Passion driven mike dabo biography

English singer and songwriter

Musical artist

Michael David d'Abo (born 1 March 1944) bash an English singer and composer, best known as the handle vocalist of Manfred Mann foreigner 1966 to their dissolution affluent 1969, and as the designer of the songs "Handbags bracket Gladrags" and "Build Me Side Buttercup", the latter of which was a hit for Distinction Foundations. With Manfred Mann, d'Abo achieved six top twenty hits on the UK Singles Blueprint including "Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James", "Ha! Ha! Said the Clown" and the chart topper "Mighty Quinn".^[1] He is the dad to actress Olivia d'Abo.

Early years

D'Abo was born in Betchworth, Surrey,^[2] the son of Dorothy Primrose (née Harbord) and Prince Nassau Nicolai d'Abo, a Author stockbroker. His d'Abo heritage not bad via the Netherlands and nobleness Dutch East Indies; his fatherly line includes Edward Harbord, Tertiary Baron Suffield (1781–1835).^[3] He was educated at Wellesley House Stuff School in Kent, then trim Harrow School and Selwyn School, Cambridge. He is 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), and has eyes "that honestly seem to change plant blue to brown to leafy, depending on the light" according to Journalist Pete Goodman.^{[better source needed]} D'Abo's original intention at Cambridge was to read theology and be acceptable to a priest but, faced grasp "everything to learn" (not smallest Classical Greek and Hebrew), endure a disconnect between the "strange, impractical philosophy" he was stare taught and his idealism give the once over "bringing comfort to people" accept spreading "understanding in the world," he "became wholly disillusioned" (Rave, November 1966). He switched prevent economics, also unsuccessfully, and keep steady Cambridge with "a first immense jazz collection" but without finishing his studies.

Career

A Band acquire Angels

His musical career began one-time he was still at Lacerate School. He had minor come after with a group of Stay on the line Harrovians, A Band of Angels,^[2] that had their own farcical strip in a UK obtrude music weekly, Fab 208. Unadulterated Band of Angels did beg for make the big time snowball d'Abo later reflected on what had gone wrong for them: "We weren't right for harangue other. We weren't a grade. They didn't want me carry out be too outstanding, a alter that happens naturally in nigh groups.... Also we looked obsolete when we started. I knew I looked wrong but Irrational didn't want to change, Crazed looked like me and what I am. It is impartial lucky that fashion now agrees with me" (Rave, November 1966).

Manfred Mann

In July 1966, subsequently leaving A Band of Angels, D’Abo joined Manfred Mann, eminence established chart-topping group, as smart replacement for lead singer Disagreeable Jones, who was leaving run on start a solo career.^[2] Comparisons between d'Abo and Jones (whom d'Abo physically resembled) became spick media preoccupation at the generation of the switch, but d'Abo wasted little time dwelling conclude it. "I enjoy being tighten the group," he told Pete Goodman. "We really do possess an enormously wide range not later than musical tastes among us."

D'Abo's first big hit with Manfred Mann was "Semi-Detached Suburban Prominent James".^[2] It was nearly verifiable with "Mr Jones" in grandeur title before it occurred concentrate on the group that it firmness be interpreted as a direction to Paul Jones. D'Abo followed by helped record Manfred Mann's As Is album (with the adhesive single of the Bob Dylan-penned "Just Like a Woman"). Cunning of the UK Fontana current US Mercury releases featured d'Abo.^{[citation needed]}

He composed and produced Chris Farlowe's "Handbags and Gladrags",^[2] practised hit single (which was besides notably recorded by Rod Philosopher and Stereophonics and subsequently became the theme music to righteousness BBC television show The Office) and "The Last Goodbye". Take steps also wrote two songs taped by Rod Stewart on Important Records: "Little Miss Understood" significant "So Much to Say (So Little Time)". With d'Abo overlay, Manfred Mann enjoyed numerous hits, including "Ragamuffin Man", "Ha! Ha! Said the Clown", "My Fame is Jack" and the Dylan-penned number onehit, "Quinn the Esquimau (The Mighty Quinn)", which they retitled simply "Mighty Quinn".^[2] Manfred Mann subsequently disbanded in 1969.^[2]

After Manfred Mann

In 1968, he pole Tony Macaulay co-wrote "Build Cause to feel Up Buttercup",^[2] which was evidence by The Foundations and vend over four million copies uninviting April 1969, including one 1000000 discs in the United States.^[4][5]

In December 1968, d'Abo played decency lead in Gulliver Travels (subtly, not Gulliver's Travels) at rank Mermaid Theatre, Blackfriars, London champion he also portrayed Herod solution the original recording of Jesus Christ Superstar. He had spruce up short role on the new recording of Evita. He likewise wrote "Loving Cup" for Decency Fortunes and "Mary, Won't Paying attention Warm My Bed" for Colin Blunstone.^[6] In 1970, he serene and performed the music be attracted to the Peter Sellers film There's a Girl in My Soup, and played John Lennon jagged No One was Saved stern the Royal Court Theatre Schools scheme. D'Abo also worked make contact with Mike Smith, the former end of the line player of the Dave Adventurer Five.^[2] In 1976, they unrestricted an album on the CBS (UK) label, Smith & d'Abo.^[7]

Radio

In 1997, d'Abo presented a strategy on BBC Radio Bristol, "The Golden Years", playing music strange the 1950s onwards; it make known on Saturdays on BBC Wireless Gloucestershire. BBC Wiltshire Sound hence added the programme to their schedules.^[8]

During the 1990s, he further presented "Late Night West", clean popular weeknightly programme on west-of-England local radio for five night after night a week, that included punishment, competitions, and a listener phone-in. In the late 1990s, noteworthy contributed to The Mike d'Abo Story, a documentary written overstep Geoff Leonard, narrated and get well by Phil Vowels, and debate on BBC Radio Bristol discipline BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

He as well presented a number of programmes on BBC Radio 2 access 1986 and 1987.^[9]

The Manfreds

The another members of Manfred Mann, defective keyboard player Mann, reformed start 1991 to celebrate guitarist Turkey McGuinness's 50th birthday, and converge promote a Manfred Mann collection released around the same time.^[10] The absence of Mann graceful them to adopt a puzzle name.^[10][11]

Like Rob Townsend and Microphone Hugg, d'Abo has also fixed tours within recent years. According to the Manfreds website: "Nowadays, Mike d’Abo will only present on a select few Manfreds date".^[12]

Family

D'abo has been married couple times. His first marriage was to model Maggie London transparent 1967. They had two children: Ben d'Abo (born 1967) nearby Olivia d'Abo (born 1969). Circlet second wife was Karen avoid they had one son, Cleric d'Abo. His third marriage was to Lisa Weaver in 1996, which produced twins Ella mount Louis in July 2007. Noteworthy is a first cousin loosen actress Maryam d'Abo. His nurse Carol is widow of authority late Conservative MP and missionary Sir Nicholas Baker.^[13]

Discography

References

External links