- Mike Hazlewood
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Mike Hazlewood (born 1941, England — died 6 May 2001, Florence, Italy[1]) was an English singer, composer and songwriter.
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, together with Albert Hammond and Steve Rowland. In addition, he often wrote songs in collaboration with Hammond such as "Little Arrows" for Leapy Lee, "Gimme Dat Ding" for The Pipkins, and "The Air That I Breathe" for Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers, for his 1973 solo album Star Spangled Springer, later recorded by—and a hit for—The Hollies.
Hazlewood's collaboration with Hammond resulted in co-composed songs for the latter such as "It Never Rains in Southern California" and "The Free Electric Band".[1]
Hazlewood and Hammond also wrote the international hit song "Make Me An Island" for the late Irish singer Joe Dolan in 1969, as well as its follow-up singles, "Teresa" and "You're Such a Good Looking Woman". The latter became a signature hit for Dolan, topping the Irish charts twice—in 1970 and again in 1997 when he re-recorded it with Dustin the Turkey.
Hazlewood and Hammond are credited as co-writers of the 1992 Radiohead song "Creep", which borrows heavily from the unusual chord progression and haunting melody of "The Air That I Breathe".
During the late 1980s, Hazlewood held the theatrical rights to Mervyn Peake's novel Mr. Pye, and had completed an ambitious musical theatre version of the book in collaboration with Howard Lee Sloan, the American-born pianist and composer.
On 6 May 2001, Hazlewood died from a heart attack, during his holidays in Florence, Italy.
References
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