Mike Redway
Posted by Radiocafé on 19 Jul 2009 at 3:19 pm |
Category: 2. Vocal Gems
Excellent news for fans of real music: one of our top British singers, Mike Redway, has launched a new website and many of his excellent recordings are now available to purchase from his company, Redrock Music. This means that fans of “Those Beautiful Ballad Years” (see below for more about this) can now get hold of these fantastic recordings in top quality digital format, together with additional recordings from Mike and lots of other goodies.
You can take a look at Mike’s new website here: http://www.redrockselection.com
About Mike
Mike Redway is one of our truly great vocalists. Having been a backing singer for years, he succesfully made the transition to solo artist, proving what a talented singer-songwriter he is. He even deputised for Sinatra on a Tony Hatch produced recording which sadly never saw the light of day - such a shame, his vocals were every bit as good as Frank’s.
Few will know that, along with the likes of Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones, Mike was vocalist on a James Bond theme - he was the singer on the vocal of the original “Casino Royale” theme tune. Not only was this written by the legendary Burt Bacharach, but Bacharach also conducted the session too! While the orchestral theme by Herb Alpert and Dusty Springfield’s “Look of Love” are recognised as modern classics, incredibly Mike did not even get a credit for his superb vocal recording.
For many years, Mike remained a favourite on Radio 2, featuring as the lead vocalist on numerous recordings and concerts with the BBC Radio Orchestra and the BBC Big Band. His own show, “Those Beautiful Ballad Years”, treated us to the winning combination of Mike together with one of the UK’s leading arrangers, Neil Richardson. The results were simply magical.
Sadly, the BBC has moved in a different direction, which means that we may never hear the likes of Mike and Neil on our radios again. It is such a shame that a whole new generation may be deprived of such a talented and unique singer.
Fortunately, Mike owns the recordings that featured on the show. We are proud to present some of these here so you can hear for yourself what wonderful recordings these are, and the incredible combination of Mike Redway and Neil Richardson.
We are also extremely delighted to have Mike on board the Campaign For Real music, as one of its founder members. If - like us - you would like to hear more music like Mike’s back on Radio 2, please click on the link below to share your views with us. In the meantime, while mainstream radio overlooks a huge slice of our musical heritage, we at the Radiocafe will be doing our very best to keep alive some of the very finest music ever made.
Redrock Music
At Redrock Selections, the home of Mike’s label, you will find a a collection of classic recordings, including rare and unique performances from performers like George Formby, Mike Redway and Ken Barrie (the voice of Postman Pat). The catalogue contains a variety of genres from ‘easy listening’ to spoken word to childrens songs and also includes a large selection of library music. You can also check out Mike Redway’s blog page to find out what’s new: http://redrockselection.blogspot.com/
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(8 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5)
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I have been both a friend and fan of Mike’s for a number of years and it is nice to know that along with other appreciative souls we are in good company! That great musical talent George Shearing told the broadcaster Steve Race that Mike was a favourite of his, but complained that it was difficult to acquire any of Mike’s albums. Steve passed this news on to Mike who then sent George a recently produced CD. George wrote an apppreciative letter back to Mike and quite naturally this is now framed and hung on the wall of his backroom studio.
Hi Paul,
I never realised I was that Good!!!!
Happy Christmas to you and Justine.
Mike, Marjorie and family.
It doesn’t surprise us that a genius such as Sir George Shearing appreciates Mike’s music, that is such a fantastic story. Mike, you deserve every credit for the wonderful contribution you have made to good music, which we hope more and more people will start to discover.
John - thanks so much for your contribution, and welcome to the Radiocafe Family.
Happy New Year to both of you!
Paul
I’ve been a fan of Mike’s since by chance I picked up an LP at a library - and that was about 1979! I wish there were more recordings available.
Thanks for your comment, Bob. Yes, we wish there were too. Do you have a copy of his fantastic Beautiful Ballad Years CD? Let us know if you don’t, as we can still obtain copies of this.
We also wish we could hear more of Mike on our radios. His voice was a main part of Radio 2’s concerts for so many years, and we think it is a tragedy that he does not continue to be heard by a new generation, who are really missing out.
Hopefully the Campaign will change things, and you may even hear some of Mike on the shows here in the not too distant future…
Thanks once again!
Paul @ Radiocafe
Did Mike Redway ever sing a song with the lyrics hang up the phone?
Mike Redway was a great favourite of my wife and I and we loved to listen to his radio show and also his c.d’s.(We were incurable romantic’s) I lost my lovely wife two years ago and have found his songs a great comfort as I can sit and get lost in my memories. He is a wonderful songwriter and singer . Thank you Mike.
Mike Redway a lovely singer of good old songs with the added good sense and wisdom to have Neil Richardson write the orchestrations and conduct the orchestra; sadly, like Neil Richardson, much missed from Radio 2 by all who appreciate quality music! With best wishes to Mike Redway!