Russ Conway (2 September 1925 – 16 November 2000) was a British popular music pianist. Conway had 20 piano instrumentals in the UK Singles Chart between 1957 and 1963, including two number one hits. Conway was born Trevor Herbert Stanford in Bristol, England. He had no formal piano training, but won a scholarship to Bristol Cathedral Choir. He was largely self-taught on piano as he whiled away hours as a youngster in a three-year Borstal stay. His father then let him join the Merchant Navy. Conscripted into the Royal Navy 1942, he served in the Merchant Navy from 1942 to 1948, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal as signalman in a minesweeping flotilla "for distinguished service, efficiency and zeal" in clearance of mines in the Aegean and operations during the relief of Greece 1944-1945. During his Navy service he lost the tip of his 3rd finger right hand while using a bread slicer.. He was discharged on health grounds due to a stomach ulcer. Conway was talent-spotted while playing in a London club, signed to EMI's Columbia label and spent the mid 1950s providing backing for artists on their roster, including Gracie Fields and Joan Regan.