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Popular British pop star and actor Adam Faith would have been 70 years old today. He died aged 62 in 2003.

Adam Faith was born Terence Terry Nelhams-Wright in London and began his pop career in 1957 with the skiffle group The Worried Men. They became the resident band at the famous 2i’s Coffee Bar in Soho, London. Faith’s first solo break came when The Worried Men appeared on the BBC’s “Six Five Special” television show. On the strength of his performance on the show, producer Jack Good arranged a solo recording contract with HMV for the young singer. His initial recordings were not popular and Faith returned to work as a film cutter for National Studios at Elstree.

Faith’s second chance came in early 1959 with an audition for the BBC’s “Drumbeat” television show. He was given a 22-week run on the show, which revived his recording career and led to an appearance in the film “Beat Girl.”

Adam Faith’s first big hit and the one he is most associated with was “What Do You Want?” in 1959. Here’s a performance of the song from a decade later.

Adam Faith – “What Do You Want” (Top of the Pops 1969)

Adam Faith with chart rival Cliff Richard

“What Do You Want?” hit number one on the UK singles chart and was followed up by many top 10 hits, including “Poor Me,” “Someone Else’s Baby,” “The Time Has Come” and “Don’t That Beat All.”

Adam Faith – “Don’t That Beat All”

John Barry, Eddie Cochran, Adam Faith and Gene Vincent at the NME Poll Winners’ Concert in Feb 1960

After a successful recording career in the 1960s, Faith turned to acting towards the end of the decade and into the 1970s, including the lead role in the television series “Budgie,” which ran for several series, and a role in the David Essex movie “Stardust.” Many other acting roles followed in the last two decades of his life, including a role in the popular BBC series “Love Hurts” from 1992 to 1994.

Faith was performing until the very end. He died from a heart attack on March 8, 2003 just hours after appearing in a touring production of “Love and Marriage.”