Roger Whittaker

Anglo-Kenyan singer-songwriter and musician. Born 22 March 1936 in Nairobi, Kenya. Died 13 September 2023 in Toulouse, France. Roger Whittaker became famous for his easy-listening ballads and folk songs. At the age of 18 he was drafted and served 2 years in the British army during the Mau Mau uprising. He studied medicine and science before pursuing a music career. He had his first hit with “Steel Men” in 1962 and went on to record many albums and songs, including his signature hit, “The Last Farewell” (1975), which sold 11 million copies worldwide. He also wrote and performed songs in German, French and other languages, and was especially popular in Germany but also found success in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, South Africa, among others. He founded his own record label, Tembo Records, and organized a songwriting contest for children that drew a million entries. He performed at the Grand Ole Opry and at a 50th-anniversary party for former President George Bush and his wife, Barbara. He retired to France in 2013. Whittaker was known for his rich baritone voice, his whistling and yodeling skills, and his sentimental songs that touched the hearts of many fans.