User:Lucindadew/Create Biography Shirley Western

Shirley Western Born Shirley Dodds Jan. 1936 in Stockwell London.Moved to Glasgow at start of war in 1939.From a show business family,Mother Dolly, a dancer, and father Billy,sax player and dancer.Became a Chorus Girl age 14 with May Moxon Troup in Glasgow theatres and touring Scotland. Moved on to London aged 18 and sang and danced round clubs,theatres and American Camps. Eventually became a singer with Big Bands including Freddy Randall,Syd Dean and finally joined The Ken Mackintosh Orchestra in 1958.During that time did many broadcasts among them The Jimmy Young Show,Saturday Club,Music to Midnight,Monday with Mack.and many others,Toured the UK with artistes like, Shirley Bassey,David Whitfield,Johnny Ray,and Roy Castle.Eventually stopped touring when the band opened the Empire Ballroom in 1963 where they stayed for 7 yrs.Then changed to the Hammersmith Palais for 6 months before returning to the Empire for another 3yrs.In 1973 moved to Worthing where she joined the Roy Affleck Band.When he retired ,Shirley took over the band and formed The Shirley Western Showband.That lasted 7yrs.She then went to CAPE TOWN to visit and appeared in Durban for a concert with the Clive Sharrock Orchestra and was offered some work but decided to move to Gran Canaria and sung in many venues,and also became a Radio Presenter on Radio Maspalomas. Returned to England 1997. Spent several winters singing in cape Town, Now semi retired in West Sussex.