Mikael Rickfors
Encyclopedia
Mikael Rickfors was born in Stockholm
, Sweden
, 4 December 1948. From 1968 he was the lead singer and bass guitar
ist in popular Swedish
band Bamboo
. The band released two singles before breaking up in 1970. Rickfors would later perform with the British rock group The Hollies
for about two years. His performing style during this period was with a wide range and powerful chest voice. In later decades, he took on a deliberate, slightly raspy tone.
replacing the lead singer Allan Clarke
, who had left to pursue a solo career. Rickfors's richer lower-register voice contrasted to Clarke's distinctive, piercing tenor. One of their hits that both performed was "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
". Rickfors performed this ballad with more dramatic tone and a slight vibrato, such as that performed at The Midnight Special program
in 1973. His first single with the group "The Baby" reached no. 26 in the UK
as well as charting in various other territories. The band followed up by releasing the album Romany
, with one song, "Touch," written by Rickfors. Mikael also sang the band's hit "Magic Woman Touch" and the European 45 "Don't Leave The Child Alone" which he also wrote. The group received an unexpected boost as a single extracted from the group's previous album (with Clarke's vocals) shot up the American charts. The Hollies undertook their first major US
tour without their signature vocalist. The tour was not a commercial success. The band then recorded a second album, Out on the Road which featured a major song writing contribution from Rickfors. On both albums and on stage Rickfors also sang, played guitar
, bass, conga
s and keyboard
. Out On The Road was released only in Germany
and Spain
. In July 1973, Clarke rejoined the Hollies and Rickfors departed the group.
Among the artists who have recorded songs Mikael has written, in addition to The Hollies, are: Carlos Santana
("Daughter Of The Night"), Cyndi Lauper
("Yeah Yeah" on her multi-million selling debut album), Percy Sledge
("Blue Night", "Misty Morning", "Shining Through The Rain", "Road Of No Return"), Richie Havens
, Jim Capaldi
, Carla Olson... Paul Jones (on his 2009 solo album Starting All Over Again.)
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, 4 December 1948. From 1968 he was the lead singer and bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist in popular Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
band Bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
. The band released two singles before breaking up in 1970. Rickfors would later perform with the British rock group The Hollies
The Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
for about two years. His performing style during this period was with a wide range and powerful chest voice. In later decades, he took on a deliberate, slightly raspy tone.
The Hollies
In early 1972 Rickfors joined popular British rock group The HolliesThe Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
replacing the lead singer Allan Clarke
Allan Clarke (singer)
Allan Clarke is a retired British singer who was one of the founding members of The Hollies. He retired in 1999.-Career:...
, who had left to pursue a solo career. Rickfors's richer lower-register voice contrasted to Clarke's distinctive, piercing tenor. One of their hits that both performed was "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
"He Ain't Heavy... He's My Brother" is a popular music ballad written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell. Originally recorded by Kelly Gordon in 1969, the song became a worldwide hit for The Hollies later that year and again for Neil Diamond in 1970....
". Rickfors performed this ballad with more dramatic tone and a slight vibrato, such as that performed at The Midnight Special program
The Midnight Special (TV series)
The Midnight Special is an American musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt Sugarman. It premiered as a special on August 19, 1972, then began its run as a regular series on February 2, 1973; its last episode was on May 1, 1981...
in 1973. His first single with the group "The Baby" reached no. 26 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...
as well as charting in various other territories. The band followed up by releasing the album Romany
Romany (album)
Romany is an album by The Hollies, the first not to feature distinctive, tenor-range lead singer Allan Clarke, who had left to try a solo career and was replaced by a Swedish singer with lower vocal register, Mikael Rickfors---prompting a somewhat radical reshaping of their trademark vocal harmony...
, with one song, "Touch," written by Rickfors. Mikael also sang the band's hit "Magic Woman Touch" and the European 45 "Don't Leave The Child Alone" which he also wrote. The group received an unexpected boost as a single extracted from the group's previous album (with Clarke's vocals) shot up the American charts. The Hollies undertook their first major US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
tour without their signature vocalist. The tour was not a commercial success. The band then recorded a second album, Out on the Road which featured a major song writing contribution from Rickfors. On both albums and on stage Rickfors also sang, played guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bass, conga
Conga
The conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
s and keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
. Out On The Road was released only in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. In July 1973, Clarke rejoined the Hollies and Rickfors departed the group.
Solo
In 1975 Rickfors released the first of eleven solo albums. 1988 saw the release of his hugely successful Vingar album. In 1990, he embarked on his first collaboration as part of the Swedish supergroup Grymlings (named after Rickfors' farm).Among the artists who have recorded songs Mikael has written, in addition to The Hollies, are: Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
("Daughter Of The Night"), Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
("Yeah Yeah" on her multi-million selling debut album), Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge is an American R&B and soul performer who recorded the hit "When a Man Loves a Woman" in 1966.-Early career:...
("Blue Night", "Misty Morning", "Shining Through The Rain", "Road Of No Return"), Richie Havens
Richie Havens
Richard P. "Richie" Havens is an African American folk singer and guitarist. He is best known for his intense, rhythmic guitar style , soulful covers of pop and folk songs, and his opening performance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival.-Career:Born in Brooklyn, Havens was the eldest of nine children...
, Jim Capaldi
Jim Capaldi
Nicola James "Jim" Capaldi was an English musician and songwriter. His musical career lasted more than four decades. He co-founded Traffic in Birmingham with Steve Winwood, and the band's psychedelic rock was influential in Britain and the United States...
, Carla Olson... Paul Jones (on his 2009 solo album Starting All Over Again.)
Solo
- Mikael Rickfors, 1975
- The Wheel, 1976
- Kickin' A Dream, 1979
- Tender Turns Tuff, 1981
- Rickfors Live, 1981
- Skin Is Thin, 1982
- Blue Fun, 1983
- Hearthunters, 1985
- Rickfors, 1986
- Vingar, 1988
- udas River, 1991
- Happy Man Don't Kill, 1997
- Greatest Hits, 1999
- Lush Life, 2004
- Away Again, 2009
Grymlings
- Grymlings (1990)
- Grymlings vol. 2 (1992)
- Grymlings vol. 3 (2005)