Harold Spiro

Harold Spiro

Harold Spiro (25 June 192511 December 1996) was an English songwriter.

Early days

His interest in music began at an early age, in London's East End, where his uncle regularly took him to the Music hall.

It was here that he first met Tony Hiller, (who helped create Brotherhood of Man) and so began a life-long friendship. Years later Hiller gave Spiro his first publishing deal, and later still was to be involved in producing him in his singing career as 'Hoagy Pogey'.

In 1944, aged 18, Spiro volunteered for the Royal Navy and did his training in Chatham, Kent, where he qualified as a nurse, and was sent to Iceland to work on an American naval base.

After the World War II ended, he knew that he wanted a career in the music industry, rather than taking over the family shop. He enrolled at Carnegie Hall, where he studied musical theory and conducting. However, popular music became his main interest. Continuing to work in the shop, he wrote songs in his spare time, inspired by the works of George Gershwin and Hoagy Carmichael.

In 1954 his father died, and he met his future wife, Barbara, and they married the following year. In 1956, their first child, Judith, was born. Their daughter Lorraine, was born in 1959, and Spiro started a wholesale greeting cards business, where he wrote the verses for the cards he sold. In 1961, their second son, Russell, was born.

Musical years

Spiro decided to enter the music business full-time after a discussion with Eddie Cantor. He got his first publishing deal, and also supported his wife's cousin, Phil Wainman, who was later to become the producer for The Bay City Rollers and The Boomtown Rats. Together, they wrote for Mike and Bernie Winters and they also initially worked together with a band, later to become The Sweet, who first rehearsed in the Spiro's living room.

Spiro was the co-writer (with Wainman) behind The Yardbirds' hit, "Little Games", successful on both sides of the Atlantic. It was one of the first songs of that era to use a sitar in the recording mix.

In the 1970s, Spiro met Valerie Avon, his most significant songwriting partner, when he was working at Belwin Mills Publishing. During that time, they wrote many songs together, including tracks recorded by Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway, as The Pipkins, Tina Charles, Peter Noone, (from Herman’s Hermits) "Easy Loving", a hit for The Troggs and the track, "Don’t Move Away", for both Cliff Richard and Olivia Newton-John.

They were involved in the Eurovision Song Contest for two consecutive years with, "Can I Believe", for Mary Hopkin and "In My World of Beautiful Things", for Clodagh Rodgers. This culminated in representing the UK with "Long Live Love", performed by Olivia Newton-John in 1974, which went on to be recorded worldwide by more than fifty artists. [http://swisscharts.com/esc_composer.asp?name=Harold+Spiro]

Valerie Avon was also instrumental in helping to create a performing image for Spiro. From 1973, as 'Hoagy Pogey', he worked with Jamie Philips and Dougie Squires and the Second Generation, touring Europe, making stage and television appearances. He also had an interview on the Russell Harty show.

Football

Spiro loved football and was a season ticket holder at Tottenham Hotspur F.C.. This led him to compose "Nice One Cyril", winning him an Ivor Novello Award. Spiro, with Jamie Philips singing the operatic introduction, fronted the group, known as Cockerel Chorus, who then went on to make an album. Throughout his life, Spiro wrote many other football songs, recorded by major teams, including "Here We Go" for Everton; and "Nice One Gazza" plus "Tribute to Ardiles and Villa" for Spurs. [http://wm05.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=HAROLD|SPIRO&sql=11:a9fqxqyjldfe~T3]

Spiro also formed a partnership with Alan Freeman, well known as a record producer and for establishing Pye Records. Together, they created Spiral Records and later on, a music publishing company, Trekfarm. Jointly they discovered Red Box, who went on to have a hit with "Chenko".

Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen

The partnership also recorded Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen, with Spiro writing the theme music for Ball’s television show, "Saturday Night at the Mill". Spiro and Freeman also recorded Barbara Woodhouse, famous for her dog-training skills, "Diddy" David Hamilton and Les Dawson.

Latter years

After his success in the 1970s and early 1980s, Spiro became a financial consultant with the insurance company, Sun Alliance. He later moved home to Westgate-on-Sea, and bought a holiday home in Cyprus. He worked with Cypriot writers and musicians, and appeared on Cyprus television. One of the last songs he ever wrote was dedicated to peace and unity there, entitled, "Only One Sky".

When back in England, Spiro continued with his projects, involving local musicians and writers, including the novelist, Peter Corey. He later worked on a musical for children.

More recently, thanks to his son Russell, now director of Trekfarm, Spiro’s song, "We’re on the Ball", became the official World Cup song for 2002, and with Ant and Dec became a success. [http://chartwatch.co.uk/TopTen/writers/wri6485.htm]

Harold Spiro died on 11 December 1996 in Cyprus, where he was buried.

See also

* United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest

External links

* [http://wm05.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=HAROLD|SPIRO&sql=11:a9fqxqyjldfe~T3 Spiro songwriting credits] at Allmusic website
* [http://www.trekfarm.com Trekfarm official website]
* [http://www.trap2.com/list_o/olivia_newton-john_lyrics/long_live_love_lyrics.html "Long Live Love" lyrics]
* [http://www.lyricsdirectory.com/portal/misc/antanddec.htm "We're on the Ball" lyrics]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Spiro (name) — Spiro(s) or Spyro(s) (Greek: Σπύρος with a nominative final s, that is usually dropped when Anglicised) is a male given name fairly common in Greek speaking population (Greece, Cyprus, Greek diaspora). It is a shortened form of the archaic… …   Wikipedia

  • Spiro Agnew — 39th Vice President of the United States In office January 20, 1969 – October 10, 1973 President Richard Nixon …   Wikipedia

  • Valerie Murtagh — (born 1936, Willesden, London [http://www.skidmore.edu/ gthompso/britrock/60brchro/60brch35 39.html] ) pseudonym Valerie Avon is an English singer and songwriter. Originally she was a member of The Avons.CareerAfter her somewhat limited singing… …   Wikipedia

  • Little Games — Infobox Album | Name = Little Games Type = Album Artist = The Yardbirds Released = July 24, 1967 Recorded = De Lane Lea, London, March–May 1967 Genre = Blues rock Length = 30:28 Label = Epic LN 24313/BN 26313 Producer = Mickie Most Reviews =… …   Wikipedia

  • Little Games Sessions and More — Infobox Album Name = Little Games Sessions More Type =studio Artist = The Yardbirds Released = August 25, 1992 Recorded = De Lane Lea, London, March–May 1967 Genre = Blues Rock Length = 91:13 Label = Capitol Producer = Adam Block Mickie Most… …   Wikipedia

  • The Avons — There is also an American 1950s doo wop group of this name. Their biggest hit in 1957 was entitled Baby . [http://music.aol.com/artist/the avons/201392/biography] The Avons were a British pop music vocal group, composed of Valerie Murtagh (born… …   Wikipedia

  • Long Live Love — Infobox Album | Name = Long Live Love Type = studio Artist = Olivia Newton John Released = January 7, 1974 Recorded = 1973 Genre = Adult contemporary Length = 36:46 Label = EMI Producer = John Farrar Reviews = * Allmusic Rating|3|5… …   Wikipedia

  • Phil Wainman — is a British record producer and songwriter, primarily active in the 1970s. He is noted for his work with Sweet, XTC, Mud, and the Bay City Rollers. His greatest chart success, however, was the production of I Don t Like Mondays by The Boomtown… …   Wikipedia

  • BBC Sessions (The Yardbirds album) — Infobox Album Name = BBC Sessions Type = live Artist = The Yardbirds Released = 1997 Recorded = 1965 1968 Genre = Blues Length = Label = Warner Archives Producer = Reviews = Last album = This album = Next album = The Yardbirds Live at the BBC… …   Wikipedia

  • Eurovision Song Contest 1974 — 19. Eurovision Song Contest Datum 6. April 1974 Austragungsland Vereinigtes Konigreich …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”