An almost famous singeralt text

While the SFAƒ??s Web site list of Famous People Who Stutter includes?ÿmany high-profile names, we like to think that every person who?ÿstutters is unique in their own right.

One person who stutters who unfortunately never became famous was?ÿRory Storm.

Born Alan Caldwell in Liverpool in 1942, he took the name Rory Storm?ÿwhen he formed his own rock band, Rory Storm & the Hurricanes. Rory?ÿstuttered badly but was totally fluent when singing, as is the case?ÿfor many people. All accounts of Rory describe his speech problem as?ÿbeing severe.

Rory Storm & the Hurricanes was the most popular band in Liverpool?ÿand ƒ?? at one point ƒ?? even had more fans than their friends The?ÿBeatles. Roryƒ??s blonde hair and blue eyed good looks made him quite?ÿpopular with young women in Liverpool.

Rory would indirectly make history when he advised his drummer,?ÿRitchie Starkey, to change his name because it did not sound?ÿartistic. Not wanting to change his name, the drummer finally did?ÿwhen Rory suggested he take the name ƒ??Ringoƒ?? because of the drummerƒ??s?ÿpenchant for wearing rings.

Ironically, Rory Storm & the Hurricanes played in the same club in?ÿHamburg with the Beatles for a year. Ringo Starr had to fill in many?ÿtimes for original Beatle drummer Pete Best and it always went well.

When the Beatles canned Best just prior to recording their first?ÿrecord in 1962, Ringo was the unanimous choice to replace the popular?ÿBest.

Rory was sorry to lose Ringo but wished him well. Unfortunately for?ÿRory, he and the Hurricanes would never see any glory days. With?ÿBeatlemania in England, other groups out of Liverpool, such as Gerry?ÿ& the Pacemakers, achieved some success. However, Rory and his band?ÿfell on hard times and were constantly passed over for a recording?ÿcontract.

Rory had to deal almost on a daily basis with the Beatlesƒ?? success?ÿbecause his sister Iris was Paul McCartneyƒ??s girlfriend for awhile,?ÿboth before and after the Beatlesƒ?? success. She was Paulƒ??s last?ÿLiverpool girlfriend, and even after their break-up, Paul kept in?ÿtouch regularly with Roryƒ??s mother, Violet Caldwell. In fact, when?ÿPaul wrote Yesterday, the first person he called was Violet Caldwell?ÿto sing it to her over the phone.

It was difficult for a talented person like Rory to be passed?ÿover during the Liverpool craze in rock history. He found it most?ÿdifficult to adjust to a life in which he had to speak rather than sing.

Another hardship would come later. While known on the club scene?ÿthroughout England, his trademark moves on stage coupled with his?ÿblonde hair and good looks were legendary. It is widely believed that?ÿan upstart singer Rod Stewart, who saw Rory perform many times in the?ÿearly days, ƒ??stoleƒ?? the singerƒ??s trademark persona and found success?ÿof his own with well-choreographed moves on stage and flaunting his?ÿblonde hair.
Rory successfully treated his speech problem and became a fluent?ÿdisc jockey for several years. However, tragedy would follow. In?ÿ1972, shortly after the death of his father and down on his luck,?ÿRory took an overdose of pills and whiskey to end his life. His?ÿdistraught mother died hours later of a heart attack.

True followers of the Liverpool club scene prior to 1962 know that?ÿRory Storm was just as talented as any of the acts that found fame in?ÿthe ƒ??British invasion.ƒ?? Success was all around Rory Storm for many?ÿyears, but life dealt him an unfortunate hand. While he did not?ÿachieve fame and fortune, his unique accomplishments put him on our?ÿradar screen as a famous person who stutters.


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