Paul Francis Gadd born 8 May , better known by his stage name Gary Glitter , is an English former singer who achieved fame and success during the s and s. His career ended after he was convicted of downloading child pornography in He was also convicted of child sexual abuse in and a series of sexual offences including attempted rape in He became known for his energetic live performances and glam rock persona of glitter suits, make-up, and platform boots.
He has sold over 20 million records and had 26 hit singles , which spent a total of weeks in the UK Singles Chart , with 12 reaching the top 10 and three of those charting at number one. As of , he was listed in the top most successful UK chart acts. BBC News described Glitter's fall from grace as "dramatic" and "spectacular". He later faced criminal charges and deportation from several countries in connection with both actual and suspected child sexual abuse.
He was deported from Cambodia on suspected child sexual abuse charges in and settled in Vietnam, where a court found him guilty of obscene acts with minors in After the Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal , Glitter was arrested again in , as part of Operation Yewtree. In , he was found guilty of one count of attempted rape, one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, and four counts of indecent assault ; [ 12 ] [ 13 ] he was sentenced to 16 years in prison. By the time he was 16, Gadd was already performing at London clubs.
His repertoire consisted of early rock and roll standards and gentle ballads. In January , at 15, under the stage name Paul Raven, he released his first single, "Alone in the Night". A year later, with a new manager, Vic Billings, he signed a new recording contract with Parlophone and worked with record producer George Martin , before Martin's association with the Beatles.
Martin produced two singles, "Walk on Boy" and " Tower of Strength ", but neither sold very well, and Gadd's recording career as Paul Raven stalled. By , he was reduced to working as an assistant, and playing the warm-up for the British music television programme Ready Steady Go! He did numerous television commercials and film auditions, and in the course of those activities met arranger and record producer Mike Leander , who eventually helped revive his career.
