Mike Hazlewood

Michael Edward Hazlewood[1] (24 December 1941[2] – 6 May 2001)[3] was a British singer-songwriter and composer. He variously worked with Albert Hammond, T-Bone Burnett, Van Dyke Parks and Harry Nilsson.[4]

Mike Hazlewood
Birth nameMichael Edward Hazlewood
Born(1941-12-24)24 December 1941
Cuckfield, West Sussex, England
Died6 May 2001(2001-05-06) (aged 59)
Florence, Italy
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, composer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1966–2001

Biography

Educated at Hazelwick School, in Crawley, West Sussex, Hazlewood began his career as a DJ at the radio station Radio Luxembourg in the early 1960s. In 1966, he founded the group the Family Dogg with Albert Hammond and Steve Rowland.[5] In addition, he often wrote songs in collaboration with Hammond such as "Green Green Trees", "Little Arrows" for Leapy Lee,[6] and "Gimme Dat Ding" for the Pipkins.[7] Hammond and Hazlewood wrote "The Air That I Breathe" which was originally released by Hammond in 1972, and then on Phil Everly's 1973 solo album Star Spangled Springer.[8] The song was subsequently a huge hit for the Hollies.[9]

Hazlewood's collaboration with Hammond resulted in co-written songs for the latter such as "It Never Rains in Southern California"[10] and "The Free Electric Band".[3][11]

Hazlewood and Hammond also wrote the international hit song "Make Me an Island" for the Irish singer Joe Dolan in 1969,[12] as well as his follow-up singles, "Teresa"[13] and "You're Such a Good Looking Woman".[14] The latter became a signature hit for Dolan, topping the Irish charts twice, in 1970 and 1997 when he re-recorded it with Dustin the Turkey. Hazlewood also wrote the song "Southern Lady", which was recorded by Rita Coolidge.[15]

During the late 1980s, Hazlewood held the theatrical rights to Mervyn Peake's novel Mr. Pye, and completed a musical theatre version of the book in collaboration with Howard Lee Sloan, the American-born pianist and composer.

Hazlewood and Hammond are also credited as co-writers of the 1992 Radiohead song, "Creep". Due to similarities to "The Air That I Breathe", Radiohead was successfully sued for plagiarism.[16][17] "Creep" used a chord progression taken from "The Air That I Breathe" in its verse, and a melody from the latter in the bridge following the second chorus.[18]

On 6 May 2001, Hazlewood died aged 59 from a heart attack, during his holiday in Florence, Italy.[4]

References

  1. Mike Hazlewood Discography at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  2. Michael Edward Hazlewood entry at Geni.com (pictured). Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  3. Mike Hazelwood – Credits. AllMusic (6 May 2001). Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  4. The Dead Rock Stars Club 2001. Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  5. The Family Dogg – Music Biography, Credits and Discography. AllMusic (18 May 1944). Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  6. Leapy Lee – Little Arrows (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  7. Pipkins, The – Gimme Dat Ding (Vinyl) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  8. Phil Everly – The Air That I Breathe (Vinyl) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  9. Hollies, The – The Air That I Breathe (Vinyl) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  10. Albert Hammond – It Never Rains In Southern California (Vinyl) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  11. Albert Hammond – The Free Electric Band (Vinyl) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  12. Joe Dolan – Make Me An Island (Vinyl) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  13. Joe Dolan – Teresa (Vinyl) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  14. Joe Dolan – You're Such A Good Looking Woman (Vinyl) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  15. Rita Coolidge – We're All Alone / Southern Lady (Vinyl) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  16. Wardle, Ben. (12 May 2009) Get off Coldplay's case – similar songs can co-exist peacefully | Music | guardian.co.uk. The Guardian. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  17. Albert Hammond Official Website Archived 11 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Alberthammond.com. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  18. English, Tim (2007). Sounds Like Teen Spirit: Stolen Melodies, Ripped-Off Riffs, and the Secret History of Rock and Roll, p.149. ISBN 9781583480236.
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