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Biography
Infobox musical artist| | name = Georgie Fame| image = Georgie Fame 2009.jpg| caption = Fame playing with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings in 2009 Photo: Jacco Barth| image_size =| background = solo_singer| birth_name = Clive Powell| alias =| birth_date = Birth date and age|1943|6|26|df=y|birth_place = Leigh, Greater Manchester|Leigh , Lancashire England | death_date =| instrument = Singing|Vocals , piano , keyboard instrument|keyboards | genre = rhythm and blues|R& B , jazz | occupation = Musician , musical director | years_active = 1959–present| label = Columbia Graphophone Company|Columbia , Polydor | associated_acts = Blue Flames Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames Alan Price Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings Van Morrison | notable_instruments = Hammond organ , piano Extra music sample| Type = single | filename = Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames Do The Dog excerpt.ogg | format = Ogg | title = "Do The Dog" Georgie Fame (born Clive Powell , 26 June 1943, Leigh, Greater Manchester|Leigh , Lancashire ) is a United Kingdom|British rhythm and blues and jazz singing|singer and Keyboard instrument|keyboard player. The one-time rock and roll tour musician, who had a string of 1960s hit record|hits , is still a popular performer, often working with contemporaries such as Van Morrison and Bill Wyman .cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 194
Biography
Early life
Fame took piano lessons from the age of seven and after leaving Leigh Central County Secondary School at 15, he worked for a brief period in a cotton weaving mill and played piano for a band called The Dominoes in the evenings. After taking part in a singing contest at the Butlins|Butlins Holiday Camp in Pwllheli , North Wales he was offered a job there by the band leader, early British rock'n'roll star Rory Blackwell .
At sixteen years of age, Fame went to London and, on the recommendation of Lionel Bart , entered into a management agreement with Larry Parnes , who had given new stage names to such artists as Marty Wilde and Billy Fury . Fame later recalled that Parnes had given him an ultimatum over his forced change of name:
cquote|It was very much against my will but he said, "If you don't use my name, I won't use you in the show".Rudland, D. (2010), CD booklet notes to Georgie Fame: Mod Classics 1964–1966, Ace Records , CDBGPD 206 Over the following year he toured the UK playing beside Wilde, Joe Brown (singer)|Joe Brown , Gene Vincent , Eddie Cochran and others. Fame played piano for Billy Fury in his backing band The Blue Flames. When the backing band got the sack at the end of 1961, the band were re-billed as "Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames" and went on to enjoy great success with a repertoire largely of rhythm and blues numbers.
The Blue Flames
Main|Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames Fame was influenced from early on by jazz and such blues musicians as Willie Mabon and Mose Allison , and was one of the first white artists to be influenced by the ska music he heard in Jamaican cafes in and around Ladbroke Grove . Black American soldiers who visited the Flamingo Club (London)|Flamingo Club , where the band had a three-year residency, would play him the latest jazz and blues releases from America, "Midnight Special" by Jimmy Smith (musician)|Jimmy Smith , "Grooving With Jug" by Gene Ammons and Richard "Groove" Holmes , and " Green Onions " by Booker T. & the M.G.'s . Fame Later recalled;
cquote|.. it was a great place to play, a midnight to 6am thing on Fridays and Saturdays, and it was full of American GIs who came in from their bases for the weekend. They brought records with them and one of them gave me "Green Onions" by Booker T & the MG's. I had been playing piano up to that point but I bought a Hammond organ the next day." http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/rik-gunnell-454967.html Rik Gunnell, Club owner and impresario: obituary by Spencer Leigh at independent.co.uk In August 1963 the band took a weekly Friday night spot at "The Scene" on Great Windmill Street . In September 1963 the band recorded its debut album Rhythm And Blues At the Flamingo live at the Flamingo Club. Produced by Ian Samwell, who had previously played with Cliff Richard , and engineered by Glyn Johns ,Johnny Gunnell, cover liner notes on Rhythm And Blues At the Flamingo , Polydor RSO, SPELP80. the album was released, in place of a planned single, on the EMI Columbia Graphophone Company|Columbia label. It failed to reach the chart but the October 1964 follow-up Fame At Last achieved No. 15 on the UK album chart. In 1964 Fame and the band appeared on five episodes of ITV 's Ready Steady Go! . http://www99.epinions.com/content_4093812868 THE BALLAD OF BONNIE AND CLYDE – GEORGIE FAME & THE BLUE FLAMES at epinions.com
When Ronan O'Rahilly , who then managed him, could not get Fame's first record played by the BBC http://www.offshoreechos.com/Caroline%2060/Radio%20Caroline%20-%20The%2060s%20Chapter%2004.htm Radio Caroline Story - the 60s OFFSHORE ECHOS and was also turned down by Radio Luxembourg (English)|Radio Luxembourg , he announced he would start his own radio station in order to promote the record. http://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/history2.asp Don't Get Mad, Get Even History of Radio Caroline The station became the offshore pirate radio station, Radio Caroline . http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2939411 The Offshore Radio Revolution in Britain 1964–2004 Created: 31 August 2004 - Published by the H2G2
Later Fame enjoyed regular chart success with singles, having three Top 40|Top 10 hits, which all made number one in the UK Singles Chart . His version of " Yeh Yeh ", released on 14 January 1965, spent two weeks at No. 1 on the UK singles chart and a total of 12 weeks on the chart. The following-up single, in 1965, was "In The Meantine" which also charted in both UK and US. Fame made his US television debut that same year on the NBCHullabaloo (TV series)|Hullabaloo series. Fame's single " Getaway (Georgie Fame song)|Get Away ", released on 21 July 1966, spent one week at No. 1 on the UK chart and 11 weeks on the chart in total. The song, originally recorded with a view to using it as a television jingle for a petrol advertisement, was later used as the theme tune for a quiz show on Australian television. At this point Fame disbanded his band and went solo.
Solo
Fames' version of the Bobby Hebb song " Sunny (song)|Sunny " made No. 13 in the UK charts in September 1966. http://www.45-rpm.org.uk/dirg/georgief.htm Georgie Fame at 45-rpm.org.uk The follow-up, "Sitting In The Park", made No. 12. His greatest chart success was " The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde " in 1967, which was a number one chart-topper|hit in the United Kingdom , and No.7 in the United States . "Yeh Yeh" and "The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde" sold over one million copies, and were awarded music recording sales certification|gold discs .cite book | first= Joseph | last= Murrells | year= 1978 | title= The Book of Golden Discs | edition= 2nd | publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd | location= London | pages= 174 & 220 | isbn= 0-214-20512-6
Price of Fame
Fame continued playing into the 1970s, having a hit, "Rosetta", with his close friend Alan Price , ex-keyboard player of The Animals , in 1971, and they worked together extensively for a time. In 1974, Fame reformed the Blue Flames and also began to sing with Europe's finest orchestras and big bands, a musical tradition he still currently pursues. During the 1970s, he also wrote jingles for several UK radio and TV commercials, and composed the music for the feature films Entertaining Mr Sloane (film)|Entertaining Mr Sloane and The Alf Garnett Saga (1972).
Recent work
Fame has collaborated with some of the most successful performers in the world of popular music. He has been a core member of Van Morrison|Van Morrison's band, as well as his musical record producer|producer . Fame also played keyboards and sang harmony vocals on such tracks as "In the Days before Rock 'n' Roll" from the album Enlightenment (Van Morrison album)|Enlightenment , whilst still sound recording and reproduction|recording and touring as an musician|artist in his own right. Fame played organ on all of the Van Morrison albums between 1989 and 1997, and starred at Terry Dillon's 60th birthday party on 10 May 2008. Morrison refers to Fame in the line "I don't run into Mr. Clive" in his song "Don't Go to Nightclubs Anymore" featured on the 2008 Keep It Simple album. Fame appeared as a special guest on Morrison's television concert show presented by BBC Four series on 25 April and 27 April 2008.
Fame was also founding member of friend Bill Wyman 's early band Rhythm Kings, touring with the band. He has also worked with Count Basie , Eric Clapton , Muddy Waters , Joan Armatrading and The Verve . Georgie Fame - information on music collaborations including Motown Review http://www.thepoint-online.co.uk/thepoint-702 Retrieved 01/09/07
Fame has frequently played residences at jazz clubs, such as Ronnie Scott|Ronnie Scott's . He has also played organ on Starclub|Starclub's album. He was the headline act on the Sunday night at the Jazz World stage at the Glastonbury Festival 2009|2009 Glastonbury Festival , this following a headline gig the night before at the "Midsummer Music @ Spencers" festival in Essex. http://www.spencersgarden.net/event.php Georgie Fame plays MM@S 09
On 18 April 2010, Fame, together with his two sons Tristan Powell (guitar) and James Powell (drums), performed at the Live Room at Twickenham Stadium , http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/yoursay/news/8107213.Yeh_Yeh_Georgie_Fame_at_the_Live_Room/ Yeh Yeh Georgie Fame at the Live Room at Richmond and Twickenham Times.co.uk as part of the 10th birthday celebrations of "The Eel Pie Club". http://www.eelpieclub.com Eelpieclub.com Part of the proceeds from the concert will benefit The Otakar Kraus Trust, which provides music and voice therapy for children and young people with physical and mental difficulties. http://www.okmtrust.co.uk Okmtrust.co.uk The trio performed later that same year at the opening night at Towersey Festival. http://www.towerseyfestival.com/WhatsOn/Artists/The_Georgie_Fame_Band.html Georgie Fame in concert at towerseyfestival.com
Fame has made several albums on his own Three Line Whip label since the late 1990s, mostly new original compositions with a jazz/R& B framework.
Personal life
In 1972, Fame married Nicolette (née Harrison), Marchioness of Londonderry, the former wife of the Alexander Charles Robert Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 9th Marquess of Londonderry|9th Marquess . Lady Londonderry already had given birth to one of Fame's children during marriage to the marquess; the child, Tristan, bore the courtesy title Viscount Castlereagh and was believed to be heir to the marquessate. When tests determined that the child was actually Fame's, the Londonderrys divorced. The couple had one son, James, after their marriage. Nicolette Powell died on 13 August 1993, after jumping off the Clifton Suspension Bridge .cite web | url= http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/high-society-whatever-happened-to-the-last-of-the-debs-417273.html | publisher= The Independent | first= Liz | last= Hoggard | title= High Society: Whatever happened to the last of the debs? | date= 24 September 2006 | accessdate= 13 February 2009
Views and advocacy
Fame is a supporter of the Countryside Alliance and has played concerts to raise funds for the organisation,cite web | url= http://www.roxyrama.com/classic/cgi-bin/2006/cginews.cgi? record=41 | title= Bryan Ferry to play Countryside Alliance Benefit Concert and a supporter of The Otakar Kraus Music Trust.
Discography
Singles
"Do the Dog"/"Shop Around" (January 1964) Columbia Graphophone Company|Columbia DB 7193
"Do Re Mi"/"Green Onions" (Apr 1964) Columbia DB 7255
"Bend a Little"/"I'm In Love With You" (Jul 1964) Columbia DB 7328
" Yeh Yeh "/"Preach And Teach" (Dec 1964) Columbia DB 7428
"In the Meantime"/"Telegram" (Mar 1965) Columbia DB 7494
"Like We Used to Be"/"It Ain't Right" (Jul 1965) Columbia DB 7328
"Something" (Oct 1965) Columbia DB 7727
" Getaway (Georgie Fame song)|Get Away " (Jun 1966) Columbia DB 7946
" Sunny (song)|Sunny " (Sep 1966) Columbia DB 8015
"Sitting in the Park" (Dec 1966) Columbia DB 8096
"Because I Love You" (1967)
"Try My World" (1967)
" The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde " (1967) Columbia Records|CBS CBS 3124
"Peaceful" (1969) CBS 4295
"Seventh Son" (1969)
"Somebody Stole Ny Thunder" / " Entertaining Mr Sloane (film)|Entertaining Mr. Sloane " (1970) CBS 5035
"Rosetta" (with Alan Price ) (1971)
"Ali Shuffle" (1974)
"Yes Honestly" (1976)
"Sweet Perfection" (1976)
"New York Afternoon" (1986) ( Mondo Kane feat Georgie Fame, produced by Stock Aitken Waterman )
"That's Life" (with Van Morrison ) (1996)
EPs
"Rhythm & Blue-Beat" (1964) Columbia SEG 8334
"Fame At Last" (1964) Columbia SEG 8393
Albums
Rhythm and Blues at the Flamingo (1964) Columbia 33SX 1599
Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison (1996)
''Name Droppin': Live at Ronnie Scott's, Vol. 1 (1997)
''Walkin' Wounded: Live at Ronnie Scott's, Vol. 2 (1998)
Endangered Species with The Danish Radio Big Band (recorded 1993, released 1999)
Poet in New York (2000)
Relationships (2001)
The Birthday Big Band (1998 55th birthday concert) (2007)
Charleston (2007)
''Tone-Wheels 'A' Turnin (2009)
Compilation albums
Hall of Fame (1967)
Fame Again (1979)
On the Right Track: Beat, Ballad and Blues (1992)
The Very Best of Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames (1998)
Funny How Time Slips Away (2001)
Somebody Stole My Thunder: 1967–1971 (2007)
Georgie Fame: Mod Classics 1964–1966 (2010) Ace Records (UK)|Ace Records (CDBGPD 206)
References
Reflist
External links
commonscat|Georgie Fame
Allmusic|class=artist|id=georgie-fame-p4229/biography|pure_url=yes Georgie Fame biography, Steve Huey, AllMusic
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=F0to4Kpa86A& NR=1& feature=fvwp "The Entertainers: Georgie Fame", on Grampian Television , broadcast 28 May 1979, at youtube.com
Persondata | NAME =Fame, Georgie | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =26 June 1943 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Leigh, Greater Manchester|Leigh , Lancashire England | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Fame, Georgie Category:1943 births Category:Living people Category:English male singers Category:English jazz organists Category:English jazz pianists Category:Imperial Records artists Category:Epic Records artists Category:People from Leigh, Greater Manchester Category:Van Morrison Category:British rhythm and blues boom musicians Category:Island Records artists Category:RSO Records artists
