Melvyn Gale
Encyclopedia
Melvyn Gale is an English
cellist
.
orientated education
at the Royal Academy of Music
and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
. Before joining the Electric Light Orchestra
, he had already played with the London Palladium
Orchestra, with whom he had his first professional concert
in 1970 in London. He also played with the London Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Bolshoi and Rambert Ballet companies and various West End shows.
He was a cellist for the Electric Light Orchestra from 1975 replacing Mike Edwards
. He also is an accomplished Pianist
performing piano on "Wild West Hero
" as well as occasionally live on "Roll Over Beethoven
".
In 1979 he appeared in the Discovery
music video
playing alongside the rest of the classic line-up (Mik Kaminski
violin and Hugh McDowell
cello) for the last time. He remained with the group until Jeff Lynne
removed the string playing part from the line-up.
Gale then built his own recording studio
with his friend Frank Wilson in 1979. On 12 April 1980 their first album
was released, under the name Wilson Gale & Co., and was entitled Gift Wrapped Set. The album had been recorded
at London's Ramport Studios
for Jet Records
.
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...
cellist
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
.
Career
Gale obtained his classical musicClassical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
orientated education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
. Before joining the Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra were a British rock group from Birmingham who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones...
, he had already played with the London Palladium
London Palladium
The London Palladium is a 2,286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. From the roster of stars who have played there and many televised performances, it is arguably the most famous theatre in London and the United Kingdom, especially for musical variety...
Orchestra, with whom he had his first professional concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
in 1970 in London. He also played with the London Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Bolshoi and Rambert Ballet companies and various West End shows.
He was a cellist for the Electric Light Orchestra from 1975 replacing Mike Edwards
Mike Edwards (musician)
Mike Edwards , known as Swami Deva Pramada or simply Pramada, was an English cellist and music teacher. His wide-ranging career was most widely notable for his membership of the Electric Light Orchestra.-Early life:...
. He also is an accomplished Pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
performing piano on "Wild West Hero
Wild West Hero
"Wild West Hero" is a song by Electric Light Orchestra, and the closing track and third single from the album Out of the Blue. The song was written by lead singer Jeff Lynne. Melvyn Gale, normally the band's cellist, provided the Western-style piano for this track.It entered the UK Top 40 at No. 31...
" as well as occasionally live on "Roll Over Beethoven
Roll Over Beethoven
"Roll Over Beethoven" is a 1956 hit single by Chuck Berry originally released on Chess Records, with "Drifting Heart" as the B-side. The lyrics of the song mention rock and roll and the desire for rhythm and blues to replace classical music...
".
In 1979 he appeared in the Discovery
Discovery (music video)
Discovery is a music video album by the Electric Light Orchestra.Recorded in 1979 shortly after the completion of the Discovery studio album. The track listing is identical to the studio LP. Each of the album's songs has its own corresponding promotional video. It did receive TV airings on The Blue...
music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
playing alongside the rest of the classic line-up (Mik Kaminski
Mik Kaminski
Mik Kaminski is best known for playing violin in the Electric Light Orchestra between 1973 and 1979.-Biography:...
violin and Hugh McDowell
Hugh McDowell
Hugh McDowell is an English cellist best known for his membership in Electric Light Orchestra and related acts.-Career:...
cello) for the last time. He remained with the group until Jeff Lynne
Jeff Lynne
Jeffrey "Jeff" Lynne is an English songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer who gained fame as the leader and sole constant member of Electric Light Orchestra and was a co-founder and member of The Traveling Wilburys together with George Harrison, Bob...
removed the string playing part from the line-up.
Gale then built his own recording 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...
with his friend Frank Wilson in 1979. On 12 April 1980 their first album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
was released, under the name Wilson Gale & Co., and was entitled Gift Wrapped Set. The album had been recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
at London's Ramport Studios
Ramport Studios
Ramport Studios was a South London recording studio owned by The Who. Several major albums were recorded at Ramport, including the 1974 album Crime of the Century by the progressive rock band Supertramp. The 1973 album Quadrophenia was recorded there . Eventually, Virgin Records acquired it...
for Jet Records
Jet Records
Jet Records was a small British record label set up by Don Arden with artists like Electric Light Orchestra , Roy Wood, Gary Moore, Ozzy Osbourne, Riot and Magnum. The first release on the "Jet Records" label was "No Honestly", a UK top 10 for its singer and writer Lynsey De Paul in November 1974...
.