Phil Sawyer
Encyclopedia
Philip 'Phil' Sawyer is an English
musician
who was a member of the Spencer Davis Group
in the 1960s and later recorded under the alias Beautiful World.
, The Cheynes (with a 15 year old Mick Fleetwood on drums), Shotgun Express
which became Fleetwood Mac
). At the age of 18, he was one of the two replacements for Steve
and Muff Winwood
in the Spencer Davis Group
, the other being another 18 year-old prodigy, Eddie Hardin
. Sawyer wrote or co-wrote a number of songs for the band including "Don't Want You No More" which was later covered
by the Allman Brothers. Sawyer left the group after a year and was replaced by Ray Fenwick.
After working as a songwriter
and record producer
for various artists (Florie Palmer, Sandie Shaw
) he began writing music for television and radio commercials, corporate films, documentaries and feature films.
Following the success of two songs Sawyer wrote for Timotei
commercials in 1992, in 1993 he worked under the artistic name
'Beautiful World': the albums In Existence
and Forever
have been sold internationally.
The Beautiful World albums were regarded as New Age
music, and featured vocalists such as Cori Josias, Ella Harper,
Russian Roulette (aka Rush Winters), Beryl Marsden
and Miriam Stockley
amongst others.
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...
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....
who was a member of the Spencer Davis Group
Spencer Davis Group
The Spencer Davis Group was a mid-1960s British beat group from Birmingham, England, formed by Spencer Davis with Steve Winwood and his brother Muff Winwood...
in the 1960s and later recorded under the alias Beautiful World.
Biography
Sawyer began his musical career as lead guitarist and vocalist in various bands (Les Fleur de LysLes Fleur de Lys
The Fleur de Lys were a British band originally formed in late 1964, in Southampton, Hampshire, England. They recorded singles beginning in 1965 in the transitional Beat to psychedelic music genre, later known as freakbeat. The band had varied line-ups; only drummer Keith Guster was a member...
, The Cheynes (with a 15 year old Mick Fleetwood on drums), Shotgun Express
Shotgun Express
Shotgun Express was a short-lived British R&B band formed in London in May 1966. Although it achieved little success at the time, it is notable for having briefly included such subsequently famous musicians as Rod Stewart, Mick Fleetwood and Peter Green....
which became Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
). At the age of 18, he was one of the two replacements for Steve
Steve Winwood
Stephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood is an English international recording artist whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is a songwriter and a musician whose genres include soul music , R&B, rock, blues-rock, pop-rock, and jazz...
and Muff Winwood
Muff Winwood
Mervyn "Muff" Winwood is an English songwriter and record producer, and the older brother of Steve Winwood. Both were formerly members of the Spencer Davis Group in the 1960s, in which Muff Winwood played bass guitar...
in the Spencer Davis Group
Spencer Davis Group
The Spencer Davis Group was a mid-1960s British beat group from Birmingham, England, formed by Spencer Davis with Steve Winwood and his brother Muff Winwood...
, the other being another 18 year-old prodigy, Eddie Hardin
Eddie Hardin
Eddie Hardin , is an English rock pianist and singer-songwriter. He is best known for his associations with the Spencer Davis Group, Axis Point also Hardin and York...
. Sawyer wrote or co-wrote a number of songs for the band including "Don't Want You No More" which was later covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by the Allman Brothers. Sawyer left the group after a year and was replaced by Ray Fenwick.
After working as a 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...
for various artists (Florie Palmer, Sandie Shaw
Sandie Shaw
Sandie Shaw is an English pop singer, who was one of the most successful British female singers of the 1960s. In 1967 she was the first UK act to win the Eurovision Song Contest...
) he began writing music for television and radio commercials, corporate films, documentaries and feature films.
Following the success of two songs Sawyer wrote for Timotei
Timotei
Timotei is a Nordic shampoo brand owned by Unilever. The word Timotei comes from a wild grass called Timothy-grass. Timotei shampoo was launched in Sweden in the 1970s, and introduced to the world in the mid 1980s, but some countries only sold Timotei for a short period. The tagline was 'So mild...
commercials in 1992, in 1993 he worked under the artistic name
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
'Beautiful World': the albums In Existence
In Existence
In Existence is an album by English New Age musician Phil Sawyer under the artistic name Beautiful World.-Track listing:#"In the Beginning" 1 – 3:57#"In Existence" 1 – 4:17#"Evolution" 4 – 5:49#"Magicien du Bonheur" 3 – 5:48#"I Know" 2 – 5:06...
and Forever
Forever (Beautiful World album)
Forever is an album by English New Age musician Phil Sawyer, working together with the Malcolm Sargent Festival Choir under the artistic name Beautiful World.-Track listing:# Pepo Iko 1 – 5:12# Children of the Future 1 – 4:38...
have been sold internationally.
The Beautiful World albums were regarded as New Age
New Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
music, and featured vocalists such as Cori Josias, Ella Harper,
Russian Roulette (aka Rush Winters), Beryl Marsden
Beryl Marsden
Beryl Marsden is a British R&B and pop singer, who first came to notice on the Liverpool club scene of the early 1960s. She recorded a number of "powerful and soulful", but unsuccessful, records, and has been described as "undeservedly neglected".-Life and career:She was born Beryl Hogg in the...
and Miriam Stockley
Miriam Stockley
Miriam Stockley is a British singer. She was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and her work is influenced by the African music in her home country. Her unique vocalese style gained international acclaim when Karl Jenkins' launched the "Adiemus" project with "Songs of Sanctuary", featuring...
amongst others.
Albums
- In ExistenceIn ExistenceIn Existence is an album by English New Age musician Phil Sawyer under the artistic name Beautiful World.-Track listing:#"In the Beginning" 1 – 3:57#"In Existence" 1 – 4:17#"Evolution" 4 – 5:49#"Magicien du Bonheur" 3 – 5:48#"I Know" 2 – 5:06...
(1994) - ForeverForever (Beautiful World album)Forever is an album by English New Age musician Phil Sawyer, working together with the Malcolm Sargent Festival Choir under the artistic name Beautiful World.-Track listing:# Pepo Iko 1 – 5:12# Children of the Future 1 – 4:38...
(1996) - In Existence [Re-Release Remastered] (2005)
- Say Goodbye to the Fire (2007), Perfect Sun
Singles
- "Wonderful World" used in the Timotei Honey Shampoo advertisement. Vocals: Cori Josias & Ella Harper
- "In ExistenceIn ExistenceIn Existence is an album by English New Age musician Phil Sawyer under the artistic name Beautiful World.-Track listing:#"In the Beginning" 1 – 3:57#"In Existence" 1 – 4:17#"Evolution" 4 – 5:49#"Magicien du Bonheur" 3 – 5:48#"I Know" 2 – 5:06...
" (1994), WEA - used in the Timotei Almond Milk advertisement - "In the Beginning" (1993), Warner Music
- "I Know" (1994)
- "Love Is Everything" / "Africa" (1996), WEA
- "Children Of The Future" (1996)
External links
- http://www.air-edel.co.uk/representation/composers/27/phil-sawyer/
- Official Site
- Wonderful World
- BBC
- Earth Rhythms