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Ian Samwell
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Ian Samwell (born Ian Ralph Samwell, 19 January 1937 — 13 March 2003) was an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known as the writer of Cliff Richard's debut hit "Move It" and his work with the rock bands The Small Faces, John Mayall, America and Hummingbird.
as born Ian Ralph Samwell in Lambeth, South London, grew up in Harrow and began writing poems and stories in his teens. In 1958, after seeing Harry Webb performing at the 2i's Coffee Bar in Soho, Samwell auditioned for, and then joined Webb's group as a guitarist.
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Encyclopedia
Ian Samwell (born Ian Ralph Samwell, 19 January 1937 — 13 March 2003) was an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known as the writer of Cliff Richard's debut hit "Move It" and his work with the rock bands The Small Faces, John Mayall, America and Hummingbird.
Life and Career
He was born Ian Ralph Samwell in Lambeth, South London, grew up in Harrow and began writing poems and stories in his teens. In 1958, after seeing Harry Webb performing at the 2i's Coffee Bar in Soho, Samwell auditioned for, and then joined Webb's group as a guitarist. Shortly afterwards, the group was renamed Cliff Richard and The Drifters, later on their name became The Shadows.
Move it
When the group won a recording contract with EMI's Columbia Records, Samwell wrote the song Move It, inspired by Chuck Berry. The song was initially intended as the B-side of their debut single "Schoolboy Crush", but at the insistence of television producer Jack Good, it was promoted as the A-side of the record. It reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart, and is generally accepted as the first rock and roll song to be written in the United Kingdom.
Isley Brothers
"Sammy" Samwell played rhythm guitar on Move It, but was edged out of the band when Hank Marvin and Jet Harris joined. Instead, he was offered a songwriting contract, and wrote Richard's second hit single, "High Class Baby" together with several of Richard's other early songs such as "Dynamite". In 1959 he wrote "Say You Love Me Too", recorded by The Isley Brothers, the first song by an British songwriter to be recorded by an American R&Bact.
Early DJ
From 1961, Samwell hosted lunchtime dance sessions at the Lyceum in London, using his own collection of black R&B records. Music historian Dave Godin said: "In some ways, the Lyceum was the first place that could merit the name discothèque".
Los Teens, John Mayall and The Small faces
He wrote for many other British artists, including Joe Brown, Kenny Lynch, and Dusty Springfield. Several of his songs were recorded in Spanish for the Mexican group, Los Teen Tops, and were released in Latin America and the Spanish-speaking world. He also worked as a record producer with Sounds Incorporated, Georgie Fame, John Mayall, and mod outfit the Small Faces, co-writing their 1965 hit single "Whatcha Gonna Do About It".
America and Hummingbird
Samwell went on to work with many artists, particularly as a staff producer in the late 1960s and 1970s at the London office of Warner Bros. Records. He is best known in the United States for having discovered the band America and producing their eponymous debut album. The album spawned the hits "A Horse with No Name", "I Need You", and "Sandman". Samwell is also credited with crafting the acoustic flavour of that album and persuading Dewey Bunnell to change the name of his signature song from Desert Song to "A Horse With No Name". He also produced three succesful albums with Hummingbird whose lineup included Bobby Tench and other former members of The Jeff Beck Group.
Heart surgery
Samwell underwent a heart transplant in the 1990s and died in Sacramento, California, 0n March 13 2003. Cliff Richard re-recorded Move It in 2006, with guitarist Brian May of Queen.
External links
- Obituary.The Independant Newspaper (UK). March 17 2003.
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