Alan Shacklock

Last updated

Alan Shacklock
Born (1955-06-20) 20 June 1955 (age 68)
Kingsbury, North London, England
Genres
Occupation(s) Record producer, songwriter, guitarist
Instrument(s) Guitar
LabelsVarious
Website alanshacklock.com

Alan Shacklock (born 20 June 1950) is an English musician, composer, arranger and recording producer, who lives and works in Nashville, Tennessee. His 1972 song "The Mexican" as performed by Babe Ruth is considered influential in the early development of b-boying and hip-hop culture. [1]

Contents

Life and career

Alan Shacklock was born in London and began playing guitar as a child. His first band was The Juniors, which included the Rolling Stones' guitarist Mick Taylor and Jethro Tull bassist John Glascock. He then joined Chris Farlowe's Thunderbirds. Shacklock later completed classical guitar and lute studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London, [1] [2] graduating with a master's degree in music. [3]

Well noted for never being seen without a hat, in 1969, Shacklock played in a band called the Gods, and in 1971 formed the band Babe Ruth. He worked as the group's songwriter and producer from 1971 to 1975, and then left to work as a solo songwriter and record producer. He has received four Grammy Award nominations, and has produced a number of silver, gold and platinum recordings for artists, including Mike Oldfield, Bonnie Tyler, Jeff Beck (of the Yardbirds), Meat Loaf, the Alarm, the Look, Roger Daltrey (of the Who), JoBoxers and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. [2]

Shacklock has also produced music for films including Quicksilver (starring Kevin Bacon), Doc Hollywood (starring Michael J. Fox) and Buddy's Song (starring Chesney Hawkes and Roger Daltrey). [4] He composed original scores for the BBC/PBS wildlife documentaries Puffins and One Man's Island for The Natural World . The scores were performed by the London Symphony and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras, and premiered at the Royal Festival Hall in London. In 1994, Shacklock also composed the original score for the FIFA World Cup. [3] With Sir George Martin, he was a founder of the British Record Producers Guild.

The band Babe Ruth reunited in 2006 and produced a new album of songs written by Shacklock, followed by concert dates in 2010. [5]

Awards

Shacklock received EMI's Songwriter of the Year Award for the number one Christian hit "The True Believers", released in 1995 by Christian artist Phil Keaggy. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Who</span> English rock band

The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup (1964–1978) consisted of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century. Their contributions to rock music include the development of the Marshall stack, large public address systems, the use of synthesisers, Entwistle's and Moon's influential playing styles, Townshend's feedback and power chord guitar technique, and the development of the rock opera. They are cited as an influence by many hard rock, punk, power pop and mod bands. The Who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pete Townshend</span> British musician (born 1945)

Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend is an English musician. He is the co-founder, guitarist, second lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the Who, one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s. His aggressive playing style and poetic songwriting techniques, with the Who and in other projects, have earned him critical acclaim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Daltrey</span> English musician and lead vocalist of The Who (b. 1944)

Roger Harry Daltrey is an English singer, musician and actor. He is co-founder and lead singer of rock band the Who.

<i>A Quick One</i> 1966 studio album by the Who

A Quick One is the second studio album by the English rock band the Who, released on 9 December 1966. A version of the album with an altered track listing was released under the name Happy Jack on Decca Records in April 1967 in the United States, where the song "Happy Jack" was a top 40 hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Taylor (Queen drummer)</span> English musician (born 1949)

Roger Meddows Taylor is an English musician, songwriter and record producer. He achieved international fame as the drummer and backing vocalist for the rock band Queen. As a drummer, Taylor was recognised early in his career for his unique sound and was voted the eighth-greatest drummer in classic rock music history in a listener poll conducted by Planet Rock in 2005. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 as a member of Queen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Kamen</span> American composer (1948–2003)

Michael Arnold Kamen was an American composer, orchestral arranger, orchestral conductor, songwriter, record producer and musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karl Jenkins</span> Welsh musician and composer (born 1944)

Sir Karl William Pamp Jenkins,, HonFLSW is a Welsh multi-instrumentalist and composer. His best known works include the song "Adiemus" (1995), from the Adiemus album series; Palladio (1995); The Armed Man (2000); his Requiem (2005); and his Stabat Mater (2008).

<i>First Base</i> (album) 1972 studio album by Babe Ruth

First Base is the debut album by British rock band Babe Ruth. Produced by guitarist Alan Shacklock and Nick Mobbs, and engineered by Tony Clark at the EMI's Abbey Road Studios between June and September 1972, it was released that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Babe Ruth (band)</span> English rock band

Babe Ruth are an English rock band from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England. They were initially active in the 1970s and reformed in 2002.

"The Mexican" is a song by British rock band Babe Ruth, from their debut album First Base.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russ Ballard</span> English musician

Russell Glyn Ballard is an English musician.

<i>Under a Raging Moon</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Roger Daltrey

Under a Raging Moon is the sixth solo studio album by English singer Roger Daltrey, released in September 1985 by Atlantic Records. The album reached No. 42 on the US charts, and the single "After the Fire", written by Pete Townshend, reached No. 48. It includes a tribute to Keith Moon, former drummer of the Who who died in 1978, on the track "Under a Raging Moon". In Canada, the album reached No. 33 on the RPM Magazine charts, and "After the Fire" reached No. 53.

<i>Parting Should Be Painless</i> 1984 studio album by Roger Daltrey

Parting Should Be Painless is the fifth studio album by English singer Roger Daltrey, released in February 1984, on the label Atlantic, in the United States, and on WEA in Germany, and Japan. The album was Daltrey's first solo album since the initial break-up of rock band the Who, and the first by any member of the band since the break-up. "Walking in My Sleep", "Parting Would Be Painless", and "Would a Stranger Do" were all released as singles. Two of those singles failed to chart, while "Walking in My Sleep" was a success, peaking at No. 4 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

<i>Cant Wait to See the Movie</i> 1987 studio album by Roger Daltrey

Can't Wait to See the Movie is the seventh solo studio album by English singer, songwriter and actor Roger Daltrey, the lead vocalist for the Who. It was released in June 1987 by Atlantic Records, and was primarily produced by Alan Shacklock, in association with David Foster, Chas Sanford and Jimmy Scott. Among the songs Daltrey is credited as co-writer on two tracks "Balance on Wires" and "Take Me Home". David Foster co-wrote the track "The Price of Love", which was also featured in the 1987 movie The Secret of My Success, starring Michael J. Fox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Simes</span> Musical artist

Frank Turner Simes is an American musician, singer, guitarist, songwriter, composer and record producer. Simes is the musical director for Roger Daltrey, and has recorded and performed with Mick Jagger, Don Henley, and Stevie Nicks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Country</span> Scottish rock band

Big Country are a Scottish rock band formed in Dunfermline, Fife, in 1981.

No Plan B, also known as the Roger Daltrey Band, is an English rock band assembled by The Who singer Roger Daltrey to support performances and tours outside The Who. Daltrey's band includes Simon Townshend on guitar and vocals, Frank Simes on lead guitar, Jon Button on bass, Loren Gold on keyboards and Scott Devours on drums. Frank Simes is also musical director for the band. In a 2010 appearance on The Alan Titchmarsh Show, Daltrey called the band No Plan B.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">After the Fire (song)</span> 1985 single by Roger Daltrey

"After the Fire" is a song from the solo album Under a Raging Moon released by Roger Daltrey of The Who. The song was written by Pete Townshend, also of The Who. It was considered a hit for Daltrey, receiving extensive play on MTV. The song was played during the second season finale of Miami Vice during a flashback scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Grainger</span> Musical artist

Gary Grainger is an English rock, blues, jazz and pop songwriter and guitarist, most known for his work with Rod Stewart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let Me Down Easy (Roger Daltrey song)</span> 1985 single by Roger Daltrey

"'Let Me Down Easy'" is a song by Roger Daltrey, who at the time was the former lead vocalist of the Who. The song was written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance and included on Daltrey's sixth solo studio album Under a Raging Moon (1985) as the first track on the second side of the LP. The album was a tribute to the Who's former drummer Keith Moon. The song was released as a single in November 1985 on Atlantic Records.

References

  1. 1 2 Marcus, Greil (2010). Best Music Writing 2009. p. 259.
  2. 1 2 "SAE Presents Music Industry Legend Alan Shacklock at All UK Campuses". The Music Industry Report. 4 March 2010. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 "Babe Ruth Band Biog - Alan Shacklock". Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  4. "IMDB listing". IMDb . Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  5. Glenday, Duncan (28 May 2010). "Babe Ruth's Alan Shacklock Talks About The Band's Reunion and Comeback" . Retrieved 7 October 2011.