Cliff Gordon: The Welsh Icarus, and the man who discovered Shirley Bassey

The touching story of Clifford Gordon, 1920-1964, also known as Clifford Moses, forgotten Welsh actor and producer of shows in London and on tours of the UK

Cliff Gordon was born in West Wales in 1920 and died in Hastings in 1964. He found fame as an actor and playwright and a musical impresario. Best known for his play “ Valley of Song” ( about two feuding Welsh choirs, which was made into a film) Cliff often found himself on the wrong side of the law, because he was a homosexual. After serving in the army with ENSA he worked almost non stop in London shows, with his own musical reviews at the famous Windmill Theatre. He also toured with Ivor Novello, and with Donald Houston ( In Dylan Thomas’ under Milk Wood) and did a good deal of work for BBC Wales, earning a high regard. He also made several feature films. After the death of Dylan Thomas in 1953, Cliff’s closest friend and confidante was Thomas’ widow, Caitlin, the two of them drunk each other under bars in London and in Italy. In the mid-late 1950s Cliff saw Shirley Bassey perform in Cardiff Bay and later invited her to tour with two of his shows, thus effectively giving Bassey her first ‘big break’ into show business. Ill- health overshadowed Cliff his whole life, in his last years he settled into marriage. A sad, brave but often amusing tale of a talented Welsh man, but born before his time who burnt the candle at both ends in pursuit of his dreams. He is hardly remembered by anyone, hence this tribute.

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