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Noel Harrison: Windmills Of Your Mind singer dies at 79 | Noel Harrison: Windmills Of Your Mind singer dies at 79 |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Singer Noel Harrison has died at his home in Devon, aged 79. | Singer Noel Harrison has died at his home in Devon, aged 79. |
The son of the actor Rex Harrison, he was best known for recording the hit song The Windmills Of Your Mind on The Thomas Crown Affair soundtrack. | The son of the actor Rex Harrison, he was best known for recording the hit song The Windmills Of Your Mind on The Thomas Crown Affair soundtrack. |
It won best song at the 1968 Oscars and was later covered by artists including Dusty Springfield. | It won best song at the 1968 Oscars and was later covered by artists including Dusty Springfield. |
Harrison spent much of his life in America, as an actor and performer, but moved back to the UK in the last decade or so to live in South Devon. | Harrison spent much of his life in America, as an actor and performer, but moved back to the UK in the last decade or so to live in South Devon. |
He once said, of recording The Windmills Of Your Mind: "It didn't seem like a big deal at the time. I went to the studio one afternoon and sang it and pretty much forgot about it." | He once said, of recording The Windmills Of Your Mind: "It didn't seem like a big deal at the time. I went to the studio one afternoon and sang it and pretty much forgot about it." |
Harrison continued: "I didn't realise until later what a timeless, beautiful piece Michel LeGrand and the Bergmans had written. It turned out to be my most notable piece of work." | Harrison continued: "I didn't realise until later what a timeless, beautiful piece Michel LeGrand and the Bergmans had written. It turned out to be my most notable piece of work." |
After moving to the US, he starred in the TV series The Girl from UNCLE and had chart hits with A Young Girl and Suzanne, by Leonard Cohen. | After moving to the US, he starred in the TV series The Girl from UNCLE and had chart hits with A Young Girl and Suzanne, by Leonard Cohen. |
On his website he wrote: "I was part of the 'British Invasion' spearheaded by The Beatles. I bought a nice house in Los Angeles. | On his website he wrote: "I was part of the 'British Invasion' spearheaded by The Beatles. I bought a nice house in Los Angeles. |
"There was another US charts record and four years of endless TV appearances, theatre tours and star-studded social occasions." | "There was another US charts record and four years of endless TV appearances, theatre tours and star-studded social occasions." |
However he revealed he "didn't like being a celebrity" and spent his sixties mixing performing with construction work before moving back to the UK, adding, "I was well out of the goldfish bowl and I liked it." | However he revealed he "didn't like being a celebrity" and spent his sixties mixing performing with construction work before moving back to the UK, adding, "I was well out of the goldfish bowl and I liked it." |
Ski champion | Ski champion |
Harrison was born in London on 29 January 1934, to Rex Harrison and his mother, Collette Thomas, the first of six Mrs Rex Harrisons. | Harrison was born in London on 29 January 1934, to Rex Harrison and his mother, Collette Thomas, the first of six Mrs Rex Harrisons. |
They later divorced and he lived in Bude, Cornwall, with his mother's parents before she took him to live in the Swiss Alps at 15. | |
Harrison never went to school again but indulged his passion for ski-racing instead, becoming British champion in 1953. | Harrison never went to school again but indulged his passion for ski-racing instead, becoming British champion in 1953. |
He was married three times and had children and grandchildren from his first two marriages. | He was married three times and had children and grandchildren from his first two marriages. |
An admirer of Jacques Brel, Harrison created a one-man musical, Adieu, Jacques in the 1980s and, in 2002, released an album of songs from the show. | An admirer of Jacques Brel, Harrison created a one-man musical, Adieu, Jacques in the 1980s and, in 2002, released an album of songs from the show. |
Harrison played Glastonbury Festival's Spirit of '71 stage in 2011, marking 40 years since his first appearance at the festival. | Harrison played Glastonbury Festival's Spirit of '71 stage in 2011, marking 40 years since his first appearance at the festival. |