Bobby Crush

b. 1954, England. An academy-trained pianist, this Beatles -style fringed youth was first seen by Britain audiences when winning rounds of television's talent show Opportunity Knocks in the summer of 1972. Like an updated Russ Conway, he would flash a bashful half-smile when he switched from solemn ‘classical' arpeggios to breezy tavern honky-tonking midway through his spot. The following November, he reached the UK Top 40 with ‘Borsalino'. This, however, was but a surface manifestation of support from consumer groups disenfranchised by the general drift of pop in the early 70...