Mickie Most, born Michael Peter Hayes (20 June1938–30 May2003), was a successful English record producer, with a string of Number One singles with his own RAK Records, and with acts such as The Animals, Herman's Hermits, Donovan, and Suzi Quatro. Events 451 - Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius ' defeats Attila the Hun. Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. In the Music industry, a record producer or music producer has many roles among them controlling the recording sessions coaching and guiding the musicians organizing RAK Records was a British Record company, founded by record producer Mickie Most in 1969. The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s known in the United States as part of the British Invasion. Herman's Hermits were an English Pop band, formed in Manchester in 1963 as 'Herman & The Hermits' Donovan ( Donovan Phillips Leitch, born 10 May 1946 in Glasgow) is a Scottish Singer-songwriter and guitarist Suzi Quatro (born Susan Kay Quatronella, June 3 1950, Detroit, Michigan) is an American Singer-songwriter,
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Early career
Most was born in Aldershot, Hampshire. Aldershot is a town in the English County of Hampshire, located on heathland about 60 km (37 miles southwest of London. Wildlife Hampshire has wildlife typical of the island of Great Britain The son of a regimental sergeant-major, he moved with his parents to the north London suburb of Harrow in 1951. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Harrow is a town in the London Borough of Harrow, North West London. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January Most was influenced by skiffle and early rock 'n' roll in his youth. Skiffle is a type of Folk music with Jazz, Blues and Country influences usually using homemade or improvised instruments such as the Washboard Leaving school at 15, he worked as a singing waiter at London's The 2i's Coffee Bar where he made friends with future business partner Peter Grant, and formed a singing duo with Alex Wharton (aka Alex Murray) who billed themselves as The Most Brothers. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The 2i’s Coffee Bar was a Coffee bar in the Basement at 59 Old Compton Street, Soho, London, England, between 1956 Peter Grant, ( 5 April 1935 &ndash 21 November 1995) was an English Music manager. Alex Wharton (born 1939 later also known as Alex Murray, was part of the singing duo Most Brothers with Mickie Most and later co-manager and producer of the band They scored a minor hit with Decca Records called "Takes a Whole Lotta Loving to Keep My Baby Happy" before disbanding. Decca Records is a British Record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Wharton went on to produce the Moody Blues single "Go Now". The Moody Blues are an English psychedelic rock band originally from Erdington in the city of Birmingham. " Go Now " is a song composed by Larry Banks and Milton Bennett After changing his name to Mickie Most in 1959, he travelled to South Africa with his wife Christina, and formed a pop group, Mickie Most and the Playboys. The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa The band scored 11 consecutive Number 1 singles playing mostly cover versions of Ray Peterson, Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Ray T Peterson ( April 23 1935 &ndash January 25 2005) was an American Pop music singer Gene Vincent, real name Vincent Eugene Craddock, ( February 11, 1935 - October 12, 1971) was an American Rock'n'roll pioneer Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holley (September 7 1936 – February 3 1959 was an American Singer-songwriter and a pioneer of Rock and roll. Raymond Edward "Eddie" Cochran ( October 3, 1938 He took music lessons in school but quit the band to play drums Returning to London in 1962, Most appeared on package tours as well as recording "Mister Porter", a minor hit in 1963. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Producer
Becoming tired of touring clubs, Most decided to concentrate on other aspects of the music industry. His first job was selling records in stores and displaying them on racks (later inspiration for his record label, RAK) before finding a niche with production for Columbia Records. The Columbia Graphophone Company was one of the earliest Gramophone companies in the United Kingdom. After spotting The Animals at Newcastle's Club A-Go-Go, he offered to produce their first single, "Baby Let Me Take You Home", which reached Number 21 on the UK charts. The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s known in the United States as part of the British Invasion. Newcastle upon Tyne ( (often shortened to Newcastle) is a city and Metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, England " Baby Let Me Take You Home " is The Animals ' debut single released in 1964 Their follow-up 1964 single, "The House of the Rising Sun", became a worldwide hit. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. " The House of the Rising Sun " is a folk song from the United States. Most then won the "Producer of the Year" award at the 1964 Grammy Awards. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
Most had instant success with Manchester band Herman's Hermits after being approached by their manager Harvey Lisberg. Herman's Hermits were an English Pop band, formed in Manchester in 1963 as 'Herman & The Hermits' Their first Most production, "I'm Into Something Good", went to #1 in 1964, beginning a run of single and album sales (ten million over 12 months), the group for a time challenging The Beatles in popularity in the United States. "I'm into Something Good" is a song composed by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and made famous by Herman's Hermits. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 His down-to-earth handling of the band, his business acumen and knack for selecting hit singles established Most as one of the most successful producers in Britain and kept him in demand throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970.
In September 1964, with Most at the control board, Brenda Lee recorded "Is It True," and "What'd I Say," "Is It True," was released in England, and later in the U. Brenda Lee (born December 11, 1944) is an American country - pop Singer, who was popular during the 1950s and 1960s "What'd I Say" or "What I Say" is a two-part recording that was released in 1959 by R&B / soul singer-songwriter Ray Charles Is It True (1986-2007 was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. S. and became a hit, with gold record. "What'd I Say," became another hit throughout Europe, but was never released to the U. S. Most had equal success with other artists for whom he produced chart-topping albums and singles between 1965 and 1969, notably Donovan with "Mellow Yellow", "Jennifer Juniper", "The Hurdy Gurdy Man", and "Atlantis" and Lulu "To Sir, with Love", "The Boat That I Row", "Boom Bang-A-Bang" (which finished equal first in the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest), "Me the Peaceful Heart", and "I'm a Tiger". Donovan ( Donovan Phillips Leitch, born 10 May 1946 in Glasgow) is a Scottish Singer-songwriter and guitarist " Mellow Yellow " is a song and single release by Donovan. Jennifer Juniper is a song and single by Donovan, released in 1968 " The Hurdy Gurdy Man " is a Song by the Scottish Musician Donovan. " Atlantis " is a Folk - pop song written and recorded by British singer Donovan and released as a single in 1968 Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE, (born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie on 3 November 1948 in Lennoxtown, East Dunbartonshire " To Sir with Love " is the theme from the 1967 film To Sir with Love. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Most also produced The Seekers singles "Days of My Life" and "Love Is Kind, Love Is Wine", in 1968, and Nancy Sinatra’s "The Highway Song" in 1969. The Seekers were a group of Australian folk -influenced popular musicians that was formed in Melbourne, in 1962 Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940, in Jersey City New Jersey) is an American Singer and actress.
Most's productions were backed by London session musicians including Big Jim Sullivan and Jimmy Page on guitar, John Paul Jones on bass guitar and arrangements, and Nicky Hopkins on piano. Big Jim Sullivan (born James George Thompkins 14 February 1941, in Uxbridge, Middlesex, England) is an English Musician James Patrick Page, OBE (born 9 January 1944 is an English Guitarist, Composer and record producer John Paul Jones (born John Baldwin on January 3, 1946) is an English Musician, Composer, arranger, Record Nicky Hopkins (born Nicholas Christian Hopkins ( February 24, 1944 in Harlesden, North London, England; died He produced Jeff Beck's hits "Love is Blue" and "Hi Ho Silver Lining" and the Jeff Beck Group LPs Truth and Beck-Ola, teamed the Beck group with Donovan for the single "Goo Goo Barabajagal", and signed new artists such as singer-guitarist Terry Reid. Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck (born June 24, 1944 to Arnold and Ethel Beck in Wallington, England) is an English " L'Amour Est Bleu " ( English translation " Love Is Blue " is a song written by André Popp (music and Pierre Cour (lyrics " Hi Ho Silver Lining " is an iconic 1960s rock song written by Scott English (born 10 Truth (1968 was the first full-length album by Jeff Beck and his backing group. Beck-Ola (Cosa Nostra was the second full-length LP by Jeff Beck and his backing group Barabajagal is a song by Bruno Lauzi and Donovan released by Donovan in 1969 Terry Reid (born 13 November 1949, Huntingdon, England) is a rock Singer and Guitarist.
By 1967 music was turning to a heavier and improvisational sound at odds with Most's formulaic singles selection format. Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. After commercial and critical failure of The Yardbirds album Little Games, he decided to steer clear of rock groups, realising they mostly did not share his vision. The Yardbirds are an English rock band noted for starting the careers of three of rock's most famous Guitarists Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck Little Games is an Album by English Blues rock band The Yardbirds, released in 1967 (see 1967 in music) The Yardbirds objected to his insistence that every song be cut to three minutes and that albums were an "afterthought" following the singles. The Yardbirds are an English rock band noted for starting the careers of three of rock's most famous Guitarists Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck His focussed approach also led to a split with Donovan in late 1969.
RAK Records
Despite these setbacks, Most set up his own production office at 155 Oxford Street, sharing it with his business partner Peter Grant. Peter Grant, ( 5 April 1935 &ndash 21 November 1995) was an English Music manager. It was through Most's association that Grant was asked to manage The Yardbirds. In 1968, Most and Grant set up RAK Management, but Grant's involvement with The Yardbirds, which soon evolved into Led Zeppelin, meant Most had control in late 1969. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Led Zeppelin were RAK Records and RAK Music Publishing were launched in 1969. RAK Records was a British Record company, founded by record producer Mickie Most in 1969. RAK music publishing has the copyright of such classic popular songs as "You Sexy Thing" composed by Hot Chocolate singer Errol Brown and "I Love Rock 'N' Roll" written by the band The Arrows, both acts were produced by Most. " You Sexy Thing " is a Song recorded by the UK group, Hot Chocolate. Hot chocolate (also known as hot cocoa, drinking chocolate or just cocoa) is a heated Beverage that typically consists of Errol Brown MBE (born November 12 1948, Kingston, Jamaica) was the Singer, Songwriter, and Frontman " I Love Rock 'n' Roll " is a Rock and roll song written in 1975 by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker of The Arrows, who recorded the first The Arrows were a three piece Anglo-American band, based in London, England.
With RAK Records, Most's success continued with folk singer Julie Felix's hit "El Condor Pasa". Julie Felix (born 14 June 1938, Santa Barbara, California) is a Folk rock recording artist, who was produced Felix was the first artist signed to the label. Most then produced Mary Hopkin’s 1970 Eurovision Song Contest entry, "Knock Knock Who's There?," followed by the single "Temma Harbour". Mary Hopkin (born May 3 1950) is a Welsh folk Singer. She is best known as one of the first artists (along with James Taylor In 1970, Most approached Suzi Quatro for a recording contract after seeing her on stage at a Detroit dance hall with the band Cradle (which also had Quatro’s sisters Arlene, Patti, and Nancy as members), while on a production assignment in Chicago. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Suzi Quatro (born Susan Kay Quatronella, June 3 1950, Detroit, Michigan) is an American Singer-songwriter, Quatro was among a growing roster of artists signed to RAK Records which included Alexis Korner's CCS, The Arrows, Hot Chocolate, Angie Miller, and Chris Spedding. RAK Records was a British Record company, founded by record producer Mickie Most in 1969. Alexis Korner (19 April 1928 – 1 January 1984 born Alexis Andrew Nicholas Koerner, was a pioneering Blues Musician and broadcaster who has sometimes The Arrows were a three piece Anglo-American band, based in London, England. Hot chocolate (also known as hot cocoa, drinking chocolate or just cocoa) is a heated Beverage that typically consists of Angie Miller is a recording artist who was produced by Mickie Most in the early 1970s on his RAK Records label Christopher John Spedding (born 17 June 1944, in Staveley, Derbyshire) is an English Rock and roll and Jazz Hiring the songwriting production team of Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, RAK scored several British #1 singles with Suzi Quatro ("Can the Can", "Devil Gate Drive"), Sweet, and Mud. Nicky Chinn (born Nicholas Barry Chinn, 16 May 1945, London, England) is an English Songwriter and Record Mike Chapman (born Michael Chapman 15 April 1947, Nambour, Queensland, Australia) is an Australian born Record producer Suzi Quatro (born Susan Kay Quatronella, June 3 1950, Detroit, Michigan) is an American Singer-songwriter, Sweet (referred to as The Sweet on albums before 1974 and singles before 1975 were a popular 1970s British band. Mud were an English Glam rock band, formed in 1968 best remembered for their single "Tiger Feet" which was the UK 's best-selling
In 1976, Most produced Chris Spedding's self-titled album "Chris Spedding", which was Spedding's first solo record. Christopher John Spedding (born 17 June 1944, in Staveley, Derbyshire) is an English Rock and roll and Jazz
In 1980, Mickie Most discovered Kim Wilde, who was doing backing vocals for her father Marty Wilde at a Luton recording session. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Kim Wilde (born Kim Smith, November 18, 1960 in Chiswick, West London) is an English Pop singer, professional Marty Wilde (born Reginald Leonard Smith 15 April 1939, Greenwich, South London) is an English Singer and Songwriter Luton ( is a large town in the east of England, 32 miles (51 kilometres north of London. After hearing her Most signed Wilde and produced the single "Kids In America" which reached Number 2 in the UK and other countries, and Number 25 on the US Billboard charts.
Later career
Most was a panellist on television talent shows such as ITV's New Faces where his tough assessments of contestants foreshadowed the style of Simon Cowell. Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent This article is about the British show For the Australian version see New Faces (Australian. } Simon Phillip Cowell (born October 7 1959 is an English artist-and-repertoire ("A&R" executive and Television personality / producer He was producer of Revolver, a program devoted to punk rock which was at odds with his "studio factory" approach to music. Revolver was a British music TV series on ITV that ran for one series only of eight episodes in 1978. Most asked Kate Bush to appear as guest on the pilot episode. Kate Bush (born Catherine Bush on 30 July 1958 is an English singer songwriter musician and Record producer. In the 1980s, the band Johnny Hates Jazz, which featured Most's son Calvin Hayes, was also signed to RAK Records. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. Johnny Hates Jazz was an English pop band formed in 1986 by Clark Datchler (vocals piano Calvin Hayes Calvin Hayes (born 5 August 1960, England) is the son of the late Mickie Most, the talent scout famed Record producer and once owner RAK Records was a British Record company, founded by record producer Mickie Most in 1969. RAK sold out to EMI in 1983 but revived in 1988. The EMI Group is a British music company comprising the major record company EMI Music – which operates several labels and is based in Kensington in Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Most was one of the first producers to own the rights to his own records and RAK Studios, opened in 1976 in St John's Wood, remains active [1]. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
In 1995, Most's fortune was estimated at £50 million and he appeared in the Sunday Times annual Rich List among the Top 500 in England. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland His house in Totteridge Lane, London N20 was claimed to be the largest private home in UK worth an estimated £4 million. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located His production work diminished after cancer in 2000. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar.
On 30 May 2003 Most died at home of mesothelioma, a cancer almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, and was cremated at Golders Green crematorium in north London. Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Mesothelioma is a form of Cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to Asbestos. Asbestos is a group of Minerals with long thin fibrous Crystals The word "asbestos" (῾ἀσβεστος is derived from a Greek adjective Golders Green is an area in the London Borough of Barnet in London, England. He is survived by his wife Christina and their three children Calvin, Nathalie, and Crystalle.
Discography
Compilations:
- Best of Mickie Most and His Playboys (1994)
- To Sir With Love: The Complete Mickie Most Recordings (2005) EMI
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