Neil Francis Tennant (born 10 July 1954) is an English musician, singer and songwriter, who, with his colleague, Chris Lowe, make up the successful electronic dance music duo Pet Shop Boys.
Neil Tennant was born on 10 July 1954, North Shields, near Newcastle upon Tyne to William (1923-2009) and Sheila Tennant (1923-2008). He has one sister, Susan, and two brothers, Simon and Philip.
As a child, Tennant attended St. Cuthbert's Grammar School, an all-boys' Roman Catholic school in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. (Sting went to the same school.) Tennant's songs "This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave" and "It's a Sin" refer to his early life in Catholic school and the strict Catholic upbringing there. "It's a Sin" caused controversy with its implicit criticism of Catholic education. "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" is a 1987 collaboration between two UK recording artists, Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield.
When released as a single in late 1987, it peaked at #2 in the UK charts and at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the fourth Top Ten hit for Pet Shop Boys as well as the biggest hit of Springfield's career in the U.S. The single made it to #1.