In 1970, Lulu teamed with the Bee Gees, Blind Faith, and British stars Spike Milligan and Eleanor Bron for a British TV special, Cucumber Castle, which would go on to become a cult favorite. deal with Atco, and her first LP for the label, New Routes, was recorded at the Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, where the town's famous rhythm section was accompanied by Duane Allman on guitar. Lulu also switched American record labels, striking a U.S. hit, peaking at number two on the sales charts. Lulu also represented England in the Eurovision Song Contest that year, and her song, "Boom Bang-a-Bang," not only won the competition for England, but became a major U.K.
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In 1968, Lulu became the star of her own television series - which aired under various titles, including Lulu's Back in Town, Happening for Lulu, and It's Lulu, until 1975 - and scored more hit singles in the U.K., "Me the Peaceful Heart," "Boy," and "I'm a Tiger." In 1969, she made news when she wed Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees, though the marriage would only last four years. It faded almost as soon as it had blossomed." Lulu also made her way into the gossip columns when she enjoyed a short-lived romance with Davy Jones of the Monkees when the American group was touring the U.K., though Lulu described their romance as "very innocent –- nothing untoward happened. In the U.K., "The Boat I Row," "Let's Pretend," and "Love Loves to Love, Love" were all major hits that year.
and the U.S., and Lulu's emotional reading of the theme song rose to the top of the American pop charts, where it stayed for five weeks, though in England, Columbia curiously made the song the B-side of her second single for the label, "Let's Pretend." In the U.S., the success of "To Sir, With Love" led to a reissue of the "Shout" single, which was soon competing on the charts with a new Lulu number, "Best of Both Worlds" the latter was the winner, rising to number 32 on the Pop Charts. In 1967, Lulu made her big screen debut in the coming of age drama To Sir, With Love, in which she played Babs, a student who learns important lessons about maturity and self-respect from teacher Sidney Poitier. She signed a new record deal with Columbia Records (the British label affiliated with EMI), struck a production deal with Mickie Most (best known for his work with the Animals, Donovan, and Jeff Beck), and set out on several concert tours, including a trip to Poland, which made her the first British female act to perform behind the Iron Curtain. In 1966, Lulu parted ways with the Luvvers and made her debut as a solo act. More chart successes followed - "Can't Hear You No More," "Here Comes the Night," and "Satisfied" - along with a steady stream of television, radio, and concert appearances that led to Melody Maker magazine naming Lulu Britain's most promising new act of 1965. In 1964, Massey landed a recording deal for the group with Decca Records, and Lulu & the Luvvers' first single, an enthusiastic cover of the Isley Brothers' "Shout," was a hit, rising to number seven on the U.K. Massey became their manager, changed Marie's stage name to Lulu, and dubbed the band the Luvvers.
The Gleneagles were soon regularly playing venues in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and one evening in 1962, the group was spotted by Marion Massey, who saw potential in the combo, in particular their charismatic lead singer. After years of competing in talent contests, Marie was invited to join a local pop group, the Gleneagles, when she was 14. The oldest of four siblings, Marie developed an enthusiasm for singing at a very young age, and was just four years when she performed for an audience for the first time at a Coronation party. Lulu was born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie on Novemin Glasgow, Scotland. But in the United Kingdom, Lulu had already scored a handful of hits when "To Sir, With Love" was released as the B-side to "Let's Pretend," and at home she would become an enduring star in pop music, on television, on the stage, and in the movies, thanks to her strong, versatile voice and sunny personality. In the United States, Lulu is thought of as a one-hit wonder, having scored a memorable number one hit in 1967 with the bittersweet and evocative "To Sir, With Love" without ever duplicating that feat (though she did land three other singles in the Top 40).