Neil Reid

Who is Neil Reid?

Neil Reid is a Scottish former child singing star, winner of ITV's Opportunity Knocks, and the holder of the title youngest person to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart.

Known also as "Wee Neil Reid", he was eight when he was discovered singing at a pensioners' party in 1968. Reid won Opportunity Knocks on 13 December 1971 singing his version of "Mother of Mine", which, when released commercially by Decca Records shortly afterwards, went to number two on the UK Singles Chart following a performance on Top of the Pops. The "Mother of Mine" record sold over 250,000 copies in the United Kingdom, and over 2.5 million globally. It 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 UK Albums 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 CD 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.