Richard Paul Astley (born February 6, 1966) is a British singer, famous for a babyfaced appearance that belies his rich baritone singing voice. He was born in Warrington, Cheshire, England.

Rick Astley was a singer with a band playing the club circuit in England, when in 1985 he was seen by the record producer Pete Waterman and persuaded to come to London to work at the PWL recording studio. Under the tutelage of Stock Aitken Waterman Astley was taught about the recording process and was groomed for his future career.

His first single was the little known "When You Gonna" credited to Rick & Lisa but his first solo outing was "Never Gonna Give You Up ", released in 1987 and became an immediate success, spending five weeks at the top of the British charts and becoming the year's highest selling single.

The album Whenever You Need Somebody also reached number one, and the hits singles continued.

By January 1988, "Never Gonna Give You Up" had also topped the US singles chart and was followed by a second US #1 in April with his second US single release "Together Forever".

By the end of the decade Astley had parted company with Stock Aitken Waterman. He achieved one more major success with the 1991 ballad "Cry For Help" which reached the Top 10 in both the UK and US.

In 2004 he was reported to be planning a comeback .

A list of Rick Astley's most successful singles with chart placings

Singles
1987
"Never Gonna Give You Up" (UK #1, US #1)
"Whenever You Need Somebody" (UK #3)
"When I Fall In Love"/"My Arms Keep Missing You" (UK #2)
1988
"Together Forever" (UK #2, US #1)
"It Would Take A Strong Strong Man" (US #10)
"She Wants To Dance With Me" (UK #6, US # 6)
"Take Me To Your Heart" (UK #8)
1989
"Hold Me In Your Arms" (UK #10)
1991
"Cry For Help (UK #7, US #7)

External Links

• Stock Aitken Waterman & PWL | cafe80s