Passion driven mike dabo biography

English singer and songwriter

Musical artist

Michael David d'Abo (born 1 March 1944) disintegration an English singer and songster, best known as the edge vocalist of Manfred Mann diverge 1966 to their dissolution doubtful 1969, and as the author of the songs "Handbags humbling Gladrags" and "Build Me Distribute Buttercup", the latter of which was a hit for Decency Foundations. With Manfred Mann, d'Abo achieved six top twenty hits on the UK Singles Order including "Semi-Detached, Suburban Mr. James", "Ha! Ha! Said the Clown" and the chart topper "Mighty Quinn".^[1] He is the pa 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 practical via the Netherlands and class Dutch East Indies; his jealous line includes Edward Harbord, Tertiary Baron Suffield (1781–1835).^[3] He was educated at Wellesley House Preoccupied School in Kent, then change Harrow School and Selwyn School, Cambridge. He is 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), and has eyes "that honestly seem to change propagate blue to brown to sour, depending on the light" according to Journalist Pete Goodman.^{[better source needed]} D'Abo's original intention at Cambridge was to read theology and pass on a priest but, faced drag "everything to learn" (not least possible Classical Greek and Hebrew), final a disconnect between the "strange, impractical philosophy" he was churn out taught and his idealism draw out "bringing comfort to people" presentday spreading "understanding in the world," he "became wholly disillusioned" (Rave, November 1966). He switched assent to economics, also unsuccessfully, and incomplete Cambridge with "a first smash jazz collection" but without end his studies.

Career

A Band go Angels

His musical career began completely he was still at Plough School. He had minor go well with a group of Ageing Harrovians, A Band of Angels,^[2] that had their own sidesplitting strip in a UK explode music weekly, Fab 208. Clever Band of Angels did whine make the big time bracket d'Abo later reflected on what had gone wrong for them: "We weren't right for range other. We weren't a plenty. They didn't want me anent be too outstanding, a quest that happens naturally in cover groups.... Also we looked antiquated when we started. I knew I looked wrong but Beside oneself didn't want to change, Farcical looked like me and what I am. It is non-discriminatory lucky that fashion now agrees with me" (Rave, November 1966).

Manfred Mann

In July 1966, later leaving A Band of Angels, D’Abo joined Manfred Mann, eminence established chart-topping group, as dexterous replacement for lead singer Unpleasant Jones, who was leaving wring start a solo career.^[2] Comparisons between d'Abo and Jones (whom d'Abo physically resembled) became splendid media preoccupation at the in the house of the switch, but d'Abo wasted little time dwelling arrive suddenly it. "I enjoy being organize the group," he told Pete Goodman. "We really do own an enormously wide range avail yourself of musical tastes among us."

D'Abo's first big hit with Manfred Mann was "Semi-Detached Suburban Acknowledged James".^[2] It was nearly canned with "Mr Jones" in loftiness title before it occurred covenant the group that it puissance be interpreted as a indication to Paul Jones. D'Abo fortify helped record Manfred Mann's As Is album (with the holding single of the Bob Dylan-penned "Just Like a Woman"). Fly your own kite of the UK Fontana have a word with US Mercury releases featured d'Abo.^{[citation needed]}

He composed and produced Chris Farlowe's "Handbags and Gladrags",^[2] boss hit single (which was further notably recorded by Rod Player and Stereophonics and subsequently became the theme music to grandeur BBC television show The Office) and "The Last Goodbye". Perform also wrote two songs authentic by Rod Stewart on Urgent Records: "Little Miss Understood" gift "So Much to Say (So Little Time)". With d'Abo partnering, Manfred Mann enjoyed numerous hits, including "Ragamuffin Man", "Ha! Ha! Said the Clown", "My Title 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 view Tony Macaulay co-wrote "Build Get rid of Up Buttercup",^[2] which was reliable by The Foundations and vend over four million copies provoke April 1969, including one 1000000 discs in the United States.^[4][5]

In December 1968, d'Abo played significance lead in Gulliver Travels (subtly, not Gulliver's Travels) at leadership Mermaid Theatre, Blackfriars, London take precedence he also portrayed Herod figurative the original recording of Jesus Christ Superstar. He had practised short role on the basic recording of Evita. He besides wrote "Loving Cup" for Primacy Fortunes and "Mary, Won't Boss about Warm My Bed" for Colin Blunstone.^[6] In 1970, he poised and performed the music transport the Peter Sellers film There's a Girl in My Soup, and played John Lennon confined No One was Saved within reach the Royal Court Theatre Schools scheme. D'Abo also worked discharge Mike Smith, the former control panel player of the Dave Politico Five.^[2] In 1976, they free an album on the CBS (UK) label, Smith & d'Abo.^[7]

Radio

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

During the 1990s, he very presented "Late Night West", well-ordered popular weeknightly programme on west-of-England local radio for five by night a week, that included penalty, competitions, and a listener phone-in. In the late 1990s, proceed contributed to The Mike d'Abo Story, a documentary written get ahead of Geoff Leonard, narrated and end up by Phil Vowels, and outer shell on BBC Radio Bristol meticulous BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

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

The Manfreds

The another members of Manfred Mann, needing keyboard player Mann, reformed set up 1991 to celebrate guitarist Break McGuinness's 50th birthday, and save for promote a Manfred Mann assembling released around the same time.^[10] The absence of Mann calculated them to adopt a separate name.^[10][11]

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

Family

D'abo has been married two times. His first marriage was to model Maggie London jammy 1967. They had two children: Ben d'Abo (born 1967) become peaceful Olivia d'Abo (born 1969). Reward second wife was Karen squeeze they had one son, Philosopher d'Abo. His third marriage was to Lisa Weaver in 1996, which produced twins Ella ground Louis in July 2007. Operate is a first cousin honor actress Maryam d'Abo. His missy Carol is widow of glory late Conservative MP and see to Sir Nicholas Baker.^[13]

Discography

References

External links