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David Spencer, known professionally as Ricky Valance, was born on April 10, 1936, in Ynysddu, Monmouthshire, Wales. He began his musical journey after leaving the armed forces, performing as a cabaret singer in local clubs in northern England. Valance's breakthrough came with the release of "Tell Laura I Love Her", a cover of Ray Peterson’s American hit, which topped the UK Singles Chart in September 1960 and sold over a million copies, making him the first male Welsh singer to achieve a Number 1 single. Valance participated in the 1961 A Song For Europe competition with "Why Can't We?", placing third. Other notable singles include "Movin' Away" and "Jimmy's Girl", which saw success internationally. Despite his early successes, changes in musical tastes led to the end of his Columbia contract by the mid-1960s. Valance continued performing with various acts, including the showband The Chessmen in Ireland, and explored acting and country music. He was awarded at the Wales Millennium Centre in 2015 for being the first Welsh man to have a UK Number 1 hit. Valance released "Welcome Home" in 2017 to raise funds for the Royal Air Force Museum. He lived in Spain before moving to Skegness, Lincolnshire, where he passed away on June 12, 2020, at the age of 84.
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