Photo: Simon James from Darlington, UK / CC BY-SA 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Shakin' Stevens is a study in patience that paid off. A Cardiff lad who started recording in the late 1960s, he did not break through until 1980, then became the UK's biggest-selling singles artist of that entire decade. What I admire most is the contrarian instinct: while everyone chased new sounds, he revived 1950s rock and roll and pop, turning nostalgia into chart gold. Late bloomers who keep faith in their own taste fascinate me, and his story is proof that conviction plus stamina can outlast trends. I have nothing but respect for that long climb.
Overview
Michael Barratt (born 4 March 1948), known professionally as Shakin' Stevens, is a Welsh singer and songwriter. He was the UK's biggest-selling singles artist of the 1980s. His recording and performing career began in the late 1960s, although it was not until 1980 that his commercial success began. His most successful songs were nostalgia hits, evoking the sound of 1950s rock and roll and pop.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Shakin' Stevens
- Name (Japanese)
- シェイキン・スティーヴンス
- Reading
- しぇいきん・すてぃーゔんす
- Born
- December 5, 1948 (age 77)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Sagittarius / Rat
- Origin
- Cardiff, United Kingdom
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- singer-songwriter / singer / entertainer / composer / musician
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Singer-songwriter — see all → · Singer — see all → · More people from United Kingdom →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.