Harold Spiro
Encyclopedia
Harold Spiro was an English
songwriter
.
began at an early age, in London
's East End
, where his uncle regularly took him to the Music hall
.
It was here that he first met Tony Hiller
, (who helped create Brotherhood of Man
) and so began a life-long friendship. Years later Hiller gave Spiro his first publishing
deal, and later still was to be involved in producing
him in his singing career as 'Hoagy Pogey'.
In 1944, aged 18, Spiro volunteered for the Royal Navy
and did his training in Chatham, Kent
, where he qualified as a nurse, and was sent to Iceland
to work on an American
naval base.
After the World War II
ended, he knew that he wanted a career in the music industry, rather than taking over the family shop. He enrolled at Carnegie Hall
, where he studied musical theory and conducting
. However, popular music
became his main interest. Continuing to work in the shop, he wrote song
s in his spare time, inspired by the works of George Gershwin
and Hoagy Carmichael
.
In 1954 his father died, and he met his future wife, Barbara, and they married the following year. In 1956, their first child
, Judith, was born. Their daughter Lorraine, was born in 1959, and Spiro started a wholesale greeting card
s business, where he wrote the verses for the cards he sold. In 1961, their son, Russell, was born.
. He got his first publishing deal, and also supported his wife's cousin
, Phil Wainman
, who was later to become the producer
for The Bay City Rollers and The Boomtown Rats
. Together, they wrote for Mike and Bernie Winters and they also initially worked together with a band, later to become The Sweet
, who first rehearsed in the Spiro's living room
.
Spiro was the co-writer (with Wainman) behind The Yardbirds
' hit
, "Little Games
", successful on both sides of the Atlantic
. It was one of the first songs of that era to use a sitar
in the recording
mix.
In the 1970s, Spiro met Valerie Avon
, his most significant songwriting partner, when he was working at Belwin Mills Publishing. During that time, they wrote many songs together, including tracks recorded by Roger Cook
and Roger Greenaway
, as The Pipkins
, Tina Charles, Peter Noone
, (from Herman's Hermits
) "Easy Loving", a hit for The Troggs
and the track, "Don’t Move Away", for both Cliff Richard
and Olivia Newton-John
.
They were involved in the Eurovision Song Contest
for two consecutive years with, "Can I Believe", for Mary Hopkin
and "In My World of Beautiful Things", for Clodagh Rodgers
. This culminated in representing the UK
with "Long Live Love
", performed by Olivia Newton-John in 1974, which went on to be recorded worldwide by more than fifty artists
.
Valerie Avon was also instrumental in helping to create a performing image for Spiro. From 1973, as 'Hoagy Pogey', he worked with Jamie Philips and Dougie Squires
and the Second Generation, touring Europe
, making stage
and television
appearances. He also had an interview on the Russell Harty
show.
holder at Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
. This led him to compose "Nice One Cyril", winning him an Ivor Novello Award. Spiro, with Jamie Philips singing the operatic introduction, fronted the group, known as Cockerel Chorus, who then went on to make an album
. Throughout his life, Spiro wrote many other football songs, recorded by major teams, including "Here We Go" for Everton
; and "Nice One Gazza" plus "Tribute to Ardiles and Villa" for Spurs
.
Spiro also formed a partnership with Alan Freeman, well known as a record producer and for establishing Pye Records
. Together, they created Spiral Records and later on, a music publishing company, Trekfarm. Jointly they discovered Red Box, who went on to have a hit with "Chenko".
for Ball's television show, Saturday Night at the Mill. Spiro and Freeman also recorded Barbara Woodhouse
, famous for her dog-training skills, "Diddy" David Hamilton and Les Dawson
.
, and bought a holiday home in Cyprus
. He worked with Cypriot writers and musicians, and appeared on Cyprus television. One of the last songs he ever wrote was dedicated to peace and unity there, entitled, "Only One Sky".
When back in England, Spiro continued with his projects, involving local musicians and writers, including the novelist, Peter Corey
. He later worked on a musical
for children.
More recently, thanks to his son Russell, now director of Trekfarm, Spiro’s song, "We’re on the Ball", became the official World Cup song for 2002, and with Ant and Dec became a success.
Harold Spiro died on 11 December 1996 in Cyprus, where he was buried.
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...
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...
.
Early days
His interest in musicMusic
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
began at an early age, in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's East End
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
, where his uncle regularly took him to the Music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
.
It was here that he first met Tony Hiller
Tony Hiller
Tony Hiller is a British songwriter. He began his musical career as a member of the song and dance duo The Hiller Brothers, sharing the stage with his brother Irving...
, (who helped create Brotherhood of Man
Brotherhood of Man
Brotherhood of Man are a British pop group who achieved success in the 1970s, most notably by winning the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with "Save Your Kisses for Me"....
) and so began a life-long friendship. Years later Hiller gave Spiro his first publishing
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
deal, and later still was to be involved in producing
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...
him in his singing career as 'Hoagy Pogey'.
In 1944, aged 18, Spiro volunteered for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and did his training in Chatham, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, where he qualified as a nurse, and was sent to Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
to work on an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
naval base.
After the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
ended, he knew that he wanted a career in the music industry, rather than taking over the family shop. He enrolled at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
, where he studied musical theory and conducting
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. However, popular music
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
became his main interest. Continuing to work in the shop, he wrote song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s in his spare time, inspired by the works of George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
and Hoagy Carmichael
Hoagy Carmichael
Howard Hoagland "Hoagy" Carmichael was an American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader. He is best known for writing "Stardust", "Georgia On My Mind", "The Nearness of You", and "Heart and Soul", four of the most-recorded American songs of all time.Alec Wilder, in his study of the...
.
In 1954 his father died, and he met his future wife, Barbara, and they married the following year. In 1956, their first child
Child
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
, Judith, was born. Their daughter Lorraine, was born in 1959, and Spiro started a wholesale greeting card
Greeting card
A greeting card is an illustrated, folded card featuring an expression of friendship or other sentiment. Although greeting cards are usually given on special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas or other holidays, they are also sent to convey thanks or express other feeling. Greeting cards,...
s business, where he wrote the verses for the cards he sold. In 1961, their son, Russell, was born.
Musical years
Spiro decided to enter the music business full-time after a discussion with Eddie CantorEddie Cantor
Eddie Cantor was an American "illustrated song" performer, comedian, dancer, singer, actor and songwriter...
. He got his first publishing deal, and also supported his wife's cousin
Cousin
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
, Phil Wainman
Phil Wainman
Phil Wainman is a British record producer and songwriter, primarily active in the 1970s. He is noted for his work with Sweet, XTC, Dollar, Mud, and the Bay City Rollers...
, who was later to become the 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 The Bay City Rollers and The Boomtown Rats
The Boomtown Rats
The Boomtown Rats were an Irish punk rock band that had a series of Irish and UK hits between 1977 and 1985. They were led by vocalist Bob Geldof.-Biography:All six members were originally from Dún Laoghaire, Ireland...
. Together, they wrote for Mike and Bernie Winters and they also initially worked together with a band, later to become The Sweet
Sweet (band)
Sweet was a British rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s as one of the most prominent glam rock acts, with the classic line-up of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker.Sweet was formed in 1968 and achieved their first...
, who first rehearsed in the Spiro's living room
Living room
A living room, also known as sitting room, lounge room or lounge , is a room for entertaining adult guests, reading, or other activities...
.
Spiro was the co-writer (with Wainman) behind The Yardbirds
The Yardbirds
- Current :* Chris Dreja - rhythm guitar, backing vocals * Jim McCarty - drums, backing vocals * Ben King - lead guitar * David Smale - bass, backing vocals...
' hit
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...
, "Little Games
Little Games
1992 Expanded editionAn expanded Little Games edition entitled Little Games Sessions and More, was released as a 2 disc set featuring additional sessions and alternate takes from the period, plus the singles "Ha Ha Said the Clown", "Ten Little Indians", and "Goodnight Sweet...
", successful on both sides of the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. It was one of the first songs of that era to use a sitar
Sitar
The 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
in the recording
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...
mix.
In the 1970s, Spiro met Valerie Avon
Valerie Murtagh
Valerie Murtagh - pseudonym Valerie Avon - is an English singer and songwriter. Originally she was a member of The Avons.-Career:...
, his most significant songwriting partner, when he was working at Belwin Mills Publishing. During that time, they wrote many songs together, including tracks recorded by Roger Cook
Roger Cook (songwriter)
Roger Cook is an English songwriter who has written many hits for other recording artists. He has also had a successful recording career in his own right.-Early life:Cook was born in Fishponds, Bristol, England...
and Roger Greenaway
Roger Greenaway
Roger Greenaway , is a popular English songwriter, best known for his collaborations with Roger Cook.-Career:...
, as The Pipkins
The Pipkins
The Pipkins were a short-lived novelty duo, best known for their hit single "Gimme Dat Ding" , which reached No. 6 in the UK Singles Charts and #9 on the U.S. charts in 1970...
, Tina Charles, Peter Noone
Peter Noone
Peter Noone is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist and actor, best known as "Herman" of the successful 1960s rock group Herman's Hermits.-Early life:...
, (from 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...
) "Easy Loving", a hit for The Troggs
The Troggs
The Troggs are an English rock band from the 1960s that had a number of hits in UK and the US. Their most famous songs include, "Wild Thing", "With a Girl Like You", and "Love Is All Around"...
and the track, "Don’t Move Away", for both Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
and Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles and 14 of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA...
.
They were involved in the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
for two consecutive years with, "Can I Believe", for Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin , credited on some recordings as Mary Visconti, is a Welsh folk singer best known for her 1968 UK number one single "Those Were The Days". She was one of the first musicians to sign to The Beatles' Apple label....
and "In My World of Beautiful Things", for Clodagh Rodgers
Clodagh Rodgers
Clodagh Rodgers is a singer and actress from Northern Ireland, best known for her hit single, "Jack in the Box".-Career:...
. This culminated in representing 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...
with "Long Live Love
Long Live Love
Long Live Love is an album recorded by Olivia Newton-John, released in 1974 on EMI .-Singles:The song "I Honestly Love You" was her first number one single in the United States, released on the album If You Love Me, Let Me Know....
", performed by Olivia Newton-John in 1974, which went on to be recorded worldwide by more than fifty artists
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....
.
Valerie Avon was also instrumental in helping to create a performing image for Spiro. From 1973, as 'Hoagy Pogey', he worked with Jamie Philips and Dougie Squires
Dougie Squires
Dougie Squires is an English choreographer known best for his work in television that dates from the mid-1950s.The groups he has choreographed for television include:*The Dougie Squires Dancers...
and the Second Generation, touring Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, making stage
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
appearances. He also had an interview on the Russell Harty
Russell Harty
Russell Harty was an English television presenter of arts programmes and chat shows.-Early life:Born Frederick Russell Harty in Blackburn, Lancashire, he was the son of a fruit and vegetable stallholder on the local market...
show.
Football
Spiro loved football and was a season ticketSeason ticket
A season ticket is a ticket that grants privileges over a defined period of time.-Sport:In sport, a season ticket grants the holder access to all regular-season home games for one season without additional charges. The ticket usually offers a discounted price over purchasing a ticket for each of...
holder at Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
. This led him to compose "Nice One Cyril", winning him an Ivor Novello Award. Spiro, with Jamie Philips singing the operatic introduction, fronted the group, known as Cockerel Chorus, who then went on to make an 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...
. Throughout his life, Spiro wrote many other football songs, recorded by major teams, including "Here We Go" for Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
; and "Nice One Gazza" plus "Tribute to Ardiles and Villa" for Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
.
Spiro also formed a partnership with Alan Freeman, well known as a record producer and for establishing Pye Records
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...
. Together, they created Spiral Records and later on, a music publishing company, Trekfarm. Jointly they discovered Red Box, who went on to have a hit with "Chenko".
Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen
The partnership also recorded Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen, with Spiro writing the theme musicTheme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
for Ball's television show, Saturday Night at the Mill. Spiro and Freeman also recorded Barbara Woodhouse
Barbara Woodhouse
Barbara Kathleen Vera Woodhouse , was a well known British dog trainer, author and television personality. Her 1980 television series Training Dogs the Woodhouse Way made her into a household name in the UK...
, famous for her dog-training skills, "Diddy" David Hamilton and Les Dawson
Les Dawson
Leslie "Les" Dawson was a popular English comedian remembered for his deadpan style, curmudgeonly persona and jokes about his mother-in-law and wife.-Life and career:...
.
Latter years
After his success in the 1970s and early 1980s, Spiro became a financial consultant with the insurance company, Sun Alliance. He later moved home to Westgate-on-SeaWestgate-on-Sea
Westgate-on-Sea is a seaside town in northeast Kent, England, with a population of 6,600. It is within the Thanet local government district and borders the larger seaside resort of Margate...
, and bought a holiday home in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. He worked with Cypriot writers and musicians, and appeared on Cyprus television. One of the last songs he ever wrote was dedicated to peace and unity there, entitled, "Only One Sky".
When back in England, Spiro continued with his projects, involving local musicians and writers, including the novelist, Peter Corey
Peter Corey
Peter Corey is the author of the Coping With... children's book series. The series targets youngsters using humour. He is also the author of books of non-humorous nature. He has also written scripts for many television programmes and he has played characters in drama]]s and soap operas.- Biography...
. He later worked on a musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
for children.
More recently, thanks to his son Russell, now director of Trekfarm, Spiro’s song, "We’re on the Ball", became the official World Cup song for 2002, and with Ant and Dec became a success.
Harold Spiro died on 11 December 1996 in Cyprus, where he was buried.
External links
- [ Spiro songwriting credits] at Allmusic websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...