- Peter Skellern
Infobox Person
name = Peter Skellern
caption =
birth_date = birth date and age|1947|03|14
birth_place =Bury ,Lancashire
death_date =
death_place =
other_names =
known_for =Chart-topper "You're a Lady" (1972)
occupation =singer/songwriter , pianist, actor
nationality = EnglishPeter Skellern is an English singer-songwriter and
pianist .Skellern was born on
14 March 1947 inBury ,Lancashire and attended the Derby Grammar School (now the Derby High School). He studied the piano at theGuildhall School of Music and Drama . He then joined pop groups called Harlem and March Hare.His first hit song was "You're a Lady" in 1972. The record reached number three in the
UK Singles Chart and number 50 in theUnited States . He followed this three years later with "Hold On To Love" which reached number 14 in the UK Singles Chart.In 1978 Skellern also had a minor hit with "Love Is The Sweetest Thing" (which featured backing by the
Grimethorpe Colliery Band ), winning theMusic Trades Association award for best Middle Of The RoadAlbum of 1979.In 1981 he wrote, composed and performed in a series of musical playlets for the
BBC called "Happy Endings" and two years later hosted the "Private Lives"TV chat show. He wrote the lyrics for the song "One More Kiss Dear" from the 1982 movie Blade Runner, and performed the theme song for theLondon Weekend Television programme, "Me And My Girl", which became a hit single in its own right.In 1984 he formed the first Oasis group with cellist
Julian Lloyd Webber , singerMary Hopkin andBill Lovelady . The group released a self-titled album in 1984 on theWarner Brothers label earning a silver record. The group never performed live although they did assemble three times to record their music. They made many attempts to combine classical andpopular music genres but their attempts failed to impress the public.Skellern also provided the voice of
Carter Brandon in the BBC Radio adaptations ofPeter Tinniswood 'sUncle Mort's North Country andUncle Mort's Celtic Fringe . These were produced byPete Atkin .Skellern has collaborated with
Richard Stilgoe in live cabaret and musical comedy, and two live recordings are available: "A Quiet Night Out", and "Who Plays Wins".More recently Skellern has been writing
choral music , including "Waiting for the Word" which was written for the BBC'sSongs of Praise programme of19 August 2001 , "Six Simple Carols" and "The Nativity Cantata" written for theHemel Hempstead choir, theAeolian Singers . The work was first performed by them in 2004 and it has since been recorded.Recordings
*"You're A Lady", 1972
*"Not Without A Friend", 1974
*"Holding My Own", 1974
*"Hold On To Love", 1975
*"Hard Times", 1975
*"Kissing In The Cactus", 1977
*"Skellern", 1978
*"Astaire", 1979
*"Still Magic", 1980
*"Happy Endings", 1981
*"A String Of Pearls", 1982
*"Ain't Life Something"
*"Cheek to Cheek"
*"Captain Beaky and His Band " (contribution to Vol. II), 1980
*"Oasis", 1984
*"Who Plays Wins" album withRichard Stilgoe , 1985
*"Stardust Memories" album (a tribute to the "Ink Spots "), 1995
*"By The Wey" album withRichard Stilgoe , 1997
*"A Quiet Night Out" album withRichard Stilgoe , 2000Recordings of choral music
* [http://direct.crossrhythms.co.uk/cd.php?cd=20503 "The Nativity Cantata and other Christmas Music"] performed by the
Aeolian Singers , 2005
*"So Said the Angel" on the album "A Cotswold Christmas" performed by the Abbey School Choir,Tewkesbury .External links
*
* [http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/celebs/broadcasters4.html Website containing a brief Biography]
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