Petula Clark started performing as a child actress on stage and radio in Britain. She signed her first record deal in 1949 and had some success in the 1950s with singles like 'Sailor' and 'The Little Shoemaker.'
Her big moment came in 1964 with 'Downtown,' written by Tony Hatch. That song became a global hit and made her an international star. She followed it with other 1960s singles like 'Don't Sleep In The Subway' and 'Call Me.'
In the late 1960s, she faced criticism for performing in South Africa during apartheid. She kept recording through the disco era and later worked in musical theater and film. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
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