Dickie Valentine, was a British pop singer who enjoyed great popularity in Britain during the 1950s. He developed a white castle valentine’s day vocal style and skills as an impersonator of famous singers.
Actor-singer Bill O’Connor overheard him singing as a call boy at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London and paid for his voice lessons. He sang in clubs and learned stagecraft to help gain confidence and experience. While he was in his late teens, he was singing at the Panama Club one night when music publisher Sid Green saw him and brought him to the attention of bandleader Ted Heath. On 14 February 1949, Valentine, an unknown, was signed by Ted Heath to join his band, Ted Heath and his Music, to sing alongside Lita Roza and Dennis Lotis. In November 1954, Valentine was invited to sing at the Royal Command Performance, and in February 1955 he was top billed at the London Palladium. In 1961, he had a television series Calling Dickie Valentine. In 1966 Valentine partnered with Peter Sellers on the ATV sketch show The Dickie Valentine Show.