'I Remember You' singer Frank Ifield dies, aged 86

20 May 2024, 13:34

Frank Ifield had four chart-topping UK hits.

Country and easy listening star Frank Ifield has died at the age of 86.

The British-born Australian singer died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday (May 18), his friend Glenn A Baker revealed on Facebook.

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"I just took a call from David Ifield, telling me that his brother FRANK IFIELD peacefully passed on this Saturday night, at age 86," said Glenn.

"There is so much to be said about this remarkable man, who had four number ones in Britain, three of them before the Beatles (who he had briefly support him in concert).

"I Remember You became an indelible hit all around the world and a perfect signature song. It topped the U.K. charts for 7 weeks."

I Remember You

Ifield had three top-ten UK albums – I Remember You, Born Free and Blue Skies –  as well as a run of hit singles.

His four number ones were 'I Remember You', 'Lovesick Blues', 'The Wayward Wind' and 'Confessin' That I Love You'.

Ifield was one of seven sons born to Australian parents Richard Joseph Ifield and Hannah Muriel Ifield, who had briefly moved to England before he was born for work.

Frank Ifield: Singing Legend

The family returned to Australia when Frank was around 11, and it was there that he taught himself the guitar and yodelling while listening to hillbilly music.

He performed for local radio stations and talent shows and released his first recordings, but it was back in the UK where he became a superstar, racking up a number of hit singles here in the 1960s.

In his later years, Ifield's health declined and he was diagnosed with pneumonia in 1986, with surgery to remove part of his lung resulting in damaged vocal cords.

She Taught Me How to Yodel (feat. The Backroom Boys)

In 1991, Frank scored an unlikely chart success when a dance remix of his 'She Taught Me How to Yodel' credited to Frank Ifield featuring the Backroom Boys entered the UK Top 40.

He was inducted into the Australia Roll of Renown in 2003 and the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007. Two years later he was given the Medal of the Order of Australia.

Frank is survived by his second wife Carole Wood, whom he married in 1992, as well as his two children from his previous marriage to Gillian Bowden, to whom he was married from 1965 to 1988.