FINGS AIN'T WOT THEY USED T'BE: The Lionel Bart Story

Born Lionel Begleiter, son of an East End tailor, Lionel Bart rose from humble beginnings to dominate British pop music and musical theatre in the 50s and 60s. He was a hit song machine for Tommy Steele, Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde and Antony Newley. He was a pal of The Beatles, squired Judy Garland, briefly managed the Rolling Stones, wrote the first of the James Bond movie songs, and gave the British musical a badly needed boost that brought his crowning success and led eventually to his most humiliating failure. He created the book, music and lyrics for Oliver! He wrote songs 'Living Doll' and 'From Russia With Love' performed by Matt Munroe. He was a millionaire at the aged of 30 in the 1960s, bankrupt in the 1970s, and died in 1999. Lionel's house was where the glitterati went to party because everybody loved Lionel. Oliver! conquered America but he came to a brutal end with Twang!, a spectacular flop into which he had also unwisely invested his own fortune. In this revealing biography the authors gained exclusive access to Bart's personal archives, his unfinished autobiography, letters and scrapbooks which detail how he signed away the rights to Oliver! to finance his new musical based on Robin Hood and they reveal how his heavy drinking led to diabetes. He died aged 69 from liver cancer. Interviewees include Rocky Horror's Richard O'Brien and actor Nigel Planer. Packed with gossip from those colourful days and huge talents. 288pp, photos.