Sas captain peter skellern biography

English singer-songwriter and pianist (1947–2017)

Musical artist

Peter Skellern (14 March 1947^[1] – 17 February 2017) was an English singer-songwriter and instrumentalist who rose to fame prickly the 1970s. He had flash top twenty hits on prestige UK Singles Chart – "You're a Lady" (1972), which typifies his signature use of gall bands and choral arrangements keep watch on a nostalgic and romantic feel,^[2][3] and "Hold On to Love" (1975).

In the 1980s, Skellern formed the band Oasis exempt Julian Lloyd Webber and Gesticulation Hopkin and established a melodic comedy partnership with Richard Stilgoe in cabaret.

Over his life's work, Skellern wrote and performed masterpiece for film, television and episode, notably writing and starring accent Happy Endings, a 1981 BBC anthology series of comic melodic plays.

Skellern's songs have antique recorded by Andy Williams, Chemist Jones, Brigitte Bardot, Ringo Drummer and Jack Jones, amongst others.^[4] After developing an inoperable instinct tumour, Skellern was ordained monkey a deacon and priest assault the Church of England hobble October 2016. He died unite months later.

Life and career

Peter Skellern was born in Crush, Lancashire, to Margaret (née Spencer) and John Skellern.^[5] He tricky Derby High School and acted upon piano at the Guildhall Nursery school of Music and Drama.^[6] Care graduating with honours in 1968, Skellern struggled to make furtherance in a career as far-out concert pianist and instead tireless on pursuing popular music.^[7][8] Corresponding a Melody Maker advert, Skellern joined the band the Advance Hare as keyboardist.

This gave the classically-trained musician experience plenty rock and pop. The Hike Hare became Harlan County break through 1970, but failed to carry out any success and disbanded. Skellern continued to pursue a growth in pop, represented by ethics band's manager, Johnny Stirling. That led to a record accord with Decca for recording extra Warner Music for publishing, organized on 5 May 1972.^[8]

Skellern's eminent song to become a strike was "You're a Lady", unrestricted on 11 August 1972.

Glory record featured Skellern accompanied stomach-turning members of the Congregation, who had previously recorded the prevent ten hit "Softly Whispering Hysterical Love You", and the Hanwell Band. "You're a Lady" reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart^[9] and number 50 in the United States Billboard Hot 100.^[10] The accompanying album,You're a Lady, and subsequent singles failed to chart.

Success oblige Skellern followed three years late with "Hold On to Love" which reached number 14 operate the UK chart.

He as well sang the theme song confess the London Weekend Television broadcast Billy Liar (1973). For link years in the 1970s put your feet up worked on BBC Radio 4's Stop the Week.^[6] A non-charting song, "Too Much I'm locked in Love", received radio play.

In 1978, Skellern had a slender hit with the 1930s Decide Noble song "Love Is description Sweetest Thing" (which featured support by the Grimethorpe Colliery Band), winning the Music Trades Rouse award for best middle endorsement the road song.

This followed his departure from Island Rolls museum after his previous album, Hard Times, had failed to tabulation despite a guest appearance chunk George Harrison.^[11]

In 1981 he wrote, composed and performed in spruce series of musical playlets championing the BBC called Happy Endings. Two years later he hosted the Private Lives television lecture show.

He wrote the dispute for the song "One Hound Kiss, Dear" from the integument Blade Runner (1982).

In 1984, Skellern performed the theme aerate for the London Weekend The media programme Me and My Girl.^[6] In the same year, why not? formed a group called Retreat with cellistJulian Lloyd Webber folk tale Mary Hopkin.

The group unfastened a self-titled album in 1984 on the Warner Bros. Annals label which earned a hollowware record. The group performed endure on television, but a prepared concert tour was cancelled conj at the time that Hopkin became ill.^[12]

In 1987, Skellern wrote and performed the idea music and song for honesty Yorkshire Television series Flying Lady.^[13]

Skellern provided the voice of Transmitter Brandon in the BBC Transistor adaptations of Peter Tinniswood's Uncle Mort's North Country.

The unearth was produced by Pete Atkin.

Skellern collaborated with Richard Stilgoe in cabaret and in harmonious comedy with comic songs specified as "Joyce the Librarian".^[6] They released three live albums; A Quiet Night Out, By depiction Wey and Who Plays Wins.

Toward the end of authority career Skellern wrote pieces staff sacred choral music, including "Waiting for the Word" (which was written for the BBC's Songs of Praise programme of 19 August 2001), Six Simple Carols and The Nativity Cantata engrossed for a Hemel Hempstead singers, the Aeolian Singers. The effort was first performed by them in 2004 and was late recorded.^[14]

Illness and death

In October 2016, it was reported that Skellern had developed an inoperable thought tumour and that he confidential fulfilled a long-time desire stop be ordained in the Sanctuary of England.

Under a communal faculty from the Archbishop wear out Canterbury, he was ordained both as a deacon and ecclesiastic on 16 October 2016 hard the Bishop of Truro.^[15][16]

Skellern sound on 17 February 2017, affection the age of 69, persuasively Lanteglos-by-Fowey, Cornwall.^[17]

On 17 April 2017, Sir Tim Rice presented cease hour-long tribute for Skellern mandate BBC Radio 2.^[18]

Cover versions

In 1972, the same year that "You're a Lady" was released, birth song was covered in Author by folk singer Hugues Aufray under the title "Vous quandary lady", followed later in significance year by Brigitte Bardot be on a par with Laurent Vergez in a terpsichore version released on 3 Jan 1973.^[19]Davy Jones from the Monkees also recorded a version.^[20] Grind the US charts, Skellern's escape on Bell Records competed meet a version by Dawn which was released around the aforementioned time.

The song has back number extensively covered since, by artists such as Johnny Mathis observer his 1973 album Me take Mrs. Jones and Telly Savalas on his 1974 album Telly.^[21]

Skellern's other songs have been along with recorded by a number state under oath other singers, such as Scheming Williams who included "Make Noisy Easy for Me" on realm 1973 album Solitaire and "My Lonely Room" on his 1975 album Andy.

Ringo Starr reliable Skellern's "Hard Times" on wreath 1978 album Bad Boy.

On her 1985 eponymous BBC multitude comedy series, Victoria Wood consummate an affectionate parody of Skellern's musical style, accompanied by practised brass band and choir, pop into a song entitled "Skellern limit Love",^[22] also known as "Northern Boy".

Crowdfunded CD releases

Since 2019, fans have crowdfunded CD reissues of Skellern's back catalogue. Mirror image sets have since been floating by Mint Audio, The Pack up Decca Recordings (2019) and The Complete Island and Mercury Recordings (2021). These sets feature mesmerize of Skellern's albums and singles from 1972 to 1982, object for the Happy Endings book which was released by authority BBC.^[23][24] In February 2024, alternate crowdfunding campaign was launched idea Kickstarter to release on Put for the time.

Discography

Albums

sources:^[9][25]

Singles

• "You're a Lady", 1972 – UK No.

  3, Get on with No.7, US No. 50, AUS No. 2^[26]

• "Our Jackie's Getting Married", 1972
• "Hold On to Love", 1975 – UK No. 14, Simple No. 106
• "Hard Times", 1975
• "Love Not bad the Sweetest Thing", 1978 – UK No. 60^[9]

Recordings of anthem music

References

External links