Who is Michael Snow?
Born and raised in Liverpool, England, the son of Irish immigrants, Michael Snow began his professional music career in 1962 with the Merseybeat group The Barons, who recorded for Parlophone/EMI.
Moving to London in 1964, he joined West Five, scoring a chart hit with the early Jagger / Richards composition "Congratulations," after which his Irish roots showed briefly in a six-month stint with the prominent showband from Waterford, The Blue Aces (HMV Records).
As a London resident, Michael established himself as a freelance touring pianist/musical director with visiting R&B stars such as Doris Troy, Edwin Starr, Ben E. King, and The Checkmates.
Michael joined The Checkmates as a full member in 1966, helping the band's transition to mainstream rock acceptance under their new name Ferris Wheel. Having tasted songwriting success composing Marmalade's first hit "Can't Stop Now" (CBS), he became chief writer/arranger on a string of popular European releases from Ferris Wheel, retiring from the band in 1969 to pursue songwriting and studio session work, while also serving as a music publishing manager for the world renowned Robert Stigwood Organization. During his period he contributed to works by, most notably, Dusty Springfield, Lulu, P.J. Proby, Badfinger, and a career highlight John Lennon's "Power to the People" (Plastic Ono Band.)
Moving to London in 1964, he joined West Five, scoring a chart hit with the early Jagger / Richards composition "Congratulations," after which his Irish roots showed briefly in a six-month stint with the prominent showband from Waterford, The Blue Aces (HMV Records).
As a London resident, Michael established himself as a freelance touring pianist/musical director with visiting R&B stars such as Doris Troy, Edwin Starr, Ben E. King, and The Checkmates.
Michael joined The Checkmates as a full member in 1966, helping the band's transition to mainstream rock acceptance under their new name Ferris Wheel. Having tasted songwriting success composing Marmalade's first hit "Can't Stop Now" (CBS), he became chief writer/arranger on a string of popular European releases from Ferris Wheel, retiring from the band in 1969 to pursue songwriting and studio session work, while also serving as a music publishing manager for the world renowned Robert Stigwood Organization. During his period he contributed to works by, most notably, Dusty Springfield, Lulu, P.J. Proby, Badfinger, and a career highlight John Lennon's "Power to the People" (Plastic Ono Band.)
1970 brought international success as a writer of "Rosetta."
"Rosetta" was a number one hit in nine countries in its original recording by Georgie Fame and Alan Price (CBS). "Rosetta" won the 1971 Ivor Novello Award (UK's Grammy), and was followed by numerous cover versions of the now classic tune, translated into nine languages.
|
Alan Price, Michael Snow, Georgie Fame
|
1971-72 saw a return to concert work for Michael Snow with a 60-date tour as pianist with Chuck Berry, appearing on the much sought-after bootleg "Six Two Five," and his Chess single "South of the Border." Michael also served as pianist and orchestra conductor on the solo debut tour of ex-Zombies lead singer Colin Blunstone, and also contributed to Colin's career highlight album "Ennismore" (CBS) Reuniting with soul music legend Doris Troy, he worked on her George Harrison-produced album "Doris Troy" (Apple Records) and her subsequent live concert album "The Rainbow Testament." In 1973, Michael moved stateside, settling in Nashville, Tennessee, where he pursued songwriting, record production and stints as a publishing executive. During this period, his songs were recorded by Ray Stevens, Earl Scruggs, and Julie Andrews. At the same time, Michael Snow managed publishing for the legendary Bobby Russell ("Honey," "Little Green Apples," etc).
(left to right) Clive Gregson, Michael Snow, Dennis Locorriere
In 1986, Michael re-established his collaboration with Dr. Hook lead singer/songwriter Dennis Locorriere (pictured above), and opened his own recording studio and wholly-owned publishing company, Irish Eyes Music. A long standing friendship with fellow Brit and guitar ace Ray Flacke (of the Ricky Skaggs Band and studio fame) led to Michael co-writing and co-producing Ray's 1990 solo instrumental album "Untitled Island" (Intersound).
In the Nineties, Michael returned more and more to his Irish roots, collaborating with members of the Brady Family both in concert and in the studio, producing County Tyrone songstress Elizabeth Reed, and leading the 8-piece contemporary Celtic band Ceolta Nua along with Elizabeth, Nanci Griffith drummer Patrick McInerney, and the cream of Nashville's young Celtic/American musicians. Michael's expertise on bodhran, accordion, tenor banjo and vocals was utilized to add the Celtic flavor to recordings by Robert Earl Keene, Gloria Loring, Canada's Leslie Schatz, Nashville folk artist Adie Grey, Cathryn Craig, (whose album "Porch Songs" was voted one of the top five country albums in Britain for 1996-97), contemporary Christian star Michael Card, and the acclaimed CD "Celtic Passion = The Music of Roy Orbison." Michael contributed six co-writes with Brian Willoughby to the Strawbs' lead guitarist's 1999 solo album "Black and White" (P.Y.O. Records), collaborated with Gloria Loring on "Invited To The Dance" for her CD "Turn the Page (Silk Purse Records), and rounded out the decade with a Locorriere/Snow tune (I Think I'm In Love) on the gold record "Dr. Hook-Love Songs" (EMI).
In 2000, Michael released "Here Comes the Skelly" (Irish Eye Records), the first volume of a trilogy reflecting the Liverpool/Irish experience in musical terms. Snow teamed with Dennis Locorriere in Dennis' long awaited solo debut "Out of the Dark" (Track/East-West) which featured several Locorriere/Snow songs...and there was a spate of reissue activity. Sequel Records (U.K.) gathered all of Michael's mid-sixties output on Pye Records with Ferris Wheel and released the CD "Can't Break the Habit", and Rev-Ola reissued the ground-breaking power-pop precursor "Yes It Is" by Rockin' Horse, complete with singles, b-sides, and outtakes, all remastered from the original tapes.
2001 saw the release of Volume II of The Skelly Trilogy "The Rats and the Rosary" (Irish Eye Records) to universal critical acclaim.
2001 saw the release of Volume II of The Skelly Trilogy "The Rats and the Rosary" (Irish Eye Records) to universal critical acclaim.
Although immersed in the completion of the Trilogy during 2002, Michael also co-produced, M.D.'d and played bass and Hammond B3 on the album "Reckless Johnny Wales." Pictured left to right are Jeffrey "Skunk" Baxter (of Steely Dan and Doobie Brothers fame), Reckless himself, Michael and Pat McInerney.
The final chapter of the Skelly Trilogy "Never Say No To A Jar" (Irish Eye/IGO Records) was released June 9, 2003, and was nominated for FolkWax Album of the Year... And one thing leads to another....
The final chapter of the Skelly Trilogy "Never Say No To A Jar" (Irish Eye/IGO Records) was released June 9, 2003, and was nominated for FolkWax Album of the Year... And one thing leads to another....