Obituary: Passing of Harrogate singer Sylvia McNeill who was on Morecambe & Wise and sang with Rod Stewart
“At the height of her success in one dizzying 18-month period in the 1970s, Sylvia made more than 30 appearances on television”
The death has been announced of a Harrogate pop star of the 1970s who was signed to major labels, made TV appearances in front of millions and starred on the West End.
The passing of the hugely talented and versatile but, sometimes, unfairly over-looked Harrogate singer Sylvia McNeill was announced in the obituaries section of the Autumn 2026 edition of Equity magazine.
Born in Harrogate in 1947, at the height of her success in one dizzying 18-month period in the 1970s, Sylvia made more than 30 appearances on television, including The Benny Hill Show, The Dave Allen Show, The Morecambe & Wise Show, The Simon Dee Show, The Dick Emery Show, Roger Whittaker's World Of Music and The Golden Shot.
Between 1968 and 1975, she recorded as a solo artist on RCA Victor, Bell, United Artists, and MAM Records.
Equally in demand on other stars’ sessions, Sylvia sang on Rod Stewart's 1972 hit single What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me) and on the track Anne Boleyn / The Day Thou Gavest Lord Hath Ended from Rick Wakeman's 1973 hit album The Six Wives of Henry VIII .
She also performed in the 1971 West End production of the rock musical Catch My Soul produced by Jack Good at London's Prince of Wales Theatre.
Sylvia McNeill had begun her career singing and playing bass guitar with various bands, including Leapy Lee.
Adept at muscular and pretty material, after going abroad for several years, touring American bases across Europe, she moved to London in 1969 and was soon signed.
A series of singles followed with big name music producers, including My Love Won't Fade Away With Time and I’ve Still Got My Heart Joe, produced by the legendary 1970 Tony Macaulay.
Other releases by Sylvia McNeill included a cover of Chelsea Morning by Joni Mitchell, A Whiter Shade Of Pale by Procol Harum and I Don't Know How To Love Him from Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.
Nothing quite sparked in the charts but all boasted strong vocals and won Sylvia legions of fans and offers from TV shows.
Sylvia McNeill may have faded from the spotlight in her late years but, such was her popularity at the peak of her career, she even starred in her own eight-week series for Grampian Television.
A true Harrogate musical great.