Ken Lewis (songwriter)
Encyclopedia
Ken Lewis is an English
singer, songwriter
and record producer
. He is considered one of the most successful songwriters of the 1960s as a result of his collaborations with John Carter
. His biggest success was "Can't You Hear my Heartbeat", which was a 1965 US
#1 hit single
for Herman's Hermits
.
. They formed a skiffle
band in the 1950s called LVI, when they began writing songs together. In 1960 the duo went to London, and presented themselves under their songwriting pseudonym
s John Carter and Ken Lewis. Terry Kennedy
became their manager and convinced them to start their own band as an outlet for their songs.
In 1961, the first single by Carter-Lewis and the Southerners
was released, "Back on the Scene". The band were not successful, and their main claim to fame remains a brief stint that Jimmy Page
did as their lead guitarist. The band also featured twice as "guests" on the Beatles 1963 radio show Pop Goes The Beatles.
In 1964 they met Perry Ford (born Brian Pugh, 30 December 1940, Lincoln
, Lincolnshire
), who worked as an engineer
in a studio
in Denmark Street
, London. They started recording demos
together, resulting in a single on Pye
"What More Do You Want" as The Ivy League
. Their luck changed when Herman's Hermits recorded "Can't You Hear my Heartbeat" and took it to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
in the United States
. In the UK
it was a smaller hit for Goldie & the Gingerbreads
. They then provided backing vocals
for "I Can't Explain
", the first single by The Who
.
In 1965 The Ivy League scored a couple of hits, with "Tossing and Turning" reaching #3 in the UK Singles Chart
. Further hits were penned for Brenda Lee
("Is It True?"), The Music Explosion
("Little Bit o' Soul") and Peter & Gordon
("Sunday for Tea").
In early 1966 Carter decided he had enough of touring and was replaced by Tony Burrows
from The Kestrels. In 1967 Lewis finally also quit the Ivy league and was replaced by Neil Landon
. He started writing and recording again with Carter. One of the first results was "Let's Go To San Francisco
", released as The Flower Pot Men. When the single became a hit, a band was put together to give the "band" faces, as both Carter and Lewis refused to tour again. The vocal quartet that mimed to the records included Tony Burrows and Neil Landon, leaving Perry Ford to carry on The Ivy League. In late 1967 Carter and Lewis formed Sunny Records as their production company. Starting in early 1968 the Carter/Lewis output became more confusing. Songs intended for The Flower Pot Men were released as Friends, Haystack and Dawn Chorus, only to be re-released in this century as The Flower Pot Men. The "touring" Flower Pot Men started recording songs by Roger Greenaway
and eventually changed their name to White Plains
.
After a minor success with the single "Chelsea" (which Carter and Lewis released under the band name Stamford Bridge), Lewis decided to leave the music industry in 1971, suffering from depression
. He went to live in Wallsend
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. He is considered one of the most successful songwriters of the 1960s as a result of his collaborations with John Carter
John Carter (musician)
For the jazz clarinet player John Carter, see John Carter .John Carter is an English singer, songwriter and record producer.-Overview:...
. His biggest success was "Can't You Hear my Heartbeat", which was a 1965 US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
#1 hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
for Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits are an English beat band, formed in Manchester in 1963 as Herman & The Hermits. The group's record producer, Mickie Most , emphasized a simple, non-threatening, clean-cut image, although the band originally played R&B numbers...
.
Biography
While still at elementary school, Lewis met his future songwriting partner John ShakespeareJohn Carter (musician)
For the jazz clarinet player John Carter, see John Carter .John Carter is an English singer, songwriter and record producer.-Overview:...
. They formed a skiffle
Skiffle
Skiffle is a type of popular music with jazz, blues, folk, roots and country influences, usually using homemade or improvised instruments. Originating as a term in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century, it became popular again in the UK in the 1950s, where it was mainly...
band in the 1950s called LVI, when they began writing songs together. In 1960 the duo went to London, and presented themselves under their songwriting pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
s John Carter and Ken Lewis. Terry Kennedy
Terry Kennedy
Terrence Edward Kennedy is a former All-Star Major League Baseball catcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals , San Diego Padres , Baltimore Orioles and San Francisco Giants . Kennedy batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He is the son of former major league player and manager Bob Kennedy...
became their manager and convinced them to start their own band as an outlet for their songs.
In 1961, the first single by Carter-Lewis and the Southerners
Carter-Lewis And The Southerners
Carter-Lewis and the Southerners were an early-1960s rock band formed by the Birmingham-born musicians Ken Lewis and John Carter .Carter and Lewis were initially songwriters...
was released, "Back on the Scene". The band were not successful, and their main claim to fame remains a brief stint that Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
did as their lead guitarist. The band also featured twice as "guests" on the Beatles 1963 radio show Pop Goes The Beatles.
In 1964 they met Perry Ford (born Brian Pugh, 30 December 1940, Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
), who worked as an engineer
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
in a studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
in Denmark Street
Denmark Street
Denmark Street is a short narrow road in central London, notable for its connections with British popular music, and is known as the British Tin Pan Alley. The road connects Charing Cross Road at its western end with St Giles High Street at its eastern end. Denmark Street is in the London Borough...
, London. They started recording demos
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
together, resulting in a single on Pye
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
"What More Do You Want" as The Ivy League
The Ivy League (band)
The Ivy League are an English vocal trio, created in 1964, who enjoyed two Top 10 hit singles in the UK Singles Chart in 1965. The group's sound was characterised by rich, three-part vocal harmonies.-Career:...
. Their luck changed when Herman's Hermits recorded "Can't You Hear my Heartbeat" and took it to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
it was a smaller hit for Goldie & the Gingerbreads
Goldie & the Gingerbreads
Goldie & the Gingerbreads was an all-female American rock band from 1962 to 1967 consisting of 3 musicians and a singer. They were the first all-female rock band signed to a major record label....
. They then provided backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
for "I Can't Explain
I Can't Explain
"I Can't Explain" is a song by the English rock band The Who, written by Pete Townshend, and produced by Shel Talmy. The song was issued as a single in December 1964 in the United States and on 15 January 1965 in the United Kingdom.-Background:...
", the first single by The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
.
In 1965 The Ivy League scored a couple of hits, with "Tossing and Turning" reaching #3 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Further hits were penned for Brenda Lee
Brenda Lee
Brenda Mae Tarpley , known as Brenda Lee, is an American performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music, and had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s, a number surpassed only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis...
("Is It True?"), The Music Explosion
The Music Explosion
The Music Explosion was an American garage rock band from Mansfield, Ohio, best known for their Top 10 hit, "Little Bit O'Soul", in 1967. The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and received gold record status by the R.I.A.A....
("Little Bit o' Soul") and Peter & Gordon
Peter & Gordon
Peter and Gordon were a British Invasion-era duo and formed by Peter Asher and Gordon Waller, who achieved fame in 1964 with "A World Without Love", and had several subsequent hits in that era.-History:...
("Sunday for Tea").
In early 1966 Carter decided he had enough of touring and was replaced by Tony Burrows
Tony Burrows
Anthony "Tony" Burrows is a British session singer. He has been credited with singing lead on hit singles for more groups than any other recording artist, both on the UK Singles Chart and the U.S...
from The Kestrels. In 1967 Lewis finally also quit the Ivy league and was replaced by Neil Landon
Neil Landon
Neil Landon is an English singer, who has been credited with singing on a number of hits in the UK Singles Chart...
. He started writing and recording again with Carter. One of the first results was "Let's Go To San Francisco
Let's Go To San Francisco
"Let's Go to San Francisco" is the only UK-charting single by the British pop group The Flower Pot Men. A light-hearted pastiche of the work of Brian Wilson, the song achieved a similar musical level and has remained popular...
", released as The Flower Pot Men. When the single became a hit, a band was put together to give the "band" faces, as both Carter and Lewis refused to tour again. The vocal quartet that mimed to the records included Tony Burrows and Neil Landon, leaving Perry Ford to carry on The Ivy League. In late 1967 Carter and Lewis formed Sunny Records as their production company. Starting in early 1968 the Carter/Lewis output became more confusing. Songs intended for The Flower Pot Men were released as Friends, Haystack and Dawn Chorus, only to be re-released in this century as The Flower Pot Men. The "touring" Flower Pot Men started recording songs by Roger Greenaway
Roger Greenaway
Roger Greenaway , is a popular English songwriter, best known for his collaborations with Roger Cook.-Career:...
and eventually changed their name to White Plains
White Plains (band)
White Plains were a British pop music group, that existed from 1969 to 1976.-Career:White Plains evolved from the late 1960s pop/psychedelic band The Flower Pot Men, composed of Tony Burrows, Pete Nelson, and Robin Shaw together with Neil Landon . The band was primarily a studio project led by John...
.
After a minor success with the single "Chelsea" (which Carter and Lewis released under the band name Stamford Bridge), Lewis decided to leave the music industry in 1971, suffering from depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
. He went to live in Wallsend
Wallsend
Wallsend is an area in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. Wallsend derives its name as the location of the end of Hadrian's Wall. It has a population of 42,842.-Romans:...
.
Sources
- Mark Frumento, liner notes The Flower Pot men - Listen to the flowers grow (RPM Retro 809), March 2007
- Mark Frumento, liner notes John Carter - A rose by any other name (Rev-ola REV 84), October 2004
- Bob Stanley, liner notes The John Carter Anthology - Measure by measure (RPM rpmd268), 2003
- Melody MakerMelody MakerMelody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
1962-1979 - NMENMEThe New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
1963-1979 - Record MirrorRecord MirrorRecord Mirror was a British weekly pop music newspaper, founded by Isadore Green and featured, news articles, interviews, record charts, record reviews, concert reviews, letters from readers and photographs. The paper became respected by both mainstream pop music fans and serious record collectors...
1964-1967