Chris Farlowe
His raw, soulful voice turned a Rolling Stones cast-off into a defining 1960s British chart-topper.
Born 1940 (age 86)·Musical artist·Birthday: October 13·The Silent Generation
Biography
Chris Farlowe emerged from the London rhythm and blues scene with a powerful, gritty vocal style that set him apart from the era's smoother pop singers. His breakthrough came in 1966 when Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, impressed by his live performances, offered him 'Out of Time,' a song they'd deemed unsuitable for their own band. Farlowe's dramatic, blues-drenched rendition shot to number one, cementing his place in British rock history. Never content to be a one-hit wonder, he navigated the shifting musical landscape, lending his formidable voice to hard rock with Atomic Rooster and the progressive jazz-rock fusion of Colosseum. His career became a testament to enduring musical passion, sustained through decades of performing and recording that kept his soul and blues roots firmly intact.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Chris was born in 1940, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1940
#1 Movie
Fantasia
Best Picture
Rebecca
Chris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1940Born
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1945Started school
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1953Became a teenager
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1956Could drive
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1958Could vote
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1961Turned 21
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1970Turned 30
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 40
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 50
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 60
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 70
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 80
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 86 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored a UK number one single in 1966 with 'Out of Time,' a song written for him by the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
- Served as the lead vocalist for the progressive rock band Colosseum on their influential early 1970s albums.
- Maintained a consistent recording and touring career spanning over six decades, from the 1960s into the 2020s.
Did You Know?
He was a paratrooper in the British Army before pursuing music full-time.
He is an avid collector of military history artifacts and war memorabilia.
His early stage name was 'Little Joe' until his manager suggested a change.
“I'm a singer, not a pop star; my voice is my truth.”
