William Shakespeare

In a classic case of pop reincarnation, Johnny Caves (born in 1950) became Johnny Cabe, then William Shakespeare. He then scored two Australian Number 1 hit singles and was never heard from ever again.

Behind the scenes were ace production/songwriting guru's Vanda & Young (ex-The Easybeats) who wrote Shakespeare's hits Can't Stop Myself From Loving You and My Little Angel, as well as engineering his carefully contrived image (Australia's answer to Gary Glitter).

Johnny Caves initially sang with beat band The Amazons. By the early 70s he was working the Sydney clubs as Johnny Cabe. 

At the beginning of 1974 he came into contact with Vanda and Young, who had just recorded the backing track for Can't Stop Myself From Loving You for another singer who was unable to handle the high notes. 

The song seemed tailor-made for Cabe's falsetto voice, and he was promptly signed for the Alberts label.

Vanda and Young decided to create a new image for Cabe. They renamed him William Shakespeare and kitted him out in glam rock gear, replete with puffed Shakespearian sleeves and gaudy fake jewels. To top it all off, Shakespeare sported an immaculately coiffured, plum-coloured hairdo.

Can't Stop Myself From Loving You came out in July 1974 and immediately hit Number 1 on the national Australian charts. With the help of regular appearances on Countdown, his second single, the Christmas-flavoured My Little Angel, also reached Number 1.

Two more Vanda and Young singles followed; Just The Way You Are (April 1975) and Last Night (March 1976), plus the album Can't Stop Myself From Loving You, but none charted. While his career was in decline Shakespeare was charged with carnal knowledge and received two years' probation.

He left Alberts in 1977 and by the middle of 1979 was back working Sydney clubs, this time as Billy Shake. His career was temporarily revived in 1990 when listeners of Melbourne radio station 3MMM voted My Little Angel as the "daggiest song of its generation". 

Shakespeare began headlining "Dag Nights" on the nostalgia circuit and wore his 'Top Dag' appellation as a badge of honour.