Murray Head

Last updated • 5 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Murray Head
Photo - Festival de Cornouaille 2013 - Murray Head en concert le 28 juillet - 026.jpg
Head in concert at Quimper, France (2013)
Background information
Birth nameMurray Seafield St George Head
Born (1946-03-05) 5 March 1946 (age 78)
London, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1966–present
Labels
Website murrayhead.online

Murray Seafield St George Head (born 5 March 1946) [1] is an English actor and singer. Head has appeared in a number of films, including a starring role as the character Bob Elkin in the BAFTA award winning and Oscar-nominated 1971 film Sunday Bloody Sunday . [1] As a musician, he is most recognised for his international hit songs "Superstar" (from the 1970 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar ) and "One Night in Bangkok" (the 1984 single from the musical Chess , which topped the charts in various countries). He has been involved in several projects since the 1960s and continues to record music, perform concerts, and make appearances on television either as himself or as a character actor.

Contents

Early life and education

Head was born in London [2] to Seafield Laurence Stewart Murray Head (20 August 1919 – 22 March 2009) and Helen Shingler (29 August 1919 − 8 October 2019). [3] [2] Head's father was a documentary filmmaker for Verity Films. Head's mother played Mme Maigret alongside Rupert Davies in the BBC 1960s television adaptation of the Maigret novels written by Georges Simenon. Head's younger brother Anthony Head is also an actor, [2] best known for playing Rupert Giles in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer .

Head was educated at the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle in South Kensington, London and Hampton School [4] in Hampton, Middlesex. He attended Chiswick Polytechnic (A level college) in the early 1960s.[ citation needed ]

Career

Head began writing songs as a child, and by the mid-1960s he had a London-based recording contract. He briefly appeared as one of the hosts of the Bristol-based television pop show Now! alongside Michael Palin. He had limited success, until asked by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber to play Judas Iscariot on the original concept album version of Jesus Christ Superstar ; at the time, he had been appearing in the West End production of the musical Hair . With the Trinidad Singers, the song "Superstar" peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1971.

He made his film debut in The Family Way (1966), which featured Hayley Mills, Hywel Bennett and John Mills in the leading roles. [1] Head won a leading role in the Oscar-nominated film Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971), alongside Peter Finch and Glenda Jackson. [1] Despite these successes, he received little public attention in the next ten years (except for his single release, "Say It Ain't So, Joe" in 1975, which has been covered by The Who's lead vocalist, Roger Daltrey, among others, including both Gary Brooker of Procol Harum fame and The Hollies- who also covered his song; 'When I'm Yours' in 1979). [1] "Never Even Thought" has been covered by both Colin Blunstone and Cliff Richard.

Head in 1972 Murray Head Allan Warren.jpg
Head in 1972

In 1973, he appeared in a radio drama, The Fourth Tower of Inverness . In 1979, Head appeared in the miniseries Prince Regent and the final episode of the ITV program Return of the Saint .

Head reappeared in the spotlight in 1984 as the American on the concept album for the musical Chess . The song "One Night in Bangkok" featured Head [2] on lead vocals, affecting a New York accent. It became the last significant Broadway/West End number to be a hit single on American and German radio until "No Matter What" by Boyzone in 1996. "One Night in Bangkok" was a success in both Europe and North America. [1] Head performed the role of world chess champion Frederick "Freddie" Trumper in the London West End stage production of Chess that premiered on 14 May 1986. The show ran in London until 8 April 1989; during its run, Head departed with vocal strain.

After that, Head had little recording success in the UK or the United States. This fact would later be underscored in a radio segment featured on The Kevin and Bean Show on KROQ-FM in Los Angeles, in which the hosts would phone Head in the morning to find out "What's Up with Murray Head?" Fluent in French, he has released a number of albums in that language. A duet with Marie Carmen, "Une femme un homme", was released in 1993 and was a hit in French-speaking Canada.

In 1999, Head co-wrote the screenplay to Les Enfants du Siècle . [3]

He has appeared on television in the UK on The Bill , Casualty , North Square and Judge John Deed . He also played an artist, and love interest of Gina Ward, called Jack Hollins on ITV's Heartbeat from 2005 to 2006. On 15 March 2010 he appeared in the BBC drama Doctors playing a pop singer, Pete Perry, trying to make a comeback, in which Head sang Robert Johnson's "Love in Vain". He appeared in Doctors again on 18 April 2019 as a different character, a drummer named Brian 'Sticky' Burns. In Canada, he was part of the cast of the 2002 television mini-series Music-Hall, which played on the Radio-Canada network. In 2011 he appeared in the first episode of the series Vera (episode "Hidden Depths") as Peter Calvert.

Head's picture, from a still of The Family Way, appeared on the 1987 cover of the British band The Smiths single "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" and the album cover of the band's 1988 compilation album Stop Me . [5]

Personal life

Head married Susan Ellis Jones in 1972; they divorced in 1992. He has two daughters: Katherine and Sophie. Sophie sometimes sings with her father, for example on songs such as "Seras-tu là?" on the album Tête à tête and "Make It Easy" from the Emotions album. [3] [2] Head married Lindy Ross (née Newton) on 14 February 2019.

Discography

Selected filmography

Film
Film Credits
YearTitleRoleNotes
1966 The Family Way Geoffrey FittonSings "Someday Soon"
1967 Two Weeks in September Dickinson's assistant
1971AphrousaNicholas
Sunday Bloody Sunday Bob Elkin
La MandarineTony the Englishman
1973 Gawain and the Green Knight Gawain
1975El poder del deseoJavier
1977 The Frenchwoman David Evans
1987 White Mischief Lizzie
1989Un été d'oragesJackAlso wrote the music
La BarbareMichael
1996 Beaumarchais William, Lord Rochford
1999Le Grand Serpent du MondeTom
2002The Lovers of the NileThe Colonel
2003 I, Cesar Charley Fitzpatrick
2009No pasaranPeter Konchelski
2015FeverJim
Television
Television Credits
YearTitleRoleNotes
1967St IvesSaladinTwo episodes
1971 Shirley's World Ray King
1974The Fortunes of NigelLord Dalgarno
Seven Faces of a WomanTom
Intent for MurderLarry
Play for Today SingerEpisode "Taking Leave"
1979 Return of the Saint Pierre de la GardeEpisode 24 "The Diplomat's Daughter"
Prince RegentGeorge CanningThree episodes
1989 Boon Rupert ColeSeries 4 Episode 3 "The Relief of Matty King"
1998 The New Adventures of Robin Hood Ripley
1999 The Knock Mike HewsonTwo episodes
2000 Casualty Billy CooperSeries 15 Episode 6 "Choked: Part Two"
North Square Judge Martin BouldEight episodes
The Vice Tommy RokerTwo episodes
2002AsbestosPeter Bedford
Music-HallClife Maisie
2003 Rosemary & Thyme Nev Connolly
2004 The Bill Charles Mawdsley
2005-2007 Heartbeat Jack RollinsThree episodes
2007 Judge John Deed Judge Prévin
Holby City Doug FinnThree episodes
2009ReliveSteven Winterley
2010 Doctors Pete PerryEpisode "Birth of the Blues"
2011Vera's MysteriesPeter Calvert
2012 Holby City Steve Rurner
2013 Doctors Leo TreadwellEpisode "Difficulty"
2014 Holby City Billy TresslerThree episodes
HorseheadJim
2017 Doctors Ralphy AspdenTwo episodes
2019 War of the Worlds Mikel

See also

Notes

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Benny Andersson</span> Swedish musician and composer (born 1946)

    Göran BrorBennyAndersson is a Swedish musician, composer and producer best known as a member of the pop group ABBA and co-composer of the musicals Chess, Kristina från Duvemåla, and Mamma Mia! For the 2008 film version of Mamma Mia! and its 2018 sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, he worked also as an executive producer. Since 2001, he has been active with his own band Benny Anderssons orkester.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Cover version</span> Later version of a song already established with an earlier performer

    In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song released around the same time as the original in order to compete with it. Now, it refers to any subsequent version performed after the original.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Rice</span> English lyricist and author (born 1944)

    Sir Timothy Miles Bindon Rice is an English lyricist and author. He is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote, among other shows, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Evita; Chess ; Aida ; and, for Disney, Aladdin, The Lion King, both the stage adaptation of Beauty and the Beast and the live-action film adaption. He also wrote lyrics for the Alan Menken musical King David, and for DreamWorks Animation's The Road to El Dorado.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">The Turtles</span> American rock band

    The Turtles are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965. The band achieved several Top 40 hits throughout the latter half of the 1960s, including "It Ain't Me Babe" (1965), "You Baby" (1966), "Happy Together" (1967), "She'd Rather Be with Me" (1967), "Elenore" (1968), and "You Showed Me" (1969).

    <i>Chess</i> (musical) Musical involving two chess players during the Cold War

    Chess is a musical with music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of the pop group ABBA, lyrics by Ulvaeus and Tim Rice, and book by Rice. The story involves a politically driven, Cold War-era chess tournament between two grandmasters, one American and the other Soviet, and their fight over a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other. Although the protagonists were not intended to represent any real individuals, the character of the American grandmaster was loosely based on Bobby Fischer, while elements of the story may have been inspired by the chess careers of Russian grandmasters Viktor Korchnoi and Anatoly Karpov.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">David Johansen</span> American singer (born 1950)

    David Roger Johansen is an American singer, songwriter and actor. He is best known as a member of the seminal proto-punk band the New York Dolls. He is also known for his work under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter, and for playing the Ghost of Christmas Past in Scrooged.

    Peter Murray James,, known professionally as Pete Murray, is a British radio and television presenter and actor. He is known for his career with the BBC including stints on the Light Programme, Radio 1, Radio 2 and Radio 4. In the 1950s, Murray became one of Britain's first pop music television presenters, hosting the rock and roll programme Six-Five Special (1957–1958) and appearing as a regular panellist on Juke Box Jury (1959–1967). He was a recurring presence in the BBC's coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest. Murray returned to broadcasting for a Boom Radio special on Boxing Day 2021, over 70 years after his career began. He returned to the station on Boxing Day 2022 where he presented a two-hour show alongside his friend David Hamilton.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Nail</span> English actor & vocalist (born 1954)

    James Michael Aloysius Bradford, known as Jimmy Nail, is an English singer-songwriter, actor, film producer, and television writer. He played the role of Leonard "Oz" Osborne in the television show Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1983-1986), the title role in Spender (1991-1993) and Jed Shepperd in Crocodile Shoes (1994-1996). He also recorded a 1992 number one single, "Ain't No Doubt". His role as Agustín Magaldi, the oily crooner in the 1996 film Evita, gave him international recognition.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Ball</span> English singer, presenter and actor (born 1962)

    Michael Ashley Ball is an English singer, presenter and actor. In 1985, he made his West End debut as Marius Pontmercy in the original production of Les Misérables. In 1989, he reached number two in the UK Singles Chart with "Love Changes Everything", from the musical Aspects of Love, where he played Alex Dillingham. He played the role in the West End and on Broadway. His album Coming Home To You reached number one in the UK making it his 4th number one album to date. On 24 April 2020, Ball and Captain Tom Moore entered the UK Singles Chart at number one with a cover of "You'll Never Walk Alone", with combined chart sales of 82,000 making it the fastest-selling single of 2020.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Chas & Dave</span> British pop rock band

    Chas & Dave were an English pop rock duo, formed in London by Chas Hodges and Dave Peacock.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Milton</span> American blues singer and guitarist (1934–2005)

    James Milton Campbell Jr., better known as Little Milton, was an American blues singer and guitarist, best known for his number-one R&B single "We're Gonna Make It". His other hits include "Baby, I Love You", "Who's Cheating Who?", and "Grits Ain't Groceries ".

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Adem Ilhan</span> Musical artist

    Adem Ilhan is an English composer, producer and singer-songwriter. He has released many albums: his solo music project released under the name Adem, in the acclaimed post-rock band Fridge, alongside Kieran Hebden, and as part of the electronic duo Silver Columns with Johnny Lynch. He has scored several feature films and television series and numerous documentaries.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Weston (guitarist)</span> British guitarist (1947–2011 or 2012)

    Robert Joseph Weston was a British rock guitarist, who was a member of Fleetwood Mac in the early 1970s. He also recorded and performed with a number of other musicians, including Graham Bond, Long John Baldry, Murray Head, Sandy Denny, and Danny Kirwan.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Nicholas</span> English actor and singer (born 1944)

    Paul Nicholas is an English actor and singer, best known for his work in the 1983 BBC sitcom Just Good Friends. The show won a BAFTA and Nicholas was nominated for best comedy performance.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Normie Rowe</span> Australian rock and roll singer

    Norman John Rowe is an Australian singer and songwriter. He rose to national prominence in the mid-1960s as a pop star and teen idol, backed by The Playboys. His 1965 double A-side "Que Sera Sera"/"Shakin' All Over" was one of the most successful Australian singles of the decade.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Head</span> English actor (born 1954)

    Anthony Stewart Head is an English actor and singer. Primarily a performer in musical theatre, he rose to fame in the UK in the 1980s following his role in the Gold Blend couple television advertisements for Nescafé, which led to major roles in several television series. He is best known for his roles as Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003), the Prime Minister in Little Britain (2003–2006), Uther Pendragon in Merlin (2008–2012), and Rupert Mannion in Ted Lasso (2020–2023), as well as voicing Herc Shipwright in BBC Radio 4's Cabin Pressure.

    "Ain't No Grave" is a traditional American gospel song attributed to Claude Ely (1922–1978) of Virginia.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">One Night in Bangkok</span> 1984 single by Murray Head

    "One Night in Bangkok" is a song from the concept album and subsequent musical Chess by Tim Rice, Benny Andersson, and Björn Ulvaeus. English actor and singer Murray Head raps the verses, while the chorus is sung by Anders Glenmark, a Swedish singer, songwriter, and producer.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Shingler</span> British actress (1919–2019)

    Helen Shingler was a British film and television actress.

    <i>A Battle of Nerves</i> 1931 detective novel by Georges Simenon

    A Battle of Nerves is a detective novel by Belgian writer Georges Simenon, featuring his character Inspector Jules Maigret. Published in 1931, it is one of the earliest of Simenon's "Maigret" novels, and one of eleven he had published that year.

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ankeny, Jason. "Artist Biography". AllMusic .
    2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Murray Head". NNDB.com. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
    3. 1 2 3 "Murray Head: Biography". Internet Movie Database.
    4. "Murray Head Official Site" . Retrieved 14 June 2023.
    5. Brown, Len (7 April 2010). Meetings with Morrissey. Omnibus Press. ISBN   978-0-85712-240-7.