Dave Mills - Love is a beautiful song
Dave Mills was born in Berrington, near Newcastle in England, on 20 August 1935. His parents were from Irish descent. At the age of 15 he started working in the coal mines and did this for 10 years, and from the age of 19 he started singing in local pubs to earn an extra income. He came to South Africa in 1969 and was offered a recording contract with the Storm label by terry Dempsey. Not only did Terry write all of Dave’s hits, but he became one of South Africa’s best-known composers, and even wrote the American actor and singer, David Cassidy’s hit song "Daydreamer".
Dave Mills had his first South African Top 20 hit with “Theresa” in 1969. It reached #2 and charted for 20 weeks. His biggest hit was, no doubt, “Love Is A Beautiful Song”, which reached #1 in 1970 and which charted for 17 weeks. A few months later he also reached #5 with “All The Tears In The World”. I have always wondered how many people bought this 7” single just to later realise that they already owned it, as it was the B-side to “Love Is A Beautiful Song”.
In 1970 Dave won a Sarie Award as Best Male Vocalist and had a further four Top 20 hits in the years thereafter with songs such as “Home” and “Tomorrow Is Over”. He moved to Australia in 1970 where he continued his career and issued more records, although he was unable to chart again. He passed away on 14 May 2014 in Perth, Western Australia, aged 78.
Dave Mills’ South African Top 20 history:
1. Theresa - 1969, #2, 20 weeks
2. Love is a beautiful song - 1970, #1, 17 weeks
3. All the tears in the world - 1970, #5, 12 weeks
4. Home - 1971, #2, 14 weeks
5. Tomorrow is over - 1971, #15, 5 weeks
6. Mexico - 1971, #20, 1 week
7. I can't go home to Mary - 1973, #17, 4 weeks
This song was released on 7" single in 1969.