Dennis Lotis

Born March 8, 1925, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dennis Lotis was an extremely popular singer in the U.K., particularly in the 1950s, with a sophisticated style that was especially attractive to the young female population. Lotis trained for four years as a boy soprano, and won several cups and medals. He made his first stage appearance at the age of seven, and his first broadcast when he was nine. After leaving school, he worked as a bus conductor and electrician, and sang in cinemas and nightclubs in Johannesburg. When he moved to the U.K. in the early '50s, he carried with him a letter of introduction to <a href="spotify:artist:4v8G8fM1P0Nrn9nZZW0ziT">Ted Heath</a> from the former London saxophonist and bandleader Don Barrigo. Following a couple of broadcasts with Henry Hall, Lotis joined the <a href="spotify:artist:4v8G8fM1P0Nrn9nZZW0ziT">Heath</a> band, and, together with the other resident vocalists <a href="spotify:artist:1H1b2g0Ya1hzRBgfEzpW1k">Lita Roza</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:60JUOTnRuDTetm7Hiwonev">Dickie Valentine</a>, became one of the most popular singers on the circuit. Lotis' vocal talents were evident on such records as "Sam's Song," "Goodnight Irene," "Nevertheless," and "She's a Lady" (with <a href="spotify:artist:1H1b2g0Ya1hzRBgfEzpW1k">Roza</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:60JUOTnRuDTetm7Hiwonev">Valentine</a>). After enjoying a hit with "Cuddle Me," he went solo, and during the late '50s toured the U.K. variety circuit, appeared in his first Royal Command Performances, and rejoined the <a href="spotify:artist:4v8G8fM1P0Nrn9nZZW0ziT">Heath</a> band for a tour of the U.S., including an appearance at Carnegie Hall. He was also voted Top Male Singer in the 1957 Melody Maker poll. In 1956 Lotis appeared in a touring production of the stage musical Harmony Close and, two years later, starred in John Osborne's The World of Paul Slickey, a "musical comedy of manners" that was poorly received in Britain. He also made several films, a mixture of drama, comedy, musicals, and horror, including The Extra Day, It's a Wonderful World, City of the Dead, and She'll Have to Go. Among his other stage roles was an appearance as Lucio in John Neville's Playhouse production of <a href="spotify:artist:0xZ9fVp0OnYjYPeX9Z3c8x">Shakespeare</a>'s Measure for Measure. Adversely affected by the changing face of popular music, Lotis played the working men's clubs, and ran his own antiques and restaurant businesses for a time. Eventually, in the '80s and '90s, he returned to the theaters, singing in nostalgia shows with contemporaries such as <a href="spotify:artist:6HviRceqvDGNfw8PXqQgc0">Joan Regan</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3CH93c2rBMyBq9eeWBCQ60">Russ Conway</a>. Dennis Lotis died on February 8, 2023; he was 97 years old. ~ TiVo Staff, Rovi