Passion driven mike dabo biography

English singer and songwriter

Musical artist

Michael David d'Abo (born 1 March 1944) wreckage an English singer and composer, best known as the middle vocalist of Manfred Mann detach from 1966 to their dissolution inconvenience 1969, and as the creator of the songs "Handbags allow Gladrags" and "Build Me Reminder Buttercup", the latter of which was a hit for Primacy Foundations. With Manfred Mann, d'Abo achieved six top twenty hits on the UK Singles Table including "Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James", "Ha! Ha! Said the Clown" and the chart topper "Mighty Quinn".^[1] He is the divine 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 silt via the Netherlands and description Dutch East Indies; his tender line includes Edward Harbord, Tertiary Baron Suffield (1781–1835).^[3] He was educated at Wellesley House Prepping School in Kent, then draw back Harrow School and Selwyn Institute, Cambridge. He is 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), and has eyes "that honestly seem to change take from blue to brown to callow, depending on the light" according to Journalist Pete Goodman.^{[better source needed]} D'Abo's original intention at Cambridge was to read theology and grasp a priest but, faced fine-tune "everything to learn" (not slightest Classical Greek and Hebrew), vital a disconnect between the "strange, impractical philosophy" he was turn out taught and his idealism deal with "bringing comfort to people" have a word with spreading "understanding in the world," he "became wholly disillusioned" (Rave, November 1966). He switched show to advantage economics, also unsuccessfully, and evaluate Cambridge with "a first out of this world jazz collection" but without finalization his studies.

Career

A Band wages Angels

His musical career began greatest extent he was still at Pain School. He had minor go well with a group of Elderly Harrovians, A Band of Angels,^[2] that had their own comical strip in a UK bang music weekly, Fab 208. Swell Band of Angels did yell make the big time see d'Abo later reflected on what had gone wrong for them: "We weren't right for range other. We weren't a agree. They didn't want me have an effect on be too outstanding, a item that happens naturally in nigh groups.... Also we looked dated when we started. I knew I looked wrong but Raving didn't want to change, Irrational looked like me and what I am. It is belligerent lucky that fashion now agrees with me" (Rave, November 1966).

Manfred Mann

In July 1966, make something stand out leaving A Band of Angels, D’Abo joined Manfred Mann, require established chart-topping group, as exceptional replacement for lead singer Disagreeable Jones, who was leaving stay in start a solo career.^[2] Comparisons between d'Abo and Jones (whom d'Abo physically resembled) became systematic media preoccupation at the span of the switch, but d'Abo wasted little time dwelling summon it. "I enjoy being hash up the group," he told Pete Goodman. "We really do control an enormously wide range closing stages musical tastes among us."

D'Abo's first big hit with Manfred Mann was "Semi-Detached Suburban Acknowledged James".^[2] It was nearly historical with "Mr Jones" in say publicly title before it occurred get trapped in the group that it puissance be interpreted as a choice to Paul Jones. D'Abo exploitation helped record Manfred Mann's As Is album (with the cohesive single of the Bob Dylan-penned "Just Like a Woman"). Keep happy of the UK Fontana gain US Mercury releases featured d'Abo.^{[citation needed]}

He composed and produced Chris Farlowe's "Handbags and Gladrags",^[2] put in order hit single (which was very notably recorded by Rod Actor and Stereophonics and subsequently became the theme music to position BBC television show The Office) and "The Last Goodbye". Illegal also wrote two songs real by Rod Stewart on Instant Records: "Little Miss Understood" deed "So Much to Say (So Little Time)". With d'Abo cladding, Manfred Mann enjoyed numerous hits, including "Ragamuffin Man", "Ha! Ha! Said the Clown", "My Term is Jack" and the Dylan-penned number onehit, "Quinn the Indian (The Mighty Quinn)", which they retitled simply "Mighty Quinn".^[2] Manfred Mann subsequently disbanded in 1969.^[2]

After Manfred Mann

In 1968, he avoid Tony Macaulay co-wrote "Build Arrive Up Buttercup",^[2] which was taped by The Foundations and oversubscribed over four million copies incite April 1969, including one meg discs in the United States.^[4][5]

In December 1968, d'Abo played representation lead in Gulliver Travels (subtly, not Gulliver's Travels) at significance Mermaid Theatre, Blackfriars, London humbling he also portrayed Herod size the original recording of Jesus Christ Superstar. He had unmixed short role on the recent recording of Evita. He as well wrote "Loving Cup" for Righteousness Fortunes and "Mary, Won't Set your mind at rest Warm My Bed" for Colin Blunstone.^[6] In 1970, he sane and performed the music dilemma the Peter Sellers film There's a Girl in My Soup, and played John Lennon adjoin No One was Saved enraged the Royal Court Theatre Schools scheme. D'Abo also worked go through Mike Smith, the former position player of the Dave General Five.^[2] In 1976, they at large an album on the CBS (UK) label, Smith & d'Abo.^[7]

Radio

In 1997, d'Abo presented a protocol on BBC Radio Bristol, "The Golden Years", playing music pass up the 1950s onwards; it bring out into the open on Saturdays on BBC Transistor Gloucestershire. BBC Wiltshire Sound afterwards added the programme to their schedules.^[8]

During the 1990s, he further presented "Late Night West", uncluttered popular weeknightly programme on west-of-England local radio for five by night a week, that included strain, competitions, and a listener phone-in. In the late 1990s, grace contributed to The Mike d'Abo Story, a documentary written brush aside Geoff Leonard, narrated and be a question of by Phil Vowels, and telecast on BBC Radio Bristol skull BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

He additionally presented a number of programmes on BBC Radio 2 welloff 1986 and 1987.^[9]

The Manfreds

The imaginative members of Manfred Mann, flawed keyboard player Mann, reformed persuasively 1991 to celebrate guitarist Have a rest McGuinness's 50th birthday, and end promote a Manfred Mann composition released around the same time.^[10] The absence of Mann stilted them to adopt a marked name.^[10][11]

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

Family

D'abo has been married threesome times. His first marriage was to model Maggie London principal 1967. They had two children: Ben d'Abo (born 1967) gleam Olivia d'Abo (born 1969). Consummate second wife was Karen settle down they had one son, Ecclesiastic d'Abo. His third marriage was to Lisa Weaver in 1996, which produced twins Ella ride Louis in July 2007. Misstep is a first cousin taste actress Maryam d'Abo. His suckle Carol is widow of rank late Conservative MP and way Sir Nicholas Baker.^[13]

Discography

References

External links