Linda Lewis

Born in London, Linda Lewis made her stage debut as a child, performing alongside her mother and father in the clubs near her East End home. In 1961, again encouraged by her parents, Lewis landed a bit part in the swinging film A Taste of Honey; another small role found her playing a star struck fan in The Beatles' 1965 film Help.



Acting, however, was never her first ambition. Rapidly building a reputation as a singer, she performed alongside bluesman John Lee Hooker and R&B band Herbie Goins & The Nighttimers. Signing to Polydor in 1967, the youthful Lewis cut her first single, "You Turned my Bitter into Sweet"; soon after, she joined the soul-rock outfit Ferris Wheel, alongside Diana Ferris, Bernie Holland (later of Jody Grind) and Dennis Elliot, who would go on to both If and Foreigner. A live favorite in the UK, Lewis and Ferris Wheel also found moderate success overseas, as they undertook a succession of European tours. Working with producer Ian Samwell, Ferris Wheel cut two albums, Can't Break The Habit in 1967, and a self titled effort in 1970, together with a handful of singles, including "I Can't Break the Habit", "Let it be Me", "The Na Na Song" and "Can't Stop Now". Ferris Wheel disbanded in 1970.

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