- Roger Greenaway
Roger Greenaway (born Roger John Greenaway,
23 August 1938 , [http://www.secondhandsongs.com/artist/4237] Fishponds,Bristol ), is a popular Englishsongwriter , best remembered for his collaborations with Roger Cook.Career
Both were members of the close
harmony group The Kestrels, whose line-up also includedTony Burrows , and while on tour they decided to begin writingsong s together. Their first, "You've Got Your Troubles ", a No. 2 UKhit single forThe Fortunes , in 1965, was the first of several successes they enjoyed thus during the next few years. Later that year they began recording together as David and Jonathan. Their first single "Laughing Fit To Cry" did not chart, but they scored hits in 1966 withThe Beatles ' "Michelle" and their own "Lovers of the World Unite". Their final single, "Softly Whispering I Love You", in 1967, was not a success at the time, but became a hit in 1972 for Congregation. In 1968 Cook and Greenaway announced that they would no longer be recording as a duo but would continue as songwriters.Their hits as writers for other acts, sometimes with other collaborators, include: "Home Lovin' Man" (
Andy Williams ); "Blame It On The Pony Express" (Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon ); "Hallejuah" (Deep Purple ); "Doctor's Orders" (Sunny); "It Makes No Difference" (Joe Dolan ); "Something Tells Me Something's Gonna Happen Tonight" (Cilla Black ); "I've Got You On My Mind", "When You Are a King", "My Baby Loves Lovin'" (White Plains); "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress ", "Gasoline Alley Bred", (The Hollies ); "You've Got Your Troubles ", "Freedom Come, Freedom Go" (The Fortunes ); "Melting Pot", "Good Morning Freedom" (Blue Mink ); "Green Grass" (Gary Lewis); and "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart " (Gene Pitney ). They also wrote "High And Dry" (Cliff Richard ), which was the runner-up for the UKEurovision Song Contest entry in 1968.When
Blue Mink were formed in 1969, Greenaway was asked to be lead vocalist alongsideMadeline Bell ; he declined the offer and recommended Cook, who accepted. The following year Greenaway teamed up for a while with singerTony Burrows to formPipkins , a duo who had a Top 10 novelty hit in 1970 with "Gimme Dat Ding ".The New Seekers ' "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing " began life as a Cook-Greenaway collaboration called "True Love and Apple Pie", recorded by Susan Shirley. The song was then rewritten by Cook, Greenaway,Coca-Cola account executive Bill Backer, andBilly Davis , and recorded as a Coca-Colaradio commercial, with the lyric "I'd like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company." First aired on American radio in 1970, it was also used as a TV commercial a year later, sparking public demand for its release as a single. Reworked, again, to remove the references to the brand name, the single climbed to UK #1 and U.S. #7 in 1972.After Cook moved to the U.S. in 1975, Greenaway worked with other partners, notably
Geoff Stephens , both being jointly responsible forCrystal Gayle ’s 1980 No. 1 country song, "It’s Like We Never Said Goodbye".Greenaway took an increasing role in business administration, becoming Chairman of the
Performing Right Society in 1983 and in 1995 taking charge of the European ASCAP office. He also wrote advertisingjingle s for Allied Carpets,ASDA and British Gas.ee also
*
Gavin Greenaway External links
*imdb name|id=0338443|name=Roger Greenaway
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.