From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Billy Fury, born Ronald William Wycherley (17 April 1940 - 28 January 1983), was an internationally successful English pop singer from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, and remained an active songwriter until the 1980s. Rheumatic fever, which he first contracted as a child, damaged his heart and ultimately contributed to his death. An early British rock and roll (and film) star, he equalled The Beatles' record of 24 hits in the 1960s, and spent 332 weeks ...