Des O'Connor is an English singer, lyricist and television personality from Stepney, in the East End of London. Born Desmond Bernard O'Connor in 1932, he dies in Buckinghamshire, England in 2020.

Career

O'Connor builds a long career in entertainment as both a singer and broadcaster. He records 34 albums and sells more than 15 million records. He is widely known as a veteran television personality, with a career that includes extensive work as a light-entertainment host and performer.

Style and public image

His singing is often the subject of jokes, particularly from the British comedy duo Morecambe and Wise. O'Connor responds to this criticism in good humour and even appears with them in a sketch that parodies him.

Performance and collaborations

He performs with a backing quintet and a simple nightclub-style stage setting, combining jokes, anecdotes and songs. He is associated with a wide range of entertainers from British and American show business, and he is described as having worked with Buddy Holly early in his career. He also performs material linked to Frank Sinatra and Tom Jones during appearances in Las Vegas.

Legacy

O'Connor is remembered as a polished, self-deprecating entertainer with a strong reputation for charm and humour, as well as for a large body of recorded work and his long presence on British television.