Mike Stevens | |
|---|---|
 Stevens performing with 10cc in 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael William Stevens |
| Born | 26 January 1957 Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England |
| Occupation(s) | Musical director |
| Instrument(s) | Saxophone, keyboards, guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
Michael William Stevens (born 26 January 1957) [1] [2] is an English musician. He is best known as Take That's musical director. [3]
Born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, [1] Stevens began music lessons on the clarinet and piano and was encouraged by his father, a professional drummer. [4] Stevens studied composing and conducting at the Birmingham School of Music between 1975 and 1979 [1] [3] before working on cruise ships as a "performer". [4] In the 1980s, he moved to London and became a sought-after saxophonist; he was signed to RCA Records in the United States and began touring with artists such as Barry White, Brenda Russell, Dionne Warwick and the Temptations. [3] In the late 1980s to the early 1990s, he was part of the dance music trio L.A. Mix, whose seven singles all charted on the UK Singles Chart. In 1988, he toured with Bill Withers, eventually becoming Withers's musical director.
In 1992, Stevens was hired to work with newly formed pop group Take That, becoming their musical director the following year. [4] He toured with the group until their split in 1996, playing keyboards, saxophone and guitar as well as providing backing vocals. [3] His work with Take That made him an in-demand musical director for other touring pop groups; he subsequently directed Eurythmics, Mika, Sugababes, James Morrison, Will Young, Geri Halliwell, Boyzone, B*Witched, 911 and Five. [3] Upon Take That's reformation in 2006, Stevens was re-hired as their musical director, employing musicians such as guitarist Milton McDonald, bassist Lee Pomeroy, drummer Donovan Hepburn, and keyboard players Bernie Smith and Marcus Byrne to create the live band. [4]
Stevens has been a touring member of 10cc since 1999, playing keyboards and saxophone. [5]
Stevens has been Annie Lennox's musical director and producer since 2002, producing the gold-certified albums A Christmas Cornucopia (2010) and Nostalgia (2014), both of which charted in the top ten of the UK and US album charts. Nostalgia was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014.
In 2012, Stevens led the house band and was musical director for the Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace, and two years later directed Jeff Lynne's ELO at BBC Radio 2's Hyde Park festival in 2014, using the Take That/Gary Barlow band and the BBC Concert Orchestra to accompany Lynne and Richard Tandy. Stevens had previously worked with Lynne at the Children in Need Rocks 2013 concert, where Lynne and Tandy performed "Livin' Thing" and "Mr. Blue Sky" accompanied by Stevens and the Take That/Gary Barlow band. [6] He has toured with Jeff Lynne's ELO since 2014, using a similar band to the Hyde Park concert, and he plays rhythm guitar himself.
Stevens has supervised or performed at events such as Live 8 in London, The Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Tribute Concert, and concerts for The Prince's Trust. [4]
The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) is an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1970 by songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood with drummer Bev Bevan. Their music is characterised by a fusion of pop and classical arrangements with futuristic iconography. After Wood's departure in 1972, Lynne became the band's sole leader, arranging and producing every album while writing nearly all of their original material. From this point until their first break-up in 1986, Lynne, Bevan, and keyboardist Richard Tandy were the group's only consistent members.
Jeffrey Lynne is an English musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is the co-founder and leader of the rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), which was formed in 1970, and as a songwriter has written most of the band's hits, including "Evil Woman", "Livin' Thing", "Telephone Line", "Mr. Blue Sky", "Don't Bring Me Down" and "Hold On Tight".
Roy Wood is an English musician, singer and songwriter. He was particularly successful in the 1960s and 1970s as member and co-founder of The Move, Electric Light Orchestra and Wizzard.
ELO 2 is the second studio album by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released in 1973. In the US, the album was released as Electric Light Orchestra II. It was the band's last album to be released by the Harvest label, the last on which the band used the definite article The in their name, and the one that introduced their abbreviated name 'ELO'.
Zoom is the twelfth studio album by British symphonic rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released on 12 June 2001 on Epic Records. It was the first official ELO album since 1986's Balance of Power.
Balance of Power is the eleventh studio album by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was released in 1986. It is the final album by the band to feature co-founder Bev Bevan on drums, as well as the last album to feature a significant contribution from keyboardist Richard Tandy.
Richard Tandy is an English musician. He was the keyboardist in the band Electric Light Orchestra ("ELO"). His palette of keyboards was an important ingredient in the group's sound, especially on the albums A New World Record, Out of the Blue, Discovery, and Time.
Mike "Milton" McDonald is a session guitarist. He has played with Patricia Kaas, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, Spice Girls, S Club 7, Ray Davies, Take That, Robert Palmer, M People, Louise, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Atomic Kitten, Hear'Say, Mylène Farmer, and Girls Aloud.
"Can't Get It Out of My Head" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and originally recorded by Electric Light Orchestra.
Armchair Theatre is the first solo album by Jeff Lynne, released in 1990.
Zoom Tour Live was a one-off concert performed by the Electric Light Orchestra recorded originally for television, later released as a film.
Alone in the Universe is the thirteenth studio album by British rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), and the first credited to Jeff Lynne's ELO. The moniker came out from Lynne as a response to ELO tribute and imitation bands, who repeatedly used ELO for promoting their own tours. Released on 13 November 2015, the album is the first of new original material credited to the group since Zoom in 2001, and the second since the group's original disbandment in 1986.
Jeff Lynne's ELO: Live in Hyde Park is a concert film by Jeff Lynne's ELO.
The BBC Sessions is a live compilation album of the British progressive rock band Electric Light Orchestra. The sessions were recorded at the BBC's Langham 1 studio and later broadcast on BBC program In session with Bob Harris. The dates they were recorded/transmitted are:
Jeff Lynne's ELO Tour 2019 was a concert tour by British band Jeff Lynne's ELO. It is the group's second tour in North America since 1981, following their tour from the previous year. Dhani Harrison was the opening act for the tour.
From Out of Nowhere is the fourteenth studio album by British rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), and the second credited to Jeff Lynne's ELO. The band's first studio album in four years, it was released on 1 November 2019 through Big Trilby and Columbia Records. The title track was released as the lead single on 26 September 2019. Lynne played most instruments on the album. Despite only playing on one track, keyboardist Richard Tandy finally returned to Jeff Lynne's ELO as a permanent member.
Wembley or Bust is a live album and concert film by Jeff Lynne's ELO. It was recorded during the Alone in the Universe Tour at Wembley Stadium. The album peaked at number 8 on the UK Albums Chart and at number 12 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums. The album was also certified silver in the United Kingdom.
Lee Pomeroy is an English musician, best known for performing bass guitar and backing vocals with several artists, including Jeff Lynne's ELO, It Bites, Yes Featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman, Take That, Steve Hackett and Chris Braide. He has also worked with Take That's Gary Barlow as a solo artist. Pomeroy is a member of Rick Wakeman's English Rock Ensemble and the progressive metal band Headspace, founded by Rick Wakeman's son Adam and Damian Wilson.
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