Wayne Fontana British pop and rock singer Date of Birth: 28.10.1945 Country: Great Britain

1. Early Life and Career
2. Success with The Mindbenders
3. Solo Career and Chart Success
4. Decline and Bankruptcy
5. Arrest and Conviction
6. Later Years and Death

Early Life and Career

Glyn Geoffrey Ellis, the man who would become Wayne Fontana, was born in Manchester, Lancashire, England, on October 28, 1945. He adopted his stage name from Dominic Joseph Fontana, Elvis Presley's drummer.

Success with The Mindbenders

In June 1963, Ellis began performing with the group The Mindbenders. Coincidentally, that same year, Fontana signed a deal with Fontana Records. With The Mindbenders, Fontana released his most famous single, "The Game of Love," in 1965. After recording a handful of other less successful songs, he left the band in October of that year.

Solo Career and Chart Success

Fontana embarked on a solo career, collaborating with musicians from The Opposition, including Frank Renshaw and Bernie Burns. In an effort to achieve chart success, Fontana recorded songs written by other songwriters. His most notable success was "Pamela, Pamela" by Graham Gouldman, which reached number 5 in the Australian Kent Music Report and number 11 on the UK Singles Chart in early 1967.

Decline and Bankruptcy

After "Pamela, Pamela," Fontana's chart success waned, leading him to take a break from the music industry in 1970. He attempted a comeback in 1973 with another Gouldman song, "Together," but it failed to chart. Fontana went on to release five studio albums throughout his career.

In 2005, Fontana declared bankruptcy. During a confrontation with bailiffs who had come to his home, he doused the car of one of the officers with petrol and set it alight, while the officer was still inside. He was arrested and deemed mentally unwell, undergoing treatment.

Arrest and Conviction

On May 25, 2007, Fontana was remanded in custody. He staged a dramatic performance in court, dressing as the goddess of justice and dismissing his lawyers. In November of that year, he was sentenced to 11 months in prison for the arson but was released under the Mental Health Act of 1983, having already served his time.

Later Years and Death

Fontana was arrested again in 2011 for failing to appear in court after receiving a speeding ticket. He continued to perform in Solid Silver 60s Shows before passing away from cancer on August 6, 2020, at the age of 74.