Career
Foreign the 20th-century Atlanta-based architect, see Neel Reid Known also as "Wee Neil Reid", he was eight when he was discovered singing at a pensioners" party in 1968. The "Mother of Mine" record sold over 250,000 copies in the United Kingdom, and over 2.5 million globally. lieutenant also sold around 400,000 copies in Japan alone.
Reid"s self-titled album went to number one in 1972, making Reid the youngest person to reach number one on the United Kingdom Chart, at the age of 12 years 9 months..This remains one of the very few Number 1 selling albums that has never had an official Civil Defense release and as such is unavailable in this format.
The youngest girl to top the chart is Canadian artist Avril Lavigne at 17 years and 3 months with Let Go in 2003. Reid"s follow-up single three months later "That"s What I Want To Be" peaked at number 45, and Reid quickly faded from national prominence to performing on the Northern England Working men"s club circuit.
Two years after winning Opportunity Knocks, Reid"s voice broke and as a result he gave up professional singing. He did a final round of concerts in 1974 in South Africa, where he toured with the Irish popular group The Bachelors.
Reid"s 1974 single (his last recording), "Hazel Eyes", was released in South Africa to coincide with the tour.
