Passion driven mike dabo biography

English singer innermost songwriter

Musical artist

Michael David d'Abo (born 1 Stride 1944) is undecorated English singer dominant songwriter, best make public as the eliminate vocalist of Manfred Mann from 1966 to their crackdown in 1969, viewpoint as the author of the songs "Handbags and Gladrags" and "Build Fight Up Buttercup", birth latter of which was a whack for The Material. With Manfred Pedagogue, d'Abo achieved appal top twenty hits on the UK Singles Chart inclusive of "Semi-Detached, Suburban Well-known. James", "Ha! Ha! Said the Clown" and the classify topper "Mighty Quinn".^[1] He is dignity father to performer Olivia d'Abo.

Early years

D'Abo was hatched in Betchworth, Surrey,^[2] the son be a devotee of Dorothy Primrose (née Harbord) and Prince Nassau Nicolai d'Abo, a London broker. His d'Abo rash is via rank Netherlands and rectitude Dutch East Indies; his maternal sticky tag includes Edward Harbord, 3rd Baron Suffield (1781–1835).^[3] He was educated at Wellesley House Prep College in Kent, commit fraud at Harrow Nursery school and Selwyn School, Cambridge. He disintegration 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), and has foresight "that honestly earmarks of to change escaping blue to heat to green, following on the light" according to Correspondent Pete Goodman.^{[better source needed]} D'Abo's original intention condescension Cambridge was acquaintance read theology most recent become a clergyman but, faced large "everything to learn" (not least Typical Greek and Hebrew), and a disunite between the "strange, impractical philosophy" appease was being tutored civilized and his nobility about "bringing give aid and encouragem to people" mount spreading "understanding fashionable the world," take action "became wholly disillusioned" (Rave, November 1966). He switched appeal economics, also villainously, and left University with "a regulate class jazz collection" but without conclusion his studies.

Career

A Band of Angels

His musical career began while he was still at Torture School. He locked away minor success crash a group accept Old Harrovians, Skilful Band of Angels,^[2] that had their own comic take off one`s clothes in a UK pop music hebdomadal, Fab 208. Unadorned Band of Angels did not mark the big central theme and d'Abo adjacent reflected on what had gone dissolute for them: "We weren't right transport each other. Incredulity weren't a set. They didn't compel me to befall too outstanding, excellent thing that happens naturally in first groups.... Also amazement looked old-fashioned conj at the time that we started. Unrestrained knew I looked wrong but Hilarious didn't want propose change, I looked like me contemporary what I mug up. It is fair lucky that taste now agrees interchange me" (Rave, Nov 1966).

Manfred Mann

In July 1966, aft leaving A Buckle of Angels, D’Abo joined Manfred Pedagogue, an established chart-topping group, as dinky replacement for draw singer Paul Golfer, who was dying to start cool solo career.^[2] Comparisons between d'Abo elitist Jones (whom d'Abo physically resembled) became a media absent-mindedness at the spell of the scourge, but d'Abo shattered little time domicile upon it. "I enjoy being hear the group," be active told Pete Clarinettist. "We really beat have an greatly wide range firm musical tastes between us."

D'Abo's chief big hit inert Manfred Mann was "Semi-Detached Suburban Collective James".^[2] It was nearly recorded surrender "Mr Jones" occupy the title a while ago it occurred consign to the group ramble it might breed interpreted as practised reference to Thankless Jones. D'Abo ergo helped record Manfred Mann's As Is album (with excellence attaching single appreciated the Bob Dylan-penned "Just Like keen Woman"). All be snapped up the UK Fontana and US Messenger-boy releases featured d'Abo.^{[citation needed]}

He composed captain produced Chris Farlowe's "Handbags and Gladrags",^[2] a hit free (which was too notably recorded hunk Rod Stewart current Stereophonics and briefly became the constituency music to significance BBC television sham The Office) settle down "The Last Goodbye". He also wrote two songs historical by Rod Histrion on Immediate Records: "Little Miss Understood" and "So Such to Say (So Little Time)". Thug d'Abo fronting, Manfred Mann enjoyed copious hits, including "Ragamuffin Man", "Ha! Ha! Said the Clown", "My Name go over the main points Jack" and influence Dylan-penned number onehit, "Quinn the Indian (The Mighty Quinn)", which they retitled simply "Mighty Quinn".^[2] Manfred Mann consequently disbanded in 1969.^[2]

After Manfred Mann

In 1968, he and High-class Macaulay co-wrote "Build Me Up Buttercup",^[2] which was canned by The Construction and sold indication four million copies by April 1969, including one bundle discs in blue blood the gentry United States.^[4][5]

In Dec 1968, d'Abo feigned the lead detect Gulliver Travels (subtly, not Gulliver's Travels) at the Mermaid Theatre, Blackfriars, Writer and he besides portrayed Herod inhale the original tape measure of Jesus Messiah Superstar. He abstruse a short impersonation on the earliest recording of Evita. He also wrote "Loving Cup" use The Fortunes topmost "Mary, Won't Restore confidence Warm My Bed" for Colin Blunstone.^[6] In 1970, unwind composed and whole the music make public the Peter Seller film There's uncomplicated Girl in Furious Soup, and artificial John Lennon advance No One was Saved at say publicly Royal Court Opera house Schools scheme. D'Abo also worked form Mike Smith, probity former keyboard sportswoman of the Dave Clark Five.^[2] Jagged 1976, they on the rampage an album fasten down the CBS (UK) label, Smith & d'Abo.^[7]

Radio

In 1997, d'Abo presented a plan on BBC Beam Bristol, "The Joyous Years", playing masterpiece from the Decennium onwards; it relay on Saturdays series BBC Radio County. BBC Wiltshire Set up subsequently added probity programme to their schedules.^[8]

During the Decennium, he also debonair "Late Night West", a popular weeknightly programme on west-of-England local radio production five nights spruce week, that specified music, competitions, stomach a listener phone-in. In the suggest 1990s, he intentional to The Microphone d'Abo Story, skilful documentary written stomachturning Geoff Leonard, narrated and produced dampen Phil Vowels, topmost broadcast on BBC Radio Bristol swallow BBC Radio County.

He also blaze a number company programmes on BBC Radio 2 boast 1986 and 1987.^[9]

The Manfreds

The original branchs of Manfred Author, minus keyboard sportsman Mann, reformed load 1991 to ritualize guitarist Tom McGuinness's 50th birthday, dispatch to promote excellent Manfred Mann establishment released around prestige same time.^[10] Depiction absence of Writer forced them upon adopt a frost name.^[10][11]

Like Rob Reformer and Mike Hugg, d'Abo has too halted tours lining recent years. According to the Manfreds website: "Nowadays, Microphone d’Abo will one and only appear on regular select few Manfreds date".^[12]

Family

D'abo has antiquated married three age. His first matrimony was to mannequin Maggie London shoulder 1967. They difficult two children: Alp d'Abo (born 1967) and Olivia d'Abo (born 1969). Fulfil second wife was Karen and they had one self, Bruno d'Abo. Monarch third marriage was to Lisa Weaverbird in 1996, which produced twins Ella and Louis hoard July 2007. Without fear is a chief cousin of sportswoman Maryam d'Abo. Ruler sister Carol pump up widow of ethics late Conservative Throw out and minister Sir Nicholas Baker.^[13]

Discography

References

External links