Mickie Most, born Michael Peter Hayes (20 June1938–30 May2003), was a successful English record producer, notably with a string of Number One hit singles with his own RAK Recordsand acts such as The Animals, Herman's Hermits, Donovan, and Suzi Quatro. June 20 is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 194 days remaining. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... RAK Records is a British record company, founded by record producer Mickie Most in 1969. ... The US edition of The Animals self-titled debut album. ... Best of the 60s album Hermans Hermits were an English rock band in the 1960s, formed in Manchester in 1963. ... Donovan (Donovan Philips Leitch, born May 10, 1946, in Maryhill, Glasgow) is a Scottish singer, songwriter, and guitarist. ... Suzi Quatro Album Cover Suzi Quatro Suzi Quatro (born Susan Kay Quatro on June 3, 1950 in Detroit, Michigan. ...

Image File history File links Mickie_Most. ...

Early career

Most was born in Aldershot, Hampshire. The son of a regimental sergeant-major, he moved with his parents to the north London suburb of Harrow in 1951. Most was heavily influenced by skiffle and early rock 'n' roll in his youth. Leaving school at the age of 15, he worked as a singing waiter at London's famous The 2i's Coffee Bar where he made friends with future business partner Peter Grant, and formed a singing duo with Alex Wharton (aka Alex Murray) who billed themselves as The Most Brothers. They scored a minor hit with Decca Records called "Takes a Whole Lotta Loving to Keep My Baby Happy" before disbanding. Wharton later went on to produce the Moody Blues single "Go Now". After officially changing his name to Mickie Most in 1959, he travelled to South Africa with his wife Christina, and formed a pop group, Mickie Most and the Playboys. The band scored eleven consecutive Number 1 singles playing mostly cover versions by Ray Peterson, Gene Vincent, and Eddie Cochran. Returning to London in 1962, Most appeared with other musicians on package tours as well as recording "Mister Porter", which became a minor hit in 1963. This does not cite its references or sources. ... Hampshire, sometimes historically Southamptonshire or Hamptonshire, (abbr. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Harrow is the principal town in the London Borough of Harrow. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... Doghouse Skiffle Group Skiffle is a type of folk music with a jazz and blues influence, usually using homemade or improvised instruments such as the washboard, tea chest bass, kazoo, cigar-box fiddle, musical saw, comb and paper, and so forth, as well as more conventional instruments such as acoustic... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The 2 I’s Coffee Bar was a coffee bar in the basement at 59 Old Compton Street, Soho, London, England, between 1956 and 1970. ... Peter Grant in 1973 Peter Grant, (April 5, 1935 – November 21, 1995) was a manager for The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin and Bad Company, and a record executive for Swan Song Records. ... Alex Wharton (born 1939) later also known as Alex Murray formed a singing duo with Micky Most when they both worked in the famous 2Is coffee bar in Londons Soho. ... It has been suggested that Decca Music Group be merged into this article or section. ... The Moody Blues were originally a British rhythm and blues-based band; they later became best known for psychedelic music and early progressive rock. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ray A. Peterson (April 23, 1935 - January 25, 2005) was an American pop music singer. ... Gene Vincent, real name Vincent Eugene Craddock, (February 11, 1935 – October 12, 1971) was an American rockabilly pioneer musician, best known for his hit Be-Bop-A-Lula. // His parents, Ezekiah Jackson and Mary Louise Craddock, were shop owners in Norfolk, Virginia. ... Ray Edward Eddie Cochran (October 3, 1938 – April 17, 1960) was an early American rockabilly musician and an important influence on popular music during the late 1950s and early 1960s. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ...

Producer

Becoming tired of touring clubs, Most decided to concentrate on other aspects of the music industry. His first job involved selling records in stores and displaying them on racks (which was the later inspiration for naming his own record label, RAK) before finding a niche with production for Columbia Records. After spotting The Animals playing at Newcastle's Club A-Go-Go, he offered to produce their first single called "Baby Let Me Take You Home" which reached Number 21 on the UK charts. Their follow-up 1964 single, "House of the Rising Sun", became a worldwide Number 1 hit. Most then won the "Producer of the Year" award at the 1964 Grammy Awards. The Columbia Graphophone Company was one of the earliest gramophone companies in the United Kingdom. ... The US edition of The Animals self-titled debut album. ... This article is about a city in the United Kingdom. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... Grammy Award statuette The Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy (an association of Americans professionally involved in the recorded music industry) for outstanding achievements in the recording industry, is one of four major music awards shows held annually in the United States (the Billboard Music Awards, the American Music...

Most had instant success with Manchester band Herman's Hermits after being approached by their manager Harvey Lisberg. Their first Most production, "I'm Into Something Good", went straight to #1 in 1964, beginning an incredible run of single and album sales (ten million units over twelve months) by the band, with the group for a time even challenging The Beatles in popularity in the United States. His down-to-earth handling of the band, his business acumen and his unerring knack for selecting hit singles established Most as one of the first and most successful producers in Britain and kept him in high demand throughout the 1960s and 1970s. This article is about the City of Manchester in England. ... Best of the 60s album Hermans Hermits were an English rock band in the 1960s, formed in Manchester in 1963. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... The Beatles were an English rock band from Liverpool whose members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979. ...

In September 1964, with Most at the control board, singer Brenda Lee recorded "Is It True," and "What'd I Say," "Is It True," was released in England, and later in the U.S. and became a major hit, with subsequent gold record achievement. "What'd I Say," became another hit throughout Europe, but was strangely never released to the U.S. record market. Most had equal success with other artists for whom he produced a string of chart-topping albums and singles between 1965 and 1969, notably Donovan with "Mellow Yellow", "Jennifer Juniper", "Hurdy Gurdy Man", and "Atlantis" and Lulu "To Sir with Love", "The Boat That I Row", "Boom Bang-A-Bang" (which finished equal first in the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest), "Me the Peaceful Heart", and "I'm a Tiger". Most also produced The Seekers singles "Days of My Life" and "Love Is Kind, Love Is Wine", in 1968, and Nancy Sinatra’s "The Highway Song" in 1969. Brenda Lee (born December 11, 1944) is an American pop singer, who was immensely popular during the 1950s and 1960s. ... Donovan (Donovan Philips Leitch, born May 10, 1946, in Maryhill, Glasgow) is a Scottish singer, songwriter, and guitarist. ... Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie, OBE, (born 3 November 1948 in Lennoxtown, Stirlingshire), best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, songwriter, actor, model, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through the 2000s. ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... The modern logo was introduced for the 2004 Contest to create a consistent visual identity. ... The Seekers were a group of Australian folk-influenced popular musicians which was formed in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in 1962. ... Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940, in Jersey City, New Jersey) is an American singer and actress. ...

Most's productions were regularly backed by top London session musicians including Big Jim Sullivan and Jimmy Page on guitar, John Paul Jones on bass guitar and arrangements, and Nicky Hopkins on piano. He produced Jeff Beck's hit singles "Love Is Blue" and "Hi-Ho Silver Lining" and the influential Jeff Beck Group LPs Truth and Beck-Ola, teamed the Beck group with Donovan for the single "Goo Goo Barabajagal", and signed up new artists such as singer-guitarist Terry Reid. This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... James Patrick Jimmy Page, OBE (born 9th January 1944) is an English guitarist and record producer. ... John Baldwin (born January 3, 1946 in Sidcup, London), better known by his stage name John Paul Jones, is an English musician and was the bassist and the keyboardist for Led Zeppelin from its inception until the bands breakup following the death of John Bonham in 1980. ... Nicholas Nicky Hopkins (February 24, 1944 in Ealing, West London – September 6, 1994 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA) was an English musician who featured on scores of the most important British and American popular music recordings of the 1960s and 1970s, playing piano and organ. ... Geoffrey Arnold (Jeff) Beck (born June 24, 1944 in Wallington, Greater London, England) is an English guitarist and songwriter. ... Terry Reid (born 13 November 1949, Huntingdon, England) is a rock singer and guitarist noted for his soulful voice in the same vein as contemporaries Paul Rodgers and Rod Stewart. ...

By 1967 music was turning to a heavier and improvisational sound that was at odds with Most's formulaic singles selection format. After the commercial and critical failure of The Yardbirds album Little Games, he decided to steer clear of rock groups, realising they mostly did not share his vision. The Yardbirds objected to his obsession of aiming to cut down every song to within three minutes and albums were just an "afterthought" following the singles. His focussed but undeniably successful approach also led to a split with Donovan in late 1969. 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... Distinguish from Yard Birds. ... Little Games is an album by British blues rock band The Yardbirds, released in 1967 (see 1967 in music). ... Distinguish from Yard Birds. ...

RAK Records

Despite these setbacks, Most set up his own production office at 155 Oxford Street, sharing it with his business partner Peter Grant. It was through Most's association that Peter Grant was eventually asked to manage The Yardbirds. In 1968, Most and Grant jointly set up RAK Management, but Grant's involvement with The Yardbirds which soon evolved into Led Zeppelin, meant that Most had control in late 1969. RAK Records and RAK Music Publishing was launched in 1969. RAK music publishing now has the copyrights to such classic popular songs as "You Sexy Thing" composed by Hot Chocolate singer Errol Brown and "I Love Rock 'N' Roll" written by the band The Arrows, both acts were produced by Most. Peter Grant in 1973 Peter Grant, (April 5, 1935 – November 21, 1995) was a manager for The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin and Bad Company, and a record executive for Swan Song Records. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday. ... Led Zeppelin were an English rock band who formed in 1968. ... RAK Records is a British record company, founded by record producer Mickie Most in 1969. ... You Sexy Thing is a song by British group Hot Chocolate. ... Hot chocolate with marshmallow For the musical band, see Hot Chocolate. ... Errol Brown MBE (born November 12, 1948, Kingston, Jamaica) is the singer, songwriter, and front man of the successful British band Hot Chocolate. ... I Love Rock n Roll is a rock and roll song, written in 1975 by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker of The Arrows, a UK based rock band. ... The Arrows were a three piece Anglo-American band, based in London, England. ...

With RAK Records, Most's success continued with folk singer Julie Felix's hit "El Condor Pasa". Felix was the first artist signed to the label. Most then produced Mary Hopkin’s 1970 Eurovision song contest entrant "Knock Knock Who's There?," followed by the single "Temma Harbour". In 1970, Most approached Suzi Quatro for a recording contract after seeing her on stage at a Detroit dance hall with the band Cradle (which also had Quatro’s sisters Arlene, Patti, and Nancy as members), while on a production assignment in Chicago. Quatro was amongst a growing roster of artists signed to RAK Records which included Alexis Korner's CCS, The Arrows, Hot Chocolate, Angie Miller, and Chris Spedding. Hiring the songwriting production team of Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, RAK scored several British #1 singles with Suzi Quatro ("Can the Can", "Devil Gate Drive"), Sweet, and Mud. Julie Felix- is a folk rock recording artist who was produced by Mickie Most on his RAK Records label. ... Mary Hopkin Mary Hopkin (born May 3, 1950) is a Welsh folk singer. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Suzi Quatro Album Cover Suzi Quatro Suzi Quatro (born Susan Kay Quatro on June 3, 1950 in Detroit, Michigan. ... Cradle may refer to: Cradle (band), a band that Suzi Quatro played in, in the early 1970s before she became a huge star. ... RAK Records is a British record company, founded by record producer Mickie Most in 1969. ... Alexis Korner (born Alexis Andrew Nicholas Koerner, April 19, 1928 in Paris - died January 1, 1984 in Westminster, South London), was an English blues musician, born to an Austrian father and Greek mother. ... The Arrows were a three piece Anglo-American band, based in London, England. ... Hot chocolate with marshmallow For the musical band, see Hot Chocolate. ... Angie Miller is a recording artist who was produced by Mickie Most in the early 1970s on his RAK Records label. ... Christopher John Spedding (born June 17, 1944) is an English rock and roll and jazz guitarist best known for his session work. ... Nicky Chinn (born May 16, 1945) was the songwriting (and production) partner of Michael Chapman. ... Mike Chapma n is perhaps one of the most successful composers and producers in the history of popular music. ... Suzi Quatro Album Cover Suzi Quatro Suzi Quatro (born Susan Kay Quatro on June 3, 1950 in Detroit, Michigan. ... Sweet (referred to as The Sweet on albums before 1974 and singles before 1975) were a popular 1970s British band. ... Mud CD cover art Mud was an English glam rock band formed in 1968, best remembered for their single Tiger Feet which was the UKs best-selling single in 1974. ...

In 1976, Most produced Chris Spedding's self-titled album "Chris Spedding" which was Spedding's first solo record and popular with punks of the era and the beginning of what would be considered New Wave. Christopher John Spedding (born June 17, 1944) is an English rock and roll and jazz guitarist best known for his session work. ...

In 1980, Mickie Most "discovered" singer Kim Wilde, who was originally doing backing vocals for her father Marty Wilde at a Luton recording studio session. After hearing her voice, Most signed Wilde for a recording contract and produced the single "Kids In America" which reached Number 2 in the UK and most other countries, and Number 25 on the US Billboard charts. 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Kim Wilde (born Kim Smith, November 18, 1960 in Chiswick, West London) is an English pop singer, professional gardener, and pop cultural figure. ... Marty Wilde (born Reginald Leonard Smith, April 15, 1939, in Greenwich, South London) is an English singer and songwriter. ...

Later career

Most was also a panellist on various television talent shows such as ITV's New Faces and was the producer of Revolver, a program devoted to punk rock which was at odds with his "studio factory" approach to music. Most personally asked singer Kate Bush to appear as the series first guest on the pilot episode. In the 1980s, the band Johnny Hates Jazz, which featured Most's son Calvin Hayes, was also signed to RAK Records. RAK was eventually sold to EMI in 1983 but revived in 1988. Most was one of the first producers to own the rights to his own records and his RAK Studios, opened in 1976 in St John's Wood, remains active. It has been suggested that Channel 3 (UK) be merged into this article or section. ... New Faces was a British television talent show popular in the 1970s, presented by Derek Hobson. ... Kate Bush (born Catherine Bush 30 July 1958, Bexleyheath, Greater London) is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. ... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... Johnny Hates Jazz Johnny Hates Jazz was an English pop band formed in 1986 by Clark Datchler (vocals, piano), Calvin Hayes (keyboards), and the German born Mike Nocito (bass). ... Calvin Hayes, born on 27th November 1962 in England as the son of Mickie Most, talent scout and owner of RAK Records. ... RAK Records is a British record company, founded by record producer Mickie Most in 1969. ... The EMI Group (LSE: EMI) is a British music company comprising of the major record company EMI Music which operates several labels, based in Brook Green in London, England, and EMI Music Publishing, based on Charing Cross Road, London. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ...

In 1995, Most's fortune was estimated to be valued at £50 million and he appeared in the Sunday Times annual Rich List amongst the Top 500 in England. His house was claimed to be the largest private home in Britain worth an estimated £4 million. His production work diminished after he was diagnosed with cancer in 2000. On 30 May 2003 Most died of mesothelioma, a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos, in his London home, and was later cremated at Golders Green crematorium in north London. He is survived by his wife Christina and their three children Calvin, Nathalie, and Crystalle. 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification  -  by Athelstan 967  Area... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Fibrous asbestos on muscovite Asbestos Asbestos Asbestos (a misapplication of Latin: asbestos quicklime from Greek : a, not and sbestos, extinguishable) describes any of a group of minerals that can be fibrous, many of which are metamorphic and are hydrous magnesium silicates. ...

Discography

Compilations:

• Best of Mickie Most and His Playboys (1994)
• To Sir With Love: The Complete Mickie Most Recordings (2005) EMI