Born in Cardiff, Wales, on 23 March 1940, Maureen Evans began her stage career as a young teenager, sharing the stage with Dickie Valentine. She also performed for summer seasons at holiday resorts with Waldini’s Gypsy Band.
In 1958, her first recording – a sound-alike cover version of Stupid Cupid by Connie Francis – appeared on Woolworth’s Embassy label. She also appeared on BBC television as a schoolgirl, acting with Flora Robson in The Corn is Green. This was followed in 1960 by a singing slot on Arthur Askey’s Saturday Night Spectacular.
A contract with Oriole Records produced a cover of The Big Hurt in January 1960, reaching #26. Four more hits followed, the biggest of which was Like I Do which reached #3 at the end of 1962.
Maureen was shortlisted to represent the UK in the 1963 Eurovision Song Contest but she was defeated in the elimination contest by Ronnie Carroll’s Say Wonderful Things.
Nonetheless, Maureen topped the bill in Copenhagen and had her own show on Irish television. She was also incredibly popular in South Africa.
In the 1990s, Maureen ran the Maureen Evans Theatre School in Cardiff and she still performs on cruise ships.
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