Bobby Willis

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Robert William "Bobby" Willis (25 January 1942 – 23 October 1999) was a British songwriter, who became the manager and eventually the husband of the late British singer and television personality Cilla Black.

Career

His first known recorded composition, "Shy of Love" was featured on the B-side of "Love of the Loved", the debut release of Cilla Black in September 1963. During the sixties he was to write many songs for his then girlfriend to record and perform.

One of his most popular – "Is It Love?" – was featured in the beat film Ferry Cross the Mersey in 1965. He collaborated with Clive Westlake, Kenny Lynch and Beatles producer George Martin on some songs.

After the death of Black's manager, Brian Epstein, Willis took over her management duties and over the next thirty years, developed her popularity with television family audiences, helping Black to become the highest-paid female presenter on television.