William Shakespeare (singer)

William Shakespeare (19 November 1948 – 5 October 2010) was the stage name of Australian glam rock singer, born as John Stanley Cave, also known as John Cabe or Billy Shake. He had two Australian hit singles, "Can't Stop Myself from Loving You", which peaked at No. 2 on the Kent Music Report in 1974, and "My Little Angel", which peaked at No. 1 in 1975. Both hits were written by Vanda & Young, who also turned Shakespeare into a glam rocker. After decades of alcohol addiction and clinical depression he became destitute; he was assisted by music industry benevolent society, Support Act, from 2001. He died suddenly in October 2010, aged 61.

This article is about the Australian glam rock singer. For the English tenor, see William Shakespeare (tenor).
"John Cave" redirects here. For other uses, see John Cave (disambiguation).

William Shakespeare
Birth nameJohn Stanley Cave
Also known asJohnny Cabe, Billy Shake
Born(1948-11-19)19 November 1948
OriginSydney, Australia
Died5 October 2010(2010-10-05) (aged 61)
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1966 (1966)–1993 (1993)
LabelsAlbert

Early life

Shakespeare was born as John Stanley Cave in 1948 and grew up in Dulwich Hill, New South Wales.[1] He was the only son of Stanley John Cave (ca. 1922–1962), a greengrocer, and Elizabeth May (née Thursfield, died 1971).[2] The Cave family lived in Dulwich Hill for most of his early life.[3]

He was vocalist for beat music group, the Amazons, with Nick Barlow on guitar, Harry Brus on bass guitar, Chris Carroll on guitar and Dally Carroll on drums.[4] In 1966, they released a single, "Ain't that Lovin' You Baby". After The Amazons, Shakespeare continued performing in Sydney clubs as Johnny Cabe.

Career

In early 1974 Shakespeare was in Albert Studios where producers and songwriters, Vanda & Young (ex-The Easybeats), were trying to record "Can't Stop Myself from Loving You", however, the singer they were working with was unable to reach its high notes.[4][5] Shakespeare's falsetto voice was suitable and Vanda & Young used him to finish recording the track; they also signed him to Albert Productions and groomed him into William Shakespeare as a glam rocker along the lines of Alvin Stardust or Gary Glitter.[4][5] According to ABC-TV series, Long Way to the Top (2001), he was one of three contenders for lead vocalist of AC/DC.[6] However this was refuted by both of that group's founders, Angus and Malcolm Young.

"Can't Stop Myself from Loving You" was released as a single in July 1974 and peaked at No. 2 nationally (No. 1 in Sydney and Melbourne) on the Kent Music Report singles chart.[7] Also in that year, during the planning stages for the ABC-TV series, Countdown, it was suggested that Shakespeare host the show. However, this was rejected, with Ian Meldrum becoming a regular contributor instead. A number of guest hosts including Shirley Strachan, John Paul Young and Daryl Braithwaite compered the show in its early years on an ad hoc basis.

In November 1974 Shakespeare released his debut album, Can't Stop Myself from Loving You, produced by Vanda & Young for Albert Productions. All but one track was co-written by Vanda & Young.[8] One track, "Time", was co-written by Shakespeare with Chris Gilbey, A&R manager at Alberts. The album peaked in the top 30 on the Kent Music Report albums chart.[7]

His second single, "My Little Angel", followed in December and peaked at No. 1 on the Kent Music Report for three weeks in February of the next year and he became a national pop star.[7][9] Shakespeare appeared on the teen-oriented musical program, Countdown, in his glam rock costume numerous times.[5] The two singles and album were followed by two more singles, "Just the Way You Are" in April 1975 and "Last Night" in May 1976, but he had no further top 50 successes.[4][7]

Criminal conviction and spell in Chelmsford

In 1975 John Cave was convicted of statutory rape of a 15-year-old girl from his Melbourne fan club, and he received two years probation.[4][10][11] He left Albert Productions in 1977 and had no further recordings — his pop music career was over due to his criminal conviction[10] and changes in music styles.[5][11]

In 1978 Shakespeare, who had an alcohol addiction and clinical depression, was treated with Deep Sleep Therapy (in combination with electroconvulsive therapy and other therapies) by Dr Harry Bailey at the Chelmsford Private Hospital for three weeks.[1][12] From 1979 until the mid 1990s, Shakespeare sometimes performed as Billy Shake in Sydney clubs as a 1970s revival act.[4][12]

A temporary revival of his singing career occurred in 1990 when listeners of Triple M Melbourne voted "My Little Angel" as the daggiest song of their generation and a cover version was provided by the Melody Lords. For his day job, Shakespeare was a car detailer at a Holden dealership in Arncliffe, New South Wales for most of his working life.[4] In late 1992 he appeared as a guest on the "Countdown" segment in series 1 episode 12 of the ABC comedy show The Late Show and performed "My Little Angel" live.

Decline and death

Mental illness and alcoholism took its toll on his personal life and by 2001, Shakespeare was homeless and lived in a ticket booth at an oval next to St George's Leagues Club in Kogarah, where he was found and assisted by Lindy Morrison (ex-The Go-Betweens drummer) of Support Act Limited, a company concerned with assisting artists in hard times.[1][12]

In 2009, Shakespeare was living in government housing in the southern Sydney suburb of Riverwood.[11][13] William Shakespeare (John Cave) died suddenly in Sydney on 5 October 2010.[1] Tributes to his life and music appeared in the Australian media.[1][14]

Discography

Studio albums
List of albums, with Australian chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
AUS
[15]
Can't Stop Myself from Loving You 27

Singles
Year Single Chart Positions Album
AUS[15]
1974 "Can't Stop Myself from Loving You" 2 Can't Stop Myself From Loving You
"My Little Angel" 1
1975 "Just The Way You Are" 57
1976 "Last Night" 97 Non-Album Single

See also

References
  1. Wilder, Gabriel (8 October 2010). "Shakespearean Tragedy: Bright Star of Pop Cut Short by Scandal and Alcohol". The Age. Archived from the original on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. "The Ryerson Index". Ryerson Index. Retrieved 25 April 2020. Note: User must add 'Cave' into the Surname search parameter and 'Stanley John', 'Elizabeth May' or 'John Stanley' into the Any Given Name(s) parameter.
  3. ABC Television: GTK, 1 January 1975 (last episode)
  4. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'William Shakespeare'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Archived from the original on 19 April 2004. Retrieved 8 February 2009.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Note: McFarlane incorrectly gives last name as Caves and birth year as 1950.
  5. Warner, Dave (June 2006). Countdown: the Wonder Years 1974–1987. Sydney: ABC Books. pp. 72–73. ISBN 0-7333-1401-5. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
  6. "Episode 4: Berserk Warriors 1973–1981". Long Way to the Top. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
  8. "APRA search engine results for 'Can't Stop Myself from Loving You'". APRA AMCOS. Retrieved 25 April 2020. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'
  9. Noel McGrath. 'Australian Encyclopedia Of Rock'. Outback Press. Australia, 1977
  10. Cockington, James (August 2001). "Countdown". Long Way to the Top. Sydney: ABC Books. p. 202. ISBN 0-7333-0750-7.
  11. "Popular Countdown Acts". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  12. "George Negus Tonight > Health > Support Act". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 2005. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  13. Countdown star's topple from grace – Sydney Morning Herald, 24 August 2009
  14. Cashmere, Paul (6 October 2010). "William Shakespeare Dead at 61". undercover.fm. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  15. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 270. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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