Keith Atack The Musician: Who Is Emily Atack’s Dad?

Member of a pop band in the 1970s and father to Emily Atack, who is Keith Atack the musician and how did he get into the business?

Yes, he’s father to Emily Atack but he’s also a successful musician in his own right! Dabbling in music since he was a teenager, the musician formed part of the 70s pop group Child. 

With connections to Paul McCartney, Keith Atack has been in the music business for his entire life from touring to composing film scores.

So, how did Keith break into the music business? Where did his career take him? And who are his showbiz family?

Where Were Child Discovered?

Keith Atack formed a boyband, in the early 1970s with his twin brother Tim Atack, Graham Bilbrough and Dave Cooper.

Performing as young teenagers, under the band name “Reincarnation”, the four were discovered by a man called Mike Devere when they were practising in a village hall.

As an homage to the village where they were found, the band changed their name to Fairburn‘s Children but quickly changed it to Child; the name that’d stick as they continued their career.

Image Source/ 70’steenpop

From Village Hall To Record Deal

After touring and making several TV appearances, the band managed to score a record deal with Ariola Hansa. It was with this record label that the band were able to bag their first chart hit.

Their song, a cover of the the hit “When You Walk in the Room” by The Searchers, reached number 38 in the charts after the group performed it on Top of the Pops. 

Releasing a second cover, this time of the song “It’s Only Make Believe“, reached the top ten and earned them a silver disk .

Continuing along the same line, they bagged yet another chart hit with a cover of “Only You”.

Their first album called The First Album earned them another silver disc for selling over 250,000 times. Total Recall, their second album, was not as successful and as a result, the group disbanded soon after.

Image Source/Flickr

Pop Band To Session Musicians

Both Keith and brother Tim went on to play backing music for names such as David Cassidy, Bonnie Tyler and Rick Astley.

They even formed a duo under the name Atack and later The Duel, however, neither of them found success.

Tribute Bands And Film Scores

In the 1990s, Keith Atack formed an Eagles tribute band called The Illegal Eagles. He still plays with them to this day.

Keith also forms part of the group, In The Air Tonight, in which he recently toured.

Image Source/Twitter

Aside from his performing, Keith is credited for his work on films 16 Years of Alcohol, Cemetery Junction and Wayland’s Song.

Family Life

Keith has family connection to the one and only Sir Paul McCartney. In 1987, Keith married Kate Robbins, an actress known for appearing in the TV soap Crossroads.  

It is Kate who is the first cousin once removed of Sir Paul McCartney. However, after 19 years of marriage, Keith and Kate parted ways.

Kate and Keith together have three children, one of which is Emily Atack; an actress and best known for starring in The Inbetweeners and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here. 

They also have another daughter, Martha. Martha is a talent agent and won Broadcast Hot Shot award 2018.

Image Source/Twitter

The couple also have son George. Kate posted this photograph with him at her nephew’s wedding.

Image Source/Twitter

Keith’s nephew, Conor, has followed in the footsteps of Keith Atack the musician as he is currently a drummer for Allusinlove. The rock ‘n’ roll band even opened for Muse in Poland, earlier this year.