Bruce Welch: Who Is Olivia Newton-John’s Ex BF?

Bruce Welch, an English guitarist, was the ex-fiancée of Olivia Newton-John.

In 1968, Bruce Welch and Newton-John got engaged.

However, in 1972, Newton-John ended her relationship with Bruce Welch, who subsequently attempted suicide.

Bruce Welch OBE is an English guitarist, songwriter, producer, singer and businessman best known as a founding member of the Shadows.

He was born Bruce Cripps on November 2, 1941, in Bognor Regis, Sussex, England to Stan Cripps and Grace Welch.

Welch’s parents Stan Cripps and Grace Welch moved him to 15 Broadwood View, Chester-le-Street, County Durham. His mother died when he was six, and he grew up with his Aunt Sadie.

After learning to play the guitar, he formed a Tyneside skiffle band called the Railroaders when he was fourteen.

In September 1958 Welch and his friend Hank Marvin joined the Drifters, later to become the Shadows, as Cliff Richard’s backing band. As well as success with the Shadows, Welch acted as producer for Richard and songwriter for his ex-fiancée, Olivia Newton-John.

He also released a solo single, “Please Mr. Please”, which was not commercially successful, though the song has been covered by several recording artists (most notably Newton-John, who would take it into the top 10 of the US pop and country charts in 1975).

Welch wrote several number 1 hit singles for Richard and the Shadows. Among songs written or co-written by Welch are the Shadows’ hits Foot Tapper, Theme for Young Lovers, and The Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt, Marvin Welch & Farrar’s Faithful and My Home Town, and Cliff Richard hits “Please Don’t Tease, In the Country, Summer Holiday, I Love You and I Could Easily Fall (In Love with You).

He was the musical consultant for the West End musical Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story.

After the Shadows disbanded in 1990, Welch formed Bruce Welch’s Shadows (originally called ‘Bruce Welch’s Moonlight Shadows’ in 1998.

Bruce Welch is 80 years old as of 2021.