorex who suggested he switch from Harry Webb.
In his report, he used the name because it sounded like & apos; cliff & apos; since it has the evocation of rock music.

The early days of his career saw him marketed as the UK equivalent of Elvis Presley, even to the extent that his hair and outfits were very similar to Elvis's.

Soon, his backing bang changed his name to The Shadows, due to legal complications between them and the American band The Drifters.

Now Sir Cliff is 79 years old and will soon celebrate his 80th birthday, having spent more time as Sir Cliff Richard than Harry Webb.