Born David Albert Cook in Plaistow, East London. Throughout his early teens he was training at West Ham as A schoolboy player dreaming of becoming a footballer.

Age 14 and like the Star Over Bethlehem, David, on an adventure to Soho goes into The Flamingo Jazz Club and becomes besotted with blues and R&B music. The football remains un-kicked in the hall as his passion for music became his focus.

After joining Blues bands he was spotted by manager and mentor, Derek Bowman. Makes his first records for Fontana Records a ballad called “And The Tears Came Tumbling Down” and then a blues song called “Can’t Nobody Love You” which entered the charts of pirate radio stations and was a respected record. Under Derek’s guidance began work in the theatre joining a touring repertory and playing various roles.

After years of struggling David auditioned for the musical “Godspell” and was selected from over 1000 actors to play the part of Jesus. Essex won the Variety Club of Great Britain’s award for Most Promising Newcomer. Harold Hobson of “The Sunday Times” compared his performance to the Christs of El Greco and Rubens and declared his performance “the best in London” even though Sir Laurence Olivier was playing in the Theatre next door

Film producer David Puttnam asked him to play the lead in his first film That’ll Be The Day co-starring with Ringo Starr. Whilst filming That’ll Be The Day David wrote the song Rock On. The film and the end of his time in Godspell came together in an extraordinary way with the single Rock On number one worldwide. That’ll Be The Day the film to see and Godspell, the hottest ticket in town. All three mediums embraced him. David released his second hit single Lamplight and his first hit album called Rock On.

Rock On was nominated for a 1974 Grammy award. Attending the award ceremony were John Lennon, Paul Simon and Aretha Franklin. John Lennon told David how much he liked Rock On which sold over a million in the USA and went Gold, topping the charts worldwide.

Back in the UK the first single released from his second hit album, David Essex, was
Gonna Make You a Star which went to No. 1 in the UK. David returned to the movies again to play Jim Maclaine in the film Stardust, the sequel to That’ll be the Day, with Larry Hagman and Adam Faith. This followed the rise and fall of rock star Jim Maclaine and is still among the most respected works documenting the rock scene of the time.

Hold Me Close from his third and biggest hit album All The Fun Of The Fair shot to number one in the UK. David’s rock tours with “Essex Mania” in full flow, created mass hysteria. His albums Out on The Street (1976) and Gold and Ivory (1977) were both chart hits and critically acclaimed.

David undertook the role of Che in the Original London stage production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s landmark musical “Evita”. David signed to Phonogram Records, which released the single Oh What A Circus which went to number three in the charts. David went on to produce several notable albums, including Imperial Wizard, Stage-Struck (1982) and Touching the Ghost (1989).

A huge motorbike fan, Essex was in his element starring as Nick Freeman, a hotheaded motorbike racer, with Beau Bridges in Silver Dream Racer (1980). He also wrote the score for the movie, including the Top 3 hit Silver Dream Machine title track.

David saw a play in Greenwich Village, New York which appealed to him. “Childe Byron,” a play about the life of the poet Lord Byron. He asked Frank Dunlop to direct this at the Young Vic and it enjoyed success, showing him to be an accomplished straight actor.

On the pop scene Tim Rice and Mike Batt wrote “A Winter’s Tale” especially for David and this shot up to No.2 in the charts and remains a popular Christmas record.

A new departure came when David wrote, with the National Theatre’s Richard Crane, his own musical, “Mutiny!” with Frank Finlay as Captain Bligh to his Fletcher Christian. It was first a concept album and had chart success. Then it ran at the Piccadilly Theatre, London, for sixteen months. “Tahiti” – No 7 – was one of three hit singles. The show was nominated for “Best Musical” in the Ivor Novello awards.

His first television-acting role was as Davey Jackson in the BBC series The River. The six part TV series was watched by over 11 million viewers each week.

David appeared in a Japanese medieval action film with Toshiro Mifune, Christopher Lee, John Rhys-Davies and Sho Kosugi, “Shogun Mayeda” (renamed Shogun Warrior for English TV audiences). He played a swashbuckling villain Don Pedro, a Spanish Duke.

Early in 1993 Sir Peter Hall, long time an admirer, invited David to play Tony Lumpkin in a production of Oliver Goldsmith’s classic “She Stoops To Conquer”. Delighted to be working with Sir Peter Hall, David appeared with Donald Sinden and Miriam Margolyes on tour and at the Queen’s Theatre in London for seven months. Sir Peter plans to do another production with David when time permits for both of them.

A 53 date tour in the Autumn of 1994 coincided with a new Polygram album “Back to Back”, produced by Jeff Wayne. David’s albums on Polygram “David Essex – His Greatest Hits” (1992) and “Cover Shot” (1993) both went Gold.

The premiere of the ice-skating ballet “Beauty & The Beast” took place at the Royal Albert Hall – a gala charity performance in aid of Elton John’s Aids Foundation. David, as David the composer, took his bow at the end of the performance, a red carpet was rolled onto the ice and Michael Aspel walked on and escorted David to the TV studio to honour him in “This Is Your Life!”

David wrote ballet score for an ice ballet version of “Beauty and the Beast” for the Russian All Stars Company, an international ice skating ensemble, which was staged in 1995/1996. This proved a delightful entertainment much enjoyed by the public. The Gala Charity performance on 5 December 1995 was a very exciting night.

David continues his close association with the aid organisation Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) as a Council Member. During his long stint as their Ambassador he recorded an LP ’Under Different Skies’ the proceeds going to VSO. He has spent time in Zimbabwe; also two months in Uganda conducting music and drama workshops for student teachers and directed a touring production of Godspell which opened at the National Theatre in Kampala. He visited Malawi in June 1995 to make a film of the volunteer projects there.

He returned to Africa in April 1996, this time for Comic Relief who took a team of celebrities to play football with local teams. The team included David Baddiel, Frank Skinner, Nick Hancock, Angus Deayton and “Casualty’s” Patrick Robinson. A three half-hour TV documentary was filmed and shown on the BBC March 1997 at the beginning of Comic Relief week.

David was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his stage, screen and music career, as well as his charitable work. He has also become patron of the Gypsy Council which aims to improve conditions for Gypsies and Travellers in Britain.

In April David went to Australia to star in Tim Rice’s Concert Spectacular which visited Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. He returned to the UK to record his new album ’Thank You’ which was released to coincide with his 53 date UK Tour 2000.

Turning his hand to writing, Essex’s autobiography, A Charmed Life (2002), was published by Orion Books. It became a bestseller and one of the most successful autobiographies of the year. The albums Wonderful (2001) Forever (2002), Sunset (2003) and It’s Gonna Be Alright (2004) were released via his website. In 2004, Edsel Records began releasing Essex’s classic albums on CD, in skillfully re-mastered editions.

Boogie Nights II finished in Blackpool in October 2005 but David took time out in June and July to perform at all the UK Arenas on the Once In A Lifetime Tour with David Cassidy, The Osmonds and Les Mckeown.

In Feb and March The River & Silver Dream Racer DVDs were released and the CD David Essex Greatest Hits went Gold. He appeared in the hit musical ’Footloose’ in the West End from May to September and broke all box office records for the show. His album Beautiful Day was released through his website and to coincide with his 48 date tour of the UK.

David is asked to tour in Andrew Lloyd Webber hit musical Aspects Of Love David wrote and recorded his latest album Happy Ever After which was again released through his web site.

David gets together with Jon Conway, old friend Alan Darlow and Director of Aspects Of Love, Nikolai Foster to put together the first UK tour of All The Fun Of The Fair. On the 12th September his latest album ’All The Fun Of The Fair’ was released by Universal Records and contains all the original recordings of the songs included in the musical. Later a touring cast recording is made.

David goes out on the road with The Secret Tour and films a DVD of the show. Available on the website shop

All The Fun Of The Fair has a very successful run in the West End in the Garrick Theatre from April until September with Christopher Timothy and Louise English starring alongside David Essex. A London Cast Recording is released.

David joined Albert Square this year, playing Eddie Moon, the charismatic father of Michael and uncle to Alfie, in BBC One’s EastEnders. Eddie is the head of the Moon clan.

David embarked on The Rock Tour in 2012.

David Essex starred in the film “Traveller” in 2013. He also composed the music score for the film. The film, directed by Benjamin Johns, follows a half-breed Gypsy trying to adjust to modern life and leave his roots behind. Essex’s son, Billy Cook, played the main role in the film

The Dishwashers by Morris Panych, stars David as Dressler. The production, directed by Nikolai Foster, opened at The REP, Birmingham before a UK Tour

The Guvnors starring Harley Sylvester, Doug Allen, David Essex And Charley Palmer Merkell.

Written and directed by Gabe Turner. Hip Hop star Harley Sylvester (Rizzle Kicks) makes his screen debut as a troubled gang leader seeking respect on a London estate. Doug Allen leads a notorious old skool unit known as The Guvnors seeking revenge for the brutal murder of their mentor, 60-something former Guvnor Mickey (David Essex).

This leads to brutal retaliation, Mitch is forced to reunite the remaining Guvnors and the stage is set for the mother of all gangland scraps, spanning two generations. 

David Essex starred in the West End stage production of Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds at the Dominion Theatre, playing The Voice Of Humanity along side his dear friend Jeff Wayne. David originally played the part of The Artillery Man in Jeff Wayne’s musical version of HG Wells The War Of The Worlds with Richard Burton. Since its inception in 1978, Jeff Wayne’s original double album has become one of the most groundbreaking and best-selling musical works of all time – with over 15 million copies sold and 330 weeks in the UK Album Charts to date, a number one album in 11 countries, two international hit singles, a number-one music DVD, 8 years of worldwide arena tours, and huge critical acclaim across the globe (and probably the universe!).

The 21 date UK run took place in November 2016. It was David’s first major tour in over 4 years performing much loved hits spanning over his entire 50 year repertoire.

David’s first novel ‘Faded Glory’ published October 2016 London’s East End, 1953: Albert Kemp is a lonely widower, whose only son was killed in the war. Now he works in a pub by the railway arches. Downstairs is a traditional bar, upstairs is a famous boxing gym. It is here that Albert brings Danny, a fatherless boy who he rescues from gang life on the streets.

But as Danny begins to grow into a champion, the predators start to circle, luring him with glittering promises back into a life of crime. Will Danny listen to his wise old mentor? Or will the prospect of fame and money be too tempting?

The “Legends Live” tour in 2017 was a UK arena tour featuring David Essex, Suzi Quatro, The Osmonds, and Hot Chocolate.

Poems from the heart by a man who has lived and loved life to the full. A nostalgic poems recalling his family’s traveller roots, such as ‘Travelling Tinker Man’, and ‘Fairground Attraction’, verses filled with memories of his warm and loving boyhood, like ‘Beano Day’, ‘Dad’ and ‘Upton Park’ – and poetry reliving the highs and lows of fame, such as ‘Celebrity’ and ‘Like Moths to a Flame’. Humour, anger, nostalgia, triumph and tragedy. The joys of being a lover, a husband and a father. 

David as well as Slade, Nazareth and Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel were the acts on the Classics stage at the 2019 Gibraltar Calling Festival.

David Essex Tour – David Essex embarked on a nationwide tour in September 2022, which was a rescheduling of his 2020 and 2021 tours

David Essex The 2024 Tour – David Essex undertook “The 2024 Tour” in August and September 2024, performing his well-known hits at various UK venues.

The Sounds Of The Summer -Iconic legends The Beach Boys special guest, performed their only UK show in the stunning grounds of the Englefield Estate in Pangbourne, with David Essex as their special guest.