Matt Aitken
Encyclopedia
Matthew James Aitken is a British
songwriter
and record producer
, brought up in Astley, Greater Manchester
, best known as the creative force behind the 1980s songwriting/production trio Stock Aitken Waterman
.
It has been claimed by Aikten's collaborator Pete Waterman
that Aitken was a noted perfectionist, particularly when it came to his guitar solos.
He began his musical career as a musician
and had been a member of many different bands before teaming up with Mike Stock to write and produce music for other artists. They both later teamed up with Pete Waterman
and they went from small independent labels to the major RCA
, producing a myriad of hits
.
After the partnership split up in the early 1990s, Aitken went into a period of retirement, raising a family and enjoying life. He returned to the music industry briefly, before seemingly retiring.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
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...
, brought up in Astley, Greater Manchester
Astley, Greater Manchester
Astley is a settlement within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England, variously described as a suburb or a village. Astley lies on flat land to the northwest of the city of Manchester, and is crossed by the Bridgewater Canal and the A580 "East Lancashire Road"...
, best known as the creative force behind the 1980s songwriting/production trio Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s...
.
It has been claimed by Aikten's collaborator Pete Waterman
Pete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
that Aitken was a noted perfectionist, particularly when it came to his guitar solos.
He began his musical career as a musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and had been a member of many different bands before teaming up with Mike Stock to write and produce music for other artists. They both later teamed up with Pete Waterman
Pete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
and they went from small independent labels to the major RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, producing a myriad of hits
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
.
After the partnership split up in the early 1990s, Aitken went into a period of retirement, raising a family and enjoying life. He returned to the music industry briefly, before seemingly retiring.