The Story of Joe........

Joe Longthorne’s incredible life story, together with a legendary 50-year career, left a huge lasting legacy as one of the UK’s greatest ever entertainers. Born with ‘god given’ talent for singing both in his own voice and vocally impersonating literally hundreds of the worlds ‘greats’ to perfection as one of the world’s finest impressionists, Joe’s repertoire was packed full. From his signature impression of Dame Shirley Bassey to Tony Bennett, Sinatra, Tom Jones, Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond, Sammy Davis Jnr, Anthony Newley, Elvis Presley, Johnny Mathis, Judy Garland, Pavarotti the list was endless.

Held in the highest esteem by his fellow professionals, loved and adored by millions of fans the world over, his status nothing short of legendary with accolades and credits from the true greats of the entertainment industry worldwide, ‘The Singers’ Singer’.

Joe was one of a rare breed who earned the right to be called song stylists, an instantly recognised voice with the ability to stamp their name on every song he performed and made it his own. Sinatra, Bennett, Davis, Presley, Diamond, Manilow, Mathis, Jones, the name ‘Longthorne’ stands proudly with them.

Joe performed from a huge repertoire of songs in a career which began in the1960’s and saw many highs and lows along the way until the world had to sadly say farewell to Joe and his beautiful voice when Joe sadly passed away in August 2019. Singer, Songwriter and legendary ‘live’ performer, Joe was the ultimate entertainer.

Joseph Patrick Longthorne was born on 31st May 1955 in Kingston upon Hull to musical parents Fred, a talented musician, and Teresa, a fine singer. Joe came from a travelling background, enjoying a warm, safe upbringing in his early years, as was recounted in his 2010 biography.

It was soon evident that Joe had a talent for singing and at only 4 years old age entered a local talent contest in Hull winning the first prize, a large red toy car.

It was around this time Joe realised that singing could indeed be a worthwhile profession to pursue. Joe spent all his time practicing and sharpening his talents, finding a gift for impersonating anybody at the drop of a hat! Teresa very wisely explained to her youngest son that it was always a good thing in life to have more than one string to one’s bow.

Quickly earning fame entertaining locally in Hull, Joe’s incredible talents were recognised by ITV bosses and Joe became one of the biggest stars of “Junior Showtime” in 1969, a groundbreaking ITV series, the first children’s TV variety show with the cast being child performers. Joe stole the show with his brilliant performances week after week until leaving at 16 with a wealth of experience under his belt to pursue his dreams of a showbiz career.

Worldwide success was to fall at Joe’s feet in the years that followed although, as we will read, his journey was to prove a roller coaster ride of the highest highs but also the lowest of lows. The lows brought huge battles to face, which may well have defeated lesser men, however Joe possessed an incredible spirit and determination, his faith and courage knew no bounds.

In the early 1970’s Joe worked a tough apprenticeship around the huge club circuit, quickly earning praise and respect, working his way up to ‘top the bill’ wherever he performed.

Around this time Joe made his first vocal recordings with his favourite songs of the day, together with his own compositions and moved to Jersey starring at the ‘Lido de France’. Joe was constantly in high demand on the main entertainment circuit of the day, top line cabaret clubs and venues around the country.

The dawning of 1981 saw a brand-new style variety talent show coming over the horizon, ITV’s ‘Search for A Star’. National TV exposure each week introduced Joe to the masses of TV viewers after the final episode the name ‘Joe Longthorne’ was known to millions. Around this time Joe released his first album ‘Only Once’ with standards of the day and also some of Joe’s original compositions.

Success followed with guest appearances on all the major TV variety shows of the day, together with shows at the London Palladium and the Talk of the Town now the London Hippodrome.

The name “Longthorne” was now firmly inscribed in the record books of British show business with sell out concerts wherever he performed. The Variety Club honoured Joe with their award for “Most Promising Artiste” in 1983. It’s fair to say they made a wise choice.

Building on this mountain of success at home, news about Joe and his amazing talents reached the USA. In 1985 Joe enjoyed a long residency in the ‘All Stars’ revue at the Drury Lane Theatre Chicago and was showered with critical acclaim. Joe stayed for a year performing in Chicago, Philadelphia and around the USA to rave reviews.

In the USA Joe took a leading role in the recording of the ‘Allstars’ version of ‘We Are the World’, impersonating on record many of the original performers on ‘USA for America’s’ original version.

Back in the UK Joe was immediately invited back on TV on Jimmy Tarbuck’s ITV Saturday night show and then on the Les Dennis Laughter Show. This led on to Joe’s first TV special and ultimately his own series.

Joe was at the top of the showbiz ladder; it seemed that his life could not get any better. Guest appearances followed on all the major variety shows of the day with Joe consolidated his incredible success with a series of platinum and gold certified albums “The Joe Longthorne Songbook”, “Especially for You” and “The Joe Longthorne Christmas Album”. Joe’s appearance at the 1989 Royal Variety Performance stole the show, he was at the very pinnacle of his career.

Around this time Joe was first diagnosed with Lymphoma, blood cancer which at the time very nearly proved fatal. Feeling unwell, he visited his doctor and was ultimately given the devastating diagnosis.

In Joe’s own words “Cancer is not a word you expect to hear when things are going so well. I felt invincible and suddenly out of the blue I felt helpless. I had two choices, to give in or fight. I chose the latter. I got up dusted myself off and got on with life”.

Responding well to treatment , Joe embarked on a sold out Australian tour and , although having to fight and battle the lymphoma when it returned periodically, Joe remained at the top of the show business ladder of fortune and fame with countless sell out performances at The Sydney Opera House, The London Palladium and The Royal Albert Hall.

Although TV companies became reluctant to invest in Joe at this time, due to his recurring bouts of Lymphoma, Joe carried on doing what he loved the most, entertaining his endless army of devoted fans worldwide with his unforgettable live performances, breaking box office records everywhere.

Joe released “I Wish You Love” in 1993 with many of his own songs included. A single was released, the immensely popular “Mary in The Morning” which gave Joe a Top 30 hit. A string of video releases of his live concerts and TV shows at the time enjoyed huge chart success.

It was at this time that Michael Aspel surprised Joe, on stage, presenting the famous ‘Red Book’ and uttered those famous words ‘Joe Longthorne This Is Your Life’ for an edition of the ITV show.

The struggle with returning bouts of illness, together with financial problems emerging from bad management advice, took their toll in the late 90s, however Joe battled back.

The new millennium saw Joe get back in shape, financially and work wise, but he was given the biggest battle of his life to fight when Joe’s doctors discovered the Lymphoma, he had fought for so long had transformed into Leukaemia.

Joe continued performing between treatments; however, it became evident that a bone marrow transplant was the only hope of beating the disease which was taking more of a hold on Joe. A donor was found by The Anthony Nolan Trust after many appeals on Joe’s behalf. Legions of Joe’s fans and friends signed up to the Anthony Nolan Register of Donors. Thankfully a match was found.

Joe entered the Manchester Royal Infirmary in June 2005 for the transplant which initially went well. After a few days the signs were good, but complications developed which resulted in Joe contracting pneumonia and being placed on a ventilator for a month, sedated and fighting for his life and being given the last rites.

Many prayers were said, vigils were held by family, showbusiness friends and fans around the globe; miraculously Joe pulled through. His condition improved gradually, inching his way back to recovery his medical team commented that they really had no idea how he had pulled through. It could well have been a miracle or the mountain of love and prayers from family, friends and fans.

Joe eager to get back on stage and entertain his audiences once again, returned to his beloved stage at Easter 2006 at the Blackpool Grand and followed up with a nationwide tour. Edging his way back to recovery and full fitness Joe played an emotional sell out concert at the London Palladium in Sept 2006.

In May 2007 the Variety Club of Great Britain awarded Joe their “Lifetime Achievement Award”. The ceremony, sold out months in advance and with a huge waiting list, was packed with celebrities and devoted fans, all there to honour Joe and his tireless efforts and commitment to his profession, courage, incredible bravery and determination. Joe proudly announced that night “I have not felt this good for decades. It’s like I have gone back 20 years.” Joe Longthorne was indeed well and truly back.

Joe quickly reclaimed his title of the hardest working man in showbiz with an extensive nationwide tour in 2007 and every year that followed, together with sell out summer seasons in Blackpool, plus headline concerts in Cyprus at the Kourian Amphitheatre and The IndigO2 at London’s O2.

Joe’s life story was finally published in 2010 and The Variety Club further recognised Joe with a special award of a “Silver Heart” in March of the same year.

One day in Spring 2012, a letter arrived from Buckingham Palace stating that Joe was to be invested with an MBE in The Queens Diamond Jubilee Birthday Honours List. A humble and unassuming man, Joe admitted to being totally surprised and utterly speechless but immensely proud and deeply honoured to accept the award. Joe received his MBE from His Royal Highness Prince Charles Prince of Wales (now His Majesty King Charles) in December 2012 at Buckingham Palace.

Enjoying a wonderful year in 2013 touring the UK and beyond, another massive blow was about to hit Joe in Spring 2014, after lengthy medical investigations Joe was diagnosed with mouth cancer.

Doctors planned a course of treatment with Joe undergoing over 12 hours of extensive surgery. Gravely concerned, the surgeons knew that they had to take the utmost care of Joe’s precious vocal cords. However, Joe, as always kept his deep faith and delighted his doctors when he gently sang a few verses in hospital just 2 days after surgery.

A lengthy 6-month convalescence followed, Joe, as ever looking forward with incredible optimism, planned and scripted out his 60th birthday concert for 31 May the next year, at the London Palladium.

Returning to his beloved stage early in 2015, Joe, physically restored and determined to celebrate his 60th birthday in customary style, performing 2 sold out concerts. Firstly, in Blackpool on 28 May and on Sunday 31 May 2015, Joe’s 60th Birthday, at The London Palladium.

Undergoing further medical treatment in Summer & Autumn 2015, Joe was back on stage in early 2016 with another huge UK tour. The ‘Silver Years’ album concept came into being at this time with Joe in a reflective mood choosing songs from important stages of his life. Some were recorded and issued on the ‘Silver Years’ album but sadly some not, such as ‘Yesterday When I Was Young’ and ‘What Now My Love’.

The devastating return of Leukaemia in 2017 failed to keep Joe away from his beloved stage and commencing a course of groundbreaking medical treatment, Joe continued to tour and perform in the UK and Spain to the delight of his huge army of fans.

Blackpool Council honoured Joe in 2017 with a special award for ’30 Years in Blackpool’, celebrating record breaking ticket sales and his massive contribution to the town’s entertainment and tourism industry.

Joe performed what proved to be his final concert at The Key Theatre Peterborough on Thursday 25 July 2019, sadly passing away 8 days later on Saturday 3 August 2019, at the age of only 64.

Joe’s funeral took place on 13 August 2019 with a full Requiem Mass at The Sacred Heart Church in Blackpool, before being laid to rest in Layton Cemetery Blackpool, just a short distance from the Blackpool theatres where he performed through the years. On the day of the funeral Blackpool’s town centre was packed with fans and friends, many who had travelled from overseas, to say their last goodbye to Joe. The procession paused at every venue Joe had performed at including Joe’s beloved North Pier Theatre now renamed in his honour.

Joe Longthorne MBE lived a life unparallel in so many ways. The boy from Hull who grew up to rise to the highest echelons of the entertainment industry. His talents admired and loved by millions worldwide.

Achieving everything in spite of fighting Lymphoma and Leukaemia for half of his life. Joe stood tall as a huge inspiration to all around him, receiving the last rights three times and undergoing harsh, tough medical treatments time after time, all to pursue his quest and desire to perform on his beloved stage and entertain his audiences.

Learn more about Joe’s life and times by reading his biography, originally published in hardback in 2010, revised in a 2012 ‘MBE’ paperback edition and finally in a 60th birthday paperback edition entitled ‘Sugar in The Morning’, also available on Kindle.