Roger Greenaway

Last updated

Roger Greenaway
OBE
Fanclub1967DavidJonathan2.jpg
Greenaway (1967)
Background information
Birth nameRoger John Reginald Greenaway
Born (1938-08-23) 23 August 1938 (age 86)
Fishponds, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England
Genres Pop
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s) Vocals, guitar
Years active1960s–present

Roger John Reginald Greenaway OBE (born 23 August 1938) [1] is an English singer, songwriter and record producer, best known for his collaborations with Roger Cook and Tony Burrows. His compositions have included "You've Got Your Troubles" and the transatlantic million selling songs "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (in Perfect Harmony)" [2] and "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress". [3] They were the first UK songwriting partnership to be granted an Ivor Novello Award as 'Songwriters of the Year' in two successive years. [4]

Contents

In 2009, Greenaway was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. [5]

Early life

Roger Greenaway was born in Fishponds, Bristol, England.

Early career

Greenaway is best known for his works with Roger Cook. Both Greenaway and Cook were members of the close harmony group the Kestrels. While on tour they decided to begin writing songs together. Their first was "You've Got Your Troubles", a No. 2 UK hit single for the Fortunes (1965), [6] which also made No. 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100. [7] It was the first of several successes they enjoyed 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 with their cover version of the Beatles' "Michelle" and their own "Lovers of the World Unite". [8] Their penultimate single, "Softly Whispering I Love You", in 1967, was not a success at the time, but became a No. 4 UK hit in 1971 for a subsequent Cook-Greenaway collaboration, the Congregation. [9] In 1968 Cook and Greenaway announced that they would no longer be recording as a duo but would continue as songwriters.

Songwriting

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 (UK) and Carol Douglas (US)); "It Makes No Difference" (Joe Dolan); "Something Tells Me (Something's Gonna Happen Tonight)" (Cilla Black (UK) [5] and Bobbi Martin (US)); [10] "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); "Banner Man", "Melting Pot", "Good Morning Freedom" (Blue Mink); "Green Grass" (Gary Lewis & the Playboys); "New Orleans" (Harley Quinne); [11] "A Way of Life" (The Family Dogg) and "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" (Gene Pitney). [5]

They also wrote "High 'N' Dry" (Cliff Richard), which was the B-side of "Congratulations",” the runner-up song for the UK Eurovision Song Contest in 1968. [12]

The New Seekers' "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (in Perfect Harmony)" 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 advertising executive Bill Backer, and Billy Davis, and recorded as a Coca-Cola radio 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. [13] Reworked, again, to remove the references to the brand name, the single climbed to No. 1 in the UK and No. 7 in the US in 1972. The song has sold over a million copies in the UK. [2]

Blue Mink, Pipkins, and Brotherhood of Man

When Blue Mink were formed in 1969, Greenaway was asked to be lead vocalist alongside Madeline Bell; he declined the offer and recommended Cook, who accepted. [14] The following year Greenaway teamed up for a while with singer and former Kestrels band-mate Tony Burrows to form the Pipkins, a duo who had a Top 10 novelty hit in 1970 with "Gimme Dat Ding". [15] The same year, he was briefly a member of Brotherhood of Man, also featuring Burrows as lead singer, who scored a UK and US top 20 hit with "United We Stand". [16]

Later works

After Cook moved to the US in 1975, Greenaway worked with other partners, notably Geoff Stephens, both being jointly responsible for Dana's 1975 UK No. 4 song, "It's Gonna be a Cold Cold Christmas", and Crystal Gayle's 1980 US No. 1 country song, "It's Like We Never Said Goodbye". [5] With Barry Mason he penned "Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow" for Tom Jones, which spent ten weeks within the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot Country Singles (now Hot Country Songs) chart, and went to No. 1 for one week on 26 February 1977. [7] [17]

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. [4] He also wrote advertising jingles for Allied Carpets, Asda and British Gas.

Personal life

Greenaway's son is Gavin Greenaway, a composer and conductor.

Awards and honours

In 1998, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to the music industry. [4] He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York in 2009. [5]

Discography

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)</span> 1971 single by The New Seekers

"I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)" is a pop song (originally known as "True Love and Apple Pie") by British hit songwriters Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway, and sung by Susan Shirley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Pitney</span> American singer-songwriter (1940–2006)

Gene Francis Alan Pitney was an American singer, songwriter and musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Fortunes</span> English harmony beat group

The Fortunes are an English harmony beat group. Formed in Birmingham, the Fortunes first came to prominence and international acclaim in 1965, when "You've Got Your Troubles" broke into the US, Canadian, and UK Top 10s. Afterwards, they had a succession of hits including "Here It Comes Again" and "Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again"; continuing into the 1970s with more globally successful releases such as "Storm in a Teacup" and "Freedom Come, Freedom Go".

Roquel "Billy" Davis, of Detroit, was an American songwriter, record producer, and singer. Davis was also known as a writer/producer of commercial jingles, mostly for Coca-Cola. He was also known as Tyran Carlo on writing credits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Burrows</span> English pop singer and recording artist

Anthony Burrows is an English pop singer and recording artist. As a prolific session musician, Burrows was involved in several transatlantic hit singles throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, most of which were one-hit wonders, including "Love Grows " by Edison Lighthouse, "United We Stand" by Brotherhood of Man, "My Baby Loves Lovin'" by White Plains, "Gimme Dat Ding" by the Pipkins and "Beach Baby" by the First Class.

Blue Mink were a British six-piece pop group that existed from 1969 to 1977. Over that period they had six Top 20 hit singles in the UK Singles Chart, and released five studio based albums. According to AllMusic: "they have been immortalised on a string of compilation albums, each recounting the string of effervescent hits that established them among Britain's best-loved pop groups of the early 1970s."

The Chanter Sisters are sisters Irene and Doreen Chanter who perform both as a duo, and as backing for other singers. They released three albums and a number of singles from the mid to late 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Cook (songwriter)</span> English singer, songwriter and record producer

Roger Frederick Cook is an English singer, songwriter and record producer, who has written many hit records for other recording artists. He has also had a successful recording career in his own right.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Plains (band)</span> British pop music group

White Plains were a British pop music group that existed from 1969 to 1976. They had an ever-changing line-up of musicians and five UK hit singles, all on the Deram Records label, in the early 1970s.

Leslie David Reed was an English songwriter, arranger, musician and light-orchestra leader. His major songwriting partners were Gordon Mills, Barry Mason, and Geoff Stephens, although he wrote songs with many others such as Roger Greenaway, Roger Cook, Peter Callander, and Johnny Worth.

John Nicholas Shakespeare, known as John Carter, is an English singer, songwriter, and record producer.

"Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" is a song written by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You've Got Your Troubles</span> 1965 single by the Fortunes

"You've Got Your Troubles" was the inaugural composition by the prolific songwriting team of Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway in 1964. "You've Got Your Troubles" became a number 2 UK hit for the Fortunes in the United Kingdom in August 1965, affording the group international success including a Top Ten ranking in the US. The track was included on the Fortunes' self-titled 1965 debut album release, the group's only album release of the 1960s.

Valerie Murtagh is an English singer and songwriter, who was a member of The Avons.

The Pipkins were a short-lived English novelty duo, best known for their hit single "Gimme Dat Ding", which reached No. 6 on the UK Singles Charts, No. 7 in Canada, and No. 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David and Jonathan (band)</span> British pop duo

David and Jonathan were a British pop duo from Bristol, England, featuring Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook. They had two top 20 hits in 1966.

Kenneth Alan James Hawker known as Ken Lewis, was an English singer, songwriter and record producer. He is considered one of the more successful songwriters of the 1960s as a result of his collaborations with John Carter. His biggest success was "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat", which was a 1965 US number 2 hit single for Herman's Hermits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When You Are a King</span> 1971 single by White Plains

"When You Are a King" is a 1971 pop song by British band White Plains. It was written by John and Roger Hill, in contrast to most White Plains songs that were written by Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway. Produced by Roger Greenaway. Featuring Pete Nelson on lead vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melting Pot (song)</span>

"Melting Pot" is the 1969 debut single from UK pop group Blue Mink. The song was written by Blue Mink's lead singer Roger Cook and long-time songwriter partner Roger Greenaway.

"Something Tells Me (Something's Gonna Happen Tonight)" is a song by English recording artist Cilla Black, released in 1971.

References

  1. ↑ Noelia Penelope Greer, ed. (2011). Roger Greenaway. Patho Publishing. ISBN   9786137836682.
  2. 1 2 Ami Sedghi (4 November 2012). "UK's million-selling singles: the full list". Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  3. ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp.  313/4. ISBN   0-214-20512-6.
  4. 1 2 3 "2009 Award and Induction Ceremony Induction Ceremonies". Songwriters Hall of Fame. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Roger Greenaway Biography". Songwriters Hall of Fame. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  6. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 208. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  7. 1 2 "Roger Greenaway Timeline". Songwriters Hall of Fame. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  8. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 142. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  9. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 117. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  10. ↑ "Bobbi Martin - Something Tells Me (Something's Gonna Happen Tonight)". 45cat.com. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  11. ↑ Harley Quinne. "Harley Quinne - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic . Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  12. ↑ "Massiel e Iñigo acusan a La Sexta de 'urdir todo para favorecer a Chikilicuatre'". Elmundo.es. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "The Story Behind Coca-Cola's Famous 'Hilltop' Ad". The Coca-Cola Company. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  14. ↑ "Blue Mink biography by Dave Thompson". AllMusic . Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  15. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 427. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  16. ↑ "Biography - Early line-up info". Emusic.com. Retrieved 5 May 2008.
  17. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 183.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.