Time Capsule: Oct. 14, 1940

Cliff Richard was born 68 years ago today.

Richard was born Harry Roger Webb in Lucknow, India, and returned with his family to England seven years later when India became independent.

In the late '50s, Richard formed a skiffle group called The Quintones and a year later became the singer of a band called The Drifters. But Richard left his band members behind in 1958, when he signed a solo recording contract with Columbia.

Richard recorded his first single, a cover of country singer Bobby Helms' "Schoolboy Crush," backed with "Move It," that year. But "Move It" later replaced the A-side, and hit #2 on the British singles charts when it was released. John Lennon would later call it the first British rock record.

Richard became known for his image, which for the most part ripped off Elvis Presley, and his backing band The Shadows. A year after "Move It" was released, The Shadows won their own recording contract with Columbia. They later went on to become successful in their own right, scoring five British number ones. Richard continued to record and perform with The Shadows until they split up in 1968.

After The Beatles became successful in the mid-'60s, Richard became a born-again Christian and tried to retire from rock music. He instead began recording Christian music and turned to acting, which as we all know from Presley's forays into thespianism, was kiiiiiiiiiiiiind of a bad idea.

Richard made a rock music "comeback" in the '70s with Devil Woman, and had several U.K. top 10 hits throughout that decade and the next. He never managed to break through to the North American market, though. He was knighted in 1985 and remains celibate, which has led to many rumours about his sexual orientation. Despite being a Christian, he strongly supports gay marriage.

Richard has also spent a total of nearly 2,000 weeks on the British charts. This makes him second to only Elvis Presley, who has spent nearly 2,600 weeks on the U.K. charts.