1961, Music: Helen Shapiro

In 1961, aged fourteen, the English singer Helen Shapiro, full name Helen Kate Shapiro (born 28 September 1946), scored 2 number 1 hits in the UK charts: "You Don't Know" and "Walkin' Back to Happiness".

Helen Shapiro was born in Bethnal Green, London. She attended Northwold Primary School and Clapton Park Comprehensive School. Her grandparents were Russian Jewish immigrants. The family was too poor to buy a record player but Shapiro's parents encouraged a musical education. Helen played banjo and sang occasionally with her brother Ron in his skiffle group. At the age of ten she sang in the band "Susie and the Hula Hoops," a school band with her cousin Susan Singer and Marc Feld (the later "T. Rex" Marc Bolan). Aged 13 she followed singing lessons at “The Maurice Burman School of Modern Pop Singing” in London.

The Beatles, Helen Shapiro, Dusty Springfield, Eden Kane
and Keith Fordyce on the set of Ready Steady Go! (ITV, 1963)

Single "You Don't Know" (1961)

Single "Walkin' Back to Happiness" (1961)

In 1961, her first single "Don't Treat Me Like a Child", reached No. 3 in the UK charts. In 1962, aged fifteen she was voted Britain's "Top Female Singer". One of the supporting acts during her late winter/early spring tour of 1963, were "The Beatles". During this tour "The Beatles" had their first hit single.

"You Don't Know" (1961)

"Walkin' Back to Happiness" (1961)

Helen Shapiro performing "Look Who It Is" on "Ready Steady Go!" with "The Beatles"