Ian Samwell

Ian Samwell
Born Ian Ralph Samwell
(1937-01-19)19 January 1937
Lambeth, South London, U.K.
Died 13 March 2003(2003-03-13) (aged 66)
Sacramento, California
Cause of death Heart ailment
Nationality British
Other names Ian 'Sammy' Samwell
Citizenship United Kingdom
Occupation Singer songwriter, Record producer
Years active 1958–1997
Employer Decca, EMI, A&M, Island, Warner Bros. Records, Immediate
Known for Record producer, Song writing, Move It, America, Hummingbird, John Mayall, The Small Faces
Children Ralph Lewis Samwell

Ian Ralph "Sammy" Samwell (19 January 1937 – 13 March 2003) was an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known as the writer of Cliff Richard's debut hit "Move It"[1] and his association with the rock band America with whom he had his biggest commercial success with their hit single "A Horse with No Name".[1] He also worked with rock bands, such as The Small Faces, The Grateful Dead, Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell,[2] John Mayall and Hummingbird.

Samwell wrote for many other British artists, including Joe Brown, Elkie Brooks, Kenny Lynch and Dusty Springfield. Several of his songs were recorded in Spanish for the Mexican group, Los Teen Tops and were released in Latin America and the Spanish-speaking territories of the world. He also worked as a record producer with Sounds Incorporated, Georgie Fame, John Mayall and the mod band The Small Faces, co-writing their 1965 hit single "Whatcha Gonna Do About It".[2]

Career

In 1958, Samwell heard Harry Webb performing at the 2i's Coffee Bar in Soho. This led to him joining Webb's group as a guitarist. Shortly afterwards, the group was renamed Cliff Richard and The Drifters who later became Cliff Richard and The Shadows.

They signed a recording contract with EMI's Columbia Records and Samwell wrote "Move It",[2] which was inspired by Chuck Berry. The song was initially intended as the B-side of their debut single "Schoolboy Crush", but Jack Good ensured that it became the A-side of their release. The song reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart and is generally accepted as the first rock and roll song to be written in the United Kingdom.[3]

Samwell played rhythm guitar on "Move It", but was edged out of the band when Hank Marvin and Jet Harris joined. He was then offered a songwriting contract and wrote Richard's second hit single, "High Class Baby", and several other early songs for Richard, such as "Dynamite". In 1959, he wrote "Say You Love Me Too", which was recorded by The Isley Brothers and thus became the first song by a British songwriter to be recorded by an American R&B act.

In the summer of 1961, Samwell hosted some lunchtime record dance sessions at the Lyceum Ballroom in London, using his own collection of R&B and country rock records. Then in August, he was appointed first resident DJ on Sunday and Tuesday sessions, playing in front of a fast-growing audience of a couple of thousand, mainly made up of fans of the new, exploding Mod Scene. Later, music historian Dave Godin stated that: "In some ways, the Lyceum was the first place that could merit the name discothèque".[4] He was also a Disc Jockey at The Orchid Ballroom Purley, after the Lyceum.

He went on to work with other artists, as a staff producer at Warner Bros. Records in London. Samwell discovered the band America and produced their first album, America in 1972. Samwell is also credited with persuading their guitarist Dewey Bunnell to change the name of "Desert Song" to "A Horse with No Name", which became an international chart success. In 1974, Samwell produced the first of three successful albums with Hummingbird[5] whose line-up included Bobby Tench and other former members of The second Jeff Beck Group.[6]

Death

Samwell underwent a heart transplant in the 1990s and died in Sacramento, California on 13 March 2003,[2] aged sixty six.[1] Shortly before his death, he had been active in the Sacramento, California music scene, working closely with several local acts. His son, Ralph Lewis Samwell, lives in London.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Mindy, Giles (20 March 2003). "Ian Samwell, the father of British rock".
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Ian Samwell Obituary". guardian.co.uk. 27 March 2003. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  3. ↑ Spencer Leigh (13 March 2003). "Ian Samwell Obituary". Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  4. ↑ Godwin, David. "DJ History". djhistory.com. Archived from the original on 2007-08-26. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  5. ↑ "Ian Samwell, producer for Hummingbird". www.iansamwell.com. p. 17. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  6. ↑ "Hummingbird credits". allmusic.com.
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