Dennis Lotis born 8 March 1925

Dennis Lotis (8 March 1925 – 8 February 2023) was a South African-born British singer, actor, and entertainer, whose popularity was greatest in the 1950s. He was described as having "a sophisticated style that was particularly attractive to the young female population". 

Lotis was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He trained for four years as a boy soprano, and won several cups and medals. He made his first stage appearance at the age of seven, and his first broadcast when he was nine. After leaving school, he worked as a bus conductor and electrician, and sang in cinemas and nightclubs in Johannesburg.It was on one such occasion, as support artist for a fashion show, that he met his wife model Rena Mackie, an attractive tall brunette. It was Rena who persuaded him to try his luck in London.  So in 1950 twenty five year old Dennis, at the time a tram conductor in Durban, set sail for Britain. 

Clutched in his hand was a letter of introduction to bandleader Ted Heath, written for him by former London musician, saxist Don Barrigo. Arriving virtually penniless he sought out Ted, who liked his easy 'American' style and took him on as a natural replacement for Paul Carpenter. Ted even lent him the money to bring over his wife and young son. 

Valentine, Rosa, Lotis & Heath

Dennis joined Lita Roza and Dickie Valentine on the Heath vocal line up, first appearing with the band at a concert in Plymouth where he sang 'Goodnight Irene' dressed in cowboy gear.  At first he shared the straight numbers with Dickie but in 1951 when drummer Jack Parnell left the band he took over the up-tempo songs Jack previously sang. 

In March 1952 he made his first record on the Melodisc label with 'Tell me why', a song that was a big hit for the American Four Aces group with words by their lead singer Al Alberts, coupled with 'Please Mr.Sun'.  Six months later he was on Polygon with 'Here in my heart'. But it was Decca that signed him up and over the next couple of years he made a string of records for that label, many backed by Ted Heath and his Music.  Dennis made numerous broadcasts with the Heath band including the Radio Luxembourg series 'The Toni Twins', sponsored by Toni Home Perm. 

In April 1955, just back from a tour of Australia with the Heath Band, Dennis decided it was time to go it alone on the variety stage. His first solo appearance was a Sunday concert at Blackpool Palace Theatre on 10th April, followed by a long tour that began with a week at Manchester Hippodrome from Easter Monday (11th April).  During his act he sang 12 songs, from ballads to beat accompanied on half of them by The Dargie Quintet, with decoration from the glamourous dancing Joan Davis Four.  Melody Maker reviewer Jerry Dawson gave him a definite "thumbs up". 

                             

Tall, dark, slim and good-looking, he was an instant hit with the females in the audience.  He would wander among them singing a smoochy love song and plant kisses on their forehead.  Some local authorities decided he was "too sexy" and banned him from kissing members of the public during a performance. The BBC had already banned his 'Honey love' and Cuddle me' recordings for being too suggestive, but all this only made him more popular. 

He appeared in his first Royal Variety Performance in 1957, and that year was voted Top Male Singer in the Melody Maker annual poll. He also toured the US with the Ted Heath Orchestra. He recorded in the late 1950s and early 1960s for the Pye Nixa and Columbia labels. In 1956, Lotis toured with a production of the musical Harmony Close, and first worked as an actor in 1959 in John Osborne's The World of Paul Slickey. He also appeared in several British films, including The Extra Day (1956), The City of the Dead (also known as Horror Hotel, 1960), Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960), What Every Woman Wants (1962), and She'll Have to Go (1962). He also appeared on stage as Lucio in John Neville's production of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. 

Lotis continued his career as a singer, appearing on Six-Five Special and Thank Your Lucky Stars, and in the 1960s recorded for the King and Polydor labels. In the early seventies Dennis recorded some "tune-a-minute" style big band albums with Rosemary Squires and The Polka Dots, which more than anything else show just how pleasantly his voice had matured over the years. However, his style of music was becoming outdated, and after a period playing working men's clubs, he established his own antiques and restaurant business in Tring.

Lotis & Sally Kelly 

Eventually, in the '80s and '90s, he returned to the theaters, singing in nostalgia shows with contemporaries such as Joan Regan and Russ Conway. He gave a farewell performance in Mundesley, Norfolk, in 2005, following concerts in France and Spain. 

Lotis married singer Rena Mackie before leaving South Africa. A Pathé News film from 1958 shows him at home with his wife, children, and extensive collection of pipes. They lived in Mill Hill, Kings Langley, and Tring before moving to Field Dalling in Norfolk in 1982. 

He remarried after his wife's death and later lived in Stiffkey on the North Norfolk coast. Lotis died from natural causes on 8 February 2023, aged 97.

(Edited from Wikipedia, AllMusic & Don Wick’s book The Ballad Years)