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 name | Michael Edward Hazlewood |
| Born | 24 December 1941 Cuckfield, West Sussex, England |
| Died | 6 May 2001 (aged 59) Florence, Italy |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, composer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1966–2001 |
| Formerly of | The Family Dogg, Hammond & Hazlewood |
Biography
editEducated 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.[citation needed]
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
edit- ^ Mike Hazlewood Discography at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ Michael Edward Hazlewood entry at Geni.com (pictured). Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ^ a b Mike Hazelwood – Credits. AllMusic (6 May 2001). Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ a b The Dead Rock Stars Club 2001. Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ The Family Dogg – Music Biography, Credits and Discography. AllMusic (18 May 1944). Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ Leapy Lee – Little Arrows (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ Pipkins, The – Gimme Dat Ding (Vinyl) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ Phil Everly – The Air That I Breathe (Vinyl) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ Hollies, The – The Air That I Breathe (Vinyl) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ Albert Hammond – It Never Rains In Southern California (Vinyl) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ Albert Hammond – The Free Electric Band (Vinyl) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ Joe Dolan – Make Me An Island (Vinyl) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ Joe Dolan – Teresa (Vinyl) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ Joe Dolan – You're Such A Good Looking Woman (Vinyl) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ Rita Coolidge – We're All Alone / Southern Lady (Vinyl) at Discogs. discogs. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Albert Hammond Official Website Archived 11 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Alberthammond.com. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- ^ English, Tim (2007). Sounds Like Teen Spirit: Stolen Melodies, Ripped-Off Riffs, and the Secret History of Rock and Roll, p.149. ISBN 9781583480236.