b. 11 October 1929, Birmingham, England, d. 19 October 1972.  Hughes was a ballad singer with a fine tenor voice, who had success in the popular field in the UK during the '50s and early '60s, before he went on to become a star in opera. 

After studying at the Royal Academy, Hughes made his West End debut in the romantic musical, BELINDA FAIR (1949). During the '50s, he was a regular on radio and television, in programmes such as THE PASSING SHOW, COME TO CHARLIE, HENRY HALL'S GUEST NIGHT, PRESENTING DAVID HUGHES, TV STARLIGHT, SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM, SPRING SONG, BOY MEETS GIRLS(from Paris), and his own series, MAKE MINE MUSIC. \

He also appeared, with Ginger Rogers, Lizabeth Webb and Brian Reece, in a television version of the 1948 West End musical, CARISSIMA, and was back on the London stage himself in 1956, in SUMMER SONG. Hughes was also popular on the UK variety circuit, and had several successful records, including By The Fountains Of Rome, which won an Ivor Novello Award as ‘the most outstanding song of the year’ in 1956, for its writers, Matyas Seiber and Norman Newell. Around this time, with his good looks and romantic delivery, he was dubbed Mr. Hearthrob. 

In 1962 he appeared in Scapa, a musical version of the 1950 hit comedy, SEAGULLS OVER SORRENTO and, shortly afterwards, decided to forsake the world of pop for light music and opera. In 1964 he made an album of 16th- century songs. Appearances at Glyndebourne the following year eventually led to work with the Sadler's Wells Company. From then on, encouraged by the legendary Sir John Barbarolli, he sang many leading roles in opera, in the UK and abroad, including Lieutenant Pinkerton in MADAME BUTTERFLY.