Notoriously shy and reclusive, during the height of his fame in the 1960s, he was frequently mobbed by hordes of infatuated teenage girls, akin to the level of hysteria The Beatles had endured.
Moved to England in 1965 with fellow The Walker Brothers and achieved
immense success, notching up two Number 1's in the UK with "Make It Easy On Yourself" and "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore", before the group disbanded in 1967.
Released several critically acclaimed solo albums in the 1960s. His
music was marked for its lush orchestral arrangements, his baritone
voice, and his lyrics that tackled themes such as socialism, death,
madness and unrequited love.
Produced the British band, Pulp's album, "We Love Life", in 2001.