Albert Louis HammondOBE(born 18 May 1944) is aBritish-Gibraltariansinger, songwriter and record producer. A prolific songwriter, he also collaborated with other songwriters such asMike Hazlewood,John Bettis,Hal David,Diane Warren,Holly Knight,Carole Bayer SagerandRoy Orbison.
Albert Hammond | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Albert Louis Hammond |
| Also known as | Albert Hammond Sr. |
| Born | 18 May 1944 London,England |
| Origin | Gibraltar |
| Genres | Pop rock,soft rock |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician, record producer |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, piano, vocals |
| Years active | 1960–present |
| Website | alberthammond |
Hammond wrote commercially successful singles for artists includingCeline Dion,Joe Dolan,Aretha Franklin,Whitney Houston,Diana Ross,Leo Sayer,Tina Turner,Glen Campbell,Julio Iglesias,Willie Nelson,Lynn AndersonandBonnie Tyler,and bandsAce of Base,Air Supply,Blue Mink,Chicago,Heart,Living in a Box,the Carpenters,the Hollies,the Pipkins,Starship,andWestlife.Notable songs co-written by Hammond include "Make Me an Island"and"You're Such a Good Looking Woman"by Joe Dolan,"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"by Starship,"One Moment in Time"sung by Whitney Houston,"The Air That I Breathe",a hit for the Hollies,"To All the Girls I've Loved Before",a Julio Iglesias/Willie Nelson duet, and"When I Need You"by Leo Sayer. In 2015, he received the British Academy'sIvor Novello Awardfor Outstanding Song Collection.[1]
He is also a solo singer in his own right. His biggest (and only top 20) U.S.Billboardhit was "It Never Rains in Southern California",No. 5 in 1972.[2]Other songs of his include "Down by the River","The Free Electric Band","I'm a Train",and"When I'm Gone".For a time, he was part ofthe Family Dogg,a vocal band with whom he had the hit "A Way of Life".He has also produced for a number of other artists.
Early life and success
editHammond was born in London, after his family had beenevacuated from GibraltarduringWorld War II.[3]Shortly after the war they returned toGibraltarwhere he grew up.[3]In 1960, he started in music withGibraltarianband The Diamond Boys, which had no real commercial success, but played a part in Spain's introduction to pop and rock music. The Diamond Boys performed at the first nightclubs inMadridto stage modern bands, alongside Spanish rock and roll pioneers such asMiguel Ríos.In 1966, Hammond co-founded the British vocal bandthe Family Dogg,reaching number 6 on theUK Singles Chartwith "A Way of Life" in 1969,[3][4]taken from thealbum of the same name.
Career
edit
In 1970, at age 26, Hammond moved to the United States, continuing his professional career as a musician.[5]However, he had his greatest commercial success in mainland Europe. He is known for his successful singles of the 1970s, released onColumbiasubsidiaryMums Records:"Down by the River","It Never Rains in Southern California","The Free Electric Band"(his only single to chart in theUK),[4]"Half a Million Miles from Home", "If You Gotta Break Another Heart", "The Peacemaker", "I Don't Wanna Die in an Air Disaster", "I'm a Train"and" 99 Miles from L.A. "In 1970, under the name 'Steve & Albert', Hammond joined forces withSteve Rowlandfor the single "Follow the Bouncing Ball", which they heavily promoted, particularly in the UK, where they appeared onTop Of The PopsandThe Basil Brush Show,but the single failed to chart.[6]
Hammond also wrote songs for others with frequent collaboratorMike Hazlewood.These include "Little Arrows"forLeapy Lee,"Make Me an Island"(1969) (which Hammond himself recorded in a Spanish disco-style in 1979), and"You're Such a Good Looking Woman"(1970) forJoe Dolan,"Gimme Dat Ding"forthe Pipkinsin 1970 (itself a cover from theFreddie and the DreamersalbumOliver in the Overworld), "Good Morning Freedom"forBlue Mink,"Freedom Come, Freedom Go" forthe Fortunesin 1971 and "The Air That I Breathe"which was a hit forthe Holliesin 1974.[3]In 1971, Hammond also sang onMichael Chapman's fourth albumWrecked Again,and worked briefly withthe Magic Lanternson recordings of his and Hazlewood's songs, and other material.[7]
Written withCarole Bayer Sager,"When I Need You"was first recorded by Hammond on his 1976 albumWhen I Need You.Produced byRichard Perry,Leo Sayer's version made No. 1 on theUK Singles Chartfor two weeks in February 1977.[8]Commercially successful worldwide, it reached No. 1 in Canada (RPMTop Singles,also for two weeks), and on theBillboardHot 100for a week in May 1977.[citation needed]Leapy Leereleased a version of "When I Need You" on his first recording since 1970.[9]
In 1991, Hammond co-wrote "When You Tell Me That You Love Me"recorded byDiana Ross,which reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2005, Ross recorded the song again, this time as a duet withWestlife.Again the song reached No. 2 in the UK.[citation needed]
In 2005, he releasedRevolution of the Heart(whereTodd Sharpvillewas his music director), and the single "This Side of Midnight".[citation needed]
In 2008, Hammond met Kasaan Steigen of the Los Angeles-based Trigger Management who became his personal manager, during which time Hammond collaborated with British singerDuffyand others. Duffy's resulting album,Endlessly,co-written and co-produced by Hammond, was released in November 2010.[10]
In 2010, Hammond also worked onLegend,a new recording of duets of his most successful singles, featuring artists includingElena PaparizouandBonnie Tyler.It was released on Sony Spain on 23 November that year.[11][12]
Personal life
editFrom his first marriage, Hammond has two children. In 1979, he marriedArgentinianClaudia Fernández, a former model.[5]
His son,Albert Hammond, Jr.is a member of the rock bandThe Strokes.[13]
Awards and recognition
editIn 1987, Hammond's composition withDiane Warren"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"(recorded byStarship) was nominated for anOscar,Golden GlobeandGrammy Award.[14]In 1988, Hammond won anEmmy Awardfor the song "One Moment in Time",a song he wrote along withJohn Bettis.[citation needed]
In 2000, he received theOrder of the British Empire(OBE).[3]
On 19 June 2008, Hammond was inducted in theSongwriters Hall of Fame.[15]
Half Man Half Biscuitpaid tribute to Hammond in their 1986 track "Albert Hammond Bootleg" originally onThe Trumpton Riots EPand later added to the 2003 re-release ofBack in the DHSS.
In May 2015, Hammond collected theIvor Novelloaward for outstanding song collection.[16]
In 2023 he received the Ministry of Culture Lifetime Achievement Award.
Discography
editSongwriting credits
edit(in Alpha betical order of song title)
Other languages
edit(in Alpha betical order of song title)
| Title | Language | Writing collaboration with |
Artist / band | Year released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Cantaré, cantarás" | Spanish | Juan Carlos Calderón and Anahí van Zandweghe | Hermanos (Various Latin artists) |
1985 |
| "Entre mis recuerdos" | Spanish | Holly KnightandLuz Casal | Luz Casal | 1995 |
| "Sensualité" | French | Shelly PeikenandAxelle Red | Axelle Red | 1993 |
| "Y Tú También Llorarás" | Spanish | Anahi van Zandweghe | José Luis Rodríguez | 1987 |
Other songwriting credits
edit(in Alpha betical order of song title)
- "Careless Heart"– written withRoy Orbisonand Diane Warren
- "Creep"(byRadiohead) – subsequently given co-writing credits (withMike Hazlewood), due to the song's musical similarity to "The Air That I Breathe"
- He co-wrote almost all songs on Welsh singerDuffy's albumEndlessly,including Duffy songs "My Boy", "Lovestruck"and"Well, Well, Well"
- "Have Mercy" – written withShelly PeikenforYazz;was also recorded byViktor Lazloon her albumBack To Front
- "I Give It All To You" / "I Imagine"– written withSteve Duberryand Lord 'n Elliot and sung byMary Kianiin 1995
- "Loving You (Is a Way of Life)"– co-written withTom SnowandFranne Goldeand recorded by Australian singerJon Stevens
- "Moonlight Lady"– written by Hammond and Carole Bayer Sager and originally sung by Hammond with a large adaptation from"It Never Rains in Southern California".It was later recorded byJulio Iglesiasin his 1984 album1100 Bel Air Place
- "Oklahoma Sunday Morning"– co-written withTony MacaulayandMike Hazlewood,a hit forGlen Campbell
- "Once in a Lifetime" – written withAntonina Armatoand Dennis Morgan
- "Smokey Factory Blues"– written by Hammond and Hazlewood, and recorded byJohnny Cashon hisJohn R. Cashalbum; was also recorded bySteppenwolfon theSlow Fluxalbum
- "Through the Storm" – a duet withAretha FranklinandElton John
- "Mary was an Only Child" - co-written withMike Hazlewoodsung byArt Garfunkelon his 1973 debut albumAngel Clare
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"60th Anniversary Ivor Novello Awards winners announced".prsformusic.Retrieved2 August2023.
- ^"Albert Hammond It Never Rains in Southern California | Bogart Boogie Oogie".3 May 2018.Retrieved2 August2023.
- ^abcde"Albert Hammond Official Website".Alberthammond.net. 18 May 1944. Archived fromthe originalon 23 July 2011.Retrieved22 April2013.
- ^abRoberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 242.ISBN1-904994-10-5.
- ^ab"Albert Hammond – Interview".pennyblackmusic.co.uk.Retrieved7 November2020.
- ^"306. Steve & Albert".Tapatalk.17 February 2008.Retrieved9 September2021.
- ^Eder, Bruce (18 May 1944)."Albert Hammond – Music Biography, Credits and Discography".AllMusic.Retrieved22 April2013.
- ^Leo Sayer | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company
- ^"Little Arrows II: Leapy Lee: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads".Archive.is.17 July 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 17 July 2012.Retrieved15 January2019.
- ^"BBC – Newsbeat – Singer Duffy begins new album sessions in New York".BBC News.13 January 2010.Retrieved22 April2013.
- ^"Albert Hammond Returns with" Legend "".Legend-alberthammond. Archived fromthe originalon 28 November 2010.Retrieved21 November2010.
- ^"Albert Hammond regresa en noviembre con" Legend ", álbum en el que repasa su carrera junto a Raphael y Julio Iglesias (" Albert Hammond returns in November with 'Legend', an album in which he reviews his career with Raphael and Julio Iglesias ")".Europa Press(in Spanish). 20 November 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 21 November 2010.Retrieved21 November2010.(Google translation)
- ^"Albert Hammond, Jr. – The Vogue".Retrieved2 August2023.
- ^"35 years ago, Diane Warren earned her first Oscar nom for a song 'about a guy f***ing a mannequin'".Yahoo Entertainment.27 January 2022.Retrieved2 August2023.
- ^"2008 Award and Induction Ceremony | Songwriters Hall of Fame".songhall.org.Retrieved2 August2023.
- ^"Albert Hammond".The Ivors.23 June 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 31 January 2019.Retrieved15 January2019.
External links
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