Lance Fortune

{{Short description|English pop singer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}

Christopher Morris, known by the stage name Lance Fortune (born 4 January 1940, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England),Larkin C 'Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music' (Muze UK Ltd, 1997) {{ISBN|0-7535-0149-X}} p197 is an English pop singer.

Morris was classically trained on piano.{{cite web|author=Lance Fortune |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/lance-fortune-mn0000129093 |title=Lance Fortune – Music Biography, Credits and Discography |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=2012-12-28}} He formed a rock and roll group called the Firecrests while a student at Birkenhead School, and served as lead vocalist; they recorded the songs "That'll Be the Day", "I Knew From the Start", and "Party", but were strictly a local attraction.{{cite web|url=http://triumphpc.com/mersey-beat/a-z/dave-williams.shtml |title=Dave Williams – Mersey Beat |publisher=Triumphpc.com |accessdate=2012-12-28}} After leaving University early, Morris was discovered by impresario Larry Parnes while working and singing at the 2i's Coffee Bar in London. Parnes gave him the stage name Lance Fortune, a name he had previously considered for another artist he signed in 1959, Georgie Fame.Room, Adrian: "Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins", (McFarland, 2010) {{ISBN|0-7864-4373-1}}; pp171, 182 The newly named Fortune signed to Pye Records as a solo artist, and released four singles, two of which became hits in the UK Singles Chart in 1960. "Be Mine" reached No. 4, whilst the follow-up, "This Love I Have For You" was a Top 30 hit.{{cite book

| first= David

| last= Roberts

| year= 2006

| title= British Hit Singles & Albums

| edition= 19th

| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited

| location= London

| isbn= 1-904994-10-5

| page= 208}}

In April 1960, Fortune and Jerry Keller replaced Eddie Cochran on Gene Vincent's then current UK tour, after Cochran's untimely death in a road accident.{{cite book

| first= John

| last= Tobler

| year= 1992

| title= NME Rock 'N' Roll Years

| edition= 1st

| publisher= Reed International Books Ltd

| location= London

| page= 81

| id= CN 5585}}

In the 1960s, Fortune joined a group called the Staggerlees.{{cite web|url=http://www.california-ballroom.info/bands/lance-Fortune.htm |title=California Ballroom – Bands – Lance Fortune |publisher=California-ballroom.info |accessdate=2012-12-28}}