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About Joe
May 1955: Joseph Patrick Longthorne is born in Kingston upon Hull. His Parents Teresa and Fred already have 3 children, John, Ann and Elizabeth. decended from Romany gypsies, much of Joe's childhood is spent in the streets of Hull's famous Hessle Road.
1961: Joe's talents are soon discovered and at the age of 6, he wins his first singing contest.
1970: Joe makes his Television debut, appearing on Yorkshire Televisions 'Junior Showtime'.
1973: After the demise of 'Junior Showtime', Joe turns professional and tours the Northern club circuit.
1981: Joe wins through to the final of 'Search for a Star', an appearance a the 'London Palladium' follows. He is also asked to headline a month long show at the Talk of the Town' , which closes down and re-emerges as the 'London Hippodrome'.
1983: Joe is named the 'Most Promising Act of the Year' by the 'Variety Club of Great Britian'. He receives his first silver heart award.
1985: Joe heads off to the United States where he appears on countless television shows representing 'SUPERSTARS', which he headlines in Chicago and Philidelphia. It stars some of America's top impressionists and lookalikes but when LIVE AID reaches the States and 'Super Stars' record their own rendition of 'We are the World', the other stars mime whilst Joe performs all the parts himself.
1986: The 'Joe Longthorne Friendship Club' is formed.
1987: Joe returns to the Uk with his show at the North Pier, Blackpool. He is a regular on the 'Les Dennis Laughter Show'. This leads to Joe's own 'One Hour TV Special' recorded by 'London Weekend Televsion'.
1988: Joe tops the bill at the 'Futurist Theatre',Scarborough, which also stars Roy Walker and Dana. 'The Joe Longthorne show' airs on television for it's first series.
1989: Joe's 'Song Book' album reaches Gold and Platinum status. Joe is diagnosed with cancer. He headlines a sell out charity Gala in aid of 'the Leeds General infirmary' who are responsilbe for his treatment. His albums 'Especially For You' and 'the Christmas album' register gold sales.
1991: Joe celebrates his 21st anniversary in show business with a special event at the 'Metropole Hotel' in Birmingham. Over 700 members from his 'Friendship club' attend. With a summer season in Scarborough, shows in Sydney Australia, Joe ends the year with a major Uk tour.
1992: Joe returns to Austrailia following a very succesful summer season in Bournemouth and Paignton Devon. Other shows include 2 charity evenings in aid of "Leeds GI" , the hospital who continue Joe's treatment against cancer.
1993: Joe breaks all known Box office records for rocket tickets sales at the "Opera House" Blackpool. The final night is filmed by Terry Lodge and the video "Joe Longthorne, in Concert" tops the charts for several weeks.
1994: Michael Aspel surprises Joe with the famous red book during a concert at Manchester "Apollo theatre". With another succesful summer season at the "The Futurist" Scarborough, Joe begins appearing at venues in a huge tour bus with "JOE LONGTHORNE IN TOWN, ON TOUR" allover the side.
1995: Joe appears at "SouthPort Theatre". The "Live at the Royal Albert Hall" video and soundtrack are released but when "A Man and his Music" hits the high street 12 months later, it enters the charts at number ONE.
1999: Joe's first studio album for six years is released entitled 'Reflections'.
2000: Joe stars at the "Grand Theatre" Blackpool. "The Genius of Joe Longthorne" is filmed and releaased as Joe's first dvd. The same year, Joe struggles financially and is forced to declare himself bankrupt.
2001: Joe is signed to "Ritz Music Group" and becomes inovlved in his own club "Joe Longthornes Music Hall Tavern", however the venture is short lived oweing to yet more financial strife.
2004: One of Joe's hardest years, he returns to the 'Opera House" Blackpool set to match the Box office success of his 1993 show. Half way through the Season, he is taken ill as his cancer returns as an agressive form of leaukemia. Joe is forced to quit the show but returns for the final night and "A Year in His life part 2" is filmed.
2005: Joe returns to the stage after a six month rest bite and wows audiences at "The Paradise Room" Blackpool. Early in the year, he announces a Summer Season at the venu but it is soon cancelled when the chance of a bone marrow transplant arises and takes place on June 29th. Joe recovers slowly after developing pnemonia in Manchester Royal Infirmary. He returns home to Blackpool in September and is doing well, a Spring tour is announced hitting off at the Grand theatre in Blackpool, Easter time 2006. JPL Associates keep the fans happy with several new dvd releases in Joe's absence.
2006: Early in the year Joe has a set back when he is taken into hospital unable to shake off a winter virus. Despite this a National Spring tour is announced with Joe hitting off at the Blackpool Grand at Easter time.The tour is a great success with many dates SOLD out and Joe performing some more than memeorable concerts. He feels well enough to sign a contract to appear LIVE at the "Paradise Room", Blackpool, every Friday and Saturday evening from July to November, with extra Christmas shows added in December! During this time, Joe also announces a special concert date to take place at the 'London Palladium' on September 10th! Early December brings yet more bad news when Joe's Dad passes away after being poorly for some time.
2007: Joe announces a huge national tour, taking a full orchestra and singers out on the road from April - July. The Variety Club of Great Britain invite a host of celebrity and public guests to honor him at the Palace Hotel in Manchester, on June 2nd. Names on the VIP guest list include Dame Shirley Bassey and Bruce Forythe.
2008: Joe's back for a consecutive year on the road. His gigantic tour hits off at Easter, with 4 nights in Blackpool. He stars at the Palladium with a host of huge names including Lee Mead and Gary Barlow in honor of lyracist Don Black and in September sings to the Gods in the packed out "Kourion Amphitheatre" in Cyrpus. "You and Me" the album goes on general sale at a store near you.
2009: It's the moment all Joe's fans have been waiting for. Yorkshire Post jouranlist, Chris Berry begins ghost writing Joe's life story whilst he embarks on yet another never ending tour. The Autobiography is scheduled for release April 2010. A 1974 recording of a 19 year old Joe Longthorne is found by Chris Berry in a recording studio on Hull.
Find out what Joe is currently up to, see the news feed on the home page or visit the forum! |
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