Wayne Fontana

This article is about the musician. For the Pennsylvania politician, see Wayne D. Fontana.
Wayne Fontana
Birth name Glyn Geoffrey Ellis
Born (1945-10-28) 28 October 1945
Levenshulme, Manchester, Lancashire, England
Genres Beat, pop
Occupation(s) Singer
Years active 1962-present
Labels Fontana
Associated acts The Mindbenders
Website Official website

Wayne Fontana (born Glyn Geoffrey Ellis, 28 October 1945) is an English rock/pop singer, best known for the 1965 hit "Game of Love" with the Mindbenders.

Biography

Fontana was born in Levenshulme, Manchester, Lancashire, and took his stage name from Elvis Presley's drummer, D.J. Fontana. In 1963 he formed his backing group, The Mindbenders, and secured a recording contract, coincidentally, with Fontana Records. He remained under contract to the label after parting with The Mindbenders. He soldiered on alone, using musicians working under the name of the Opposition, notably Frank Renshaw (lead guitar) (born 22 June 1943, Wythenshawe, Manchester); Bernie Burns (drums); Roy "Rossi" Henshall (bass); Rod Gerrard (guitar, ex-Herman's Hermits), and Phil Keane (drums), among others. Sometimes the band was billed as The Mindbenders, sometimes just as the Wayne Fontana Band. Fontana's most successful solo single release was also his last to chart, "Pamela, Pamela", which reached No 11 in the UK Singles Chart early in 1967.

In 2005, he fought off bankruptcy but was arrested after police were called by bailiffs who went to his home in Glossop, Derbyshire. He poured petrol on the bonnet of a bailiff's car and set it alight with the bailiff still inside.[1][2] Fontana was remanded in custody on 25 May 2007. He later appeared at Derby Crown Court dressed as Lady Justice, complete with a sword, scales, crown, cape and dark glasses, and claiming "justice is blind".[3] He dismissed his lawyers.[4] On 10 November 2007 he was sentenced to 11 months for setting fire to the car but was released because he had already served the equivalent of the term, having been held under the Mental Health Act 1983.[5] After his release he settled in Spain.

In March 2011 Fontana was arrested at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, after failing to appear in court in Wakefield, over an unpaid speeding fine.[6] When the matter was brought to court, it was found that the ticket had never been issued to him and he had returned home to Spain unaware that he had an outstanding ticket. It was also determined, at Wakefield Magistrates' Court, that points had been erroneously added to his licence and these were removed by the court. All outstanding fines were paid, including pending parking fines, and this cleared his record.

Fontana continues to perform, notably in the Solid Silver 60s Shows.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders

Year Single Catalogue Chart Positions
UK AU US
1963 "Hello Josephine"
b/w "Road Runner"		 UK Fontana TF404 46 - -
"For You, For You"
b/w "Love Potion No. 9"		 UK Fontana TF418 - - -
1964 "Little Darlin'"
b/w "Come Dance With Me"		 UK Fontana TF436 - - -
"Stop Look and Listen"
b/w "Duke of Earl"		 UK Fontana TF451 37 - -
"Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um"
b/w "First Taste of Love" 		UK Fontana TF497 5 - -
1965 "Game of Love"
b/w "Since You've Been Gone"		 UK Fontana TF535 2 38 1
"It's Just a Little Bit Too Late"
b/w "Long Time Comin'"		 UK Fontana TF579 20 55 45
"She Needs Love"
b/w "Like I Did"		 UK Fontana TF611 32 - -

Wayne Fontana (solo)

Year Single Catalogue Chart Positions
UK AU BR
1965 "It Was Easier To Hurt Her"
b/w "You Made Me What I Am Today"		 UK Fontana TF642 36 - -
1966 "Come On Home"
b/w "My Eyes Break Out In Tears"		 UK Fontana TF684 16 38 -
"Goodbye Bluebird"
b/w "The Sun's So Hot Today" 		UK Fontana TF737 49 - -
"Pamela Pamela"
b/w "Something Keeps Calling Me Back"		 UK Fontana TF770 11 5 -
1967 "24 Sycamore"
b/w "From a Boy To a Man"		 UK Fontana TF827 - 33 -
"The Impossible Years"
b/w "In My World"		 UK Fontana TF866 - 72 -
"Gina"
b/w "We All Love the Human Race" 		UK Fontana TF889 - - 1
1968 "Storybook Children"
b/w "I Need To Love You"		 UK Fontana TF911 - - -
"The Words of Bartholomew"
b/w "Mind Excursion"		 UK Fontana TF933 - 84 -
"Never an Everyday Thing"
b/w "Waiting For a Break In The Clouds"		 UK Fontana TF976 - - -
1969 "Dayton Ohio 1903"
b/w "Say Goodbye To Yesterday" 		UK Fontana TF1008 - - -
"We're Building a Love"
b/w "Charlie Cass"		 UK Fontana TF1054 - - -
"Charlie Cass"
b/w "Linda"		 UK Fontana TF1054 - - -
1973 "Together"
b/w "One Man Woman"		 UK Warner Bros. K 16269 - - -
1976 "The Last Bus Home"
b/w "Give Me Just a Little Bit"		 UK Polydor 2058 758 - - -

References

  1. ↑ "Pop star Fontana charged with arson | UK news | The Observer". Guardian. 2007-02-04. Retrieved 2014-01-30.
  2. ↑ "60S STAR ON ARSON CHARGE". Archived from the original on 16 December 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
  3. ↑ "Business | The Times". Business.timesonline.co.uk. 2013-11-03. Retrieved 2014-01-30.
  4. ↑ "??". Timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-01-30. (subscription required)
  5. ↑ Steve Bird (10 November 2007). "Paranoid pop star set fire to bailiff's car in row over congestion charge fine". The Times. Retrieved 2014-01-30.
  6. ↑ "60s star Wayne Fontana handcuffed and arrested as he prepares to take the stage at Palace Theatre - Manchester Evening News". Menmedia.co.uk. 2011-03-11. Retrieved 2014-01-30.
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