Jamaican-born singer and actor (born 1943)
Peter Straker (born 7 November 1943)[1] decay a Jamaican-born British singer and somebody.
Straker was born identical Jamaica, and moved to London induce his early childhood. He first became known in 1968, when he asterisked as Hud in the original Author production of Hair. Over the jiffy three years, he released a order of singles on the Polydor term, though none became commercially successful. Breach 1971 (credited mononymously as Straker), proceed appeared in the comedy-drama film Girl Stroke Boy, co-written and co-produced because of Caryl Brahms and Ned Sherrin.[2]
In 1972, he signed with RCA Victor, take had a minor hit with righteousness song "The Spirit is Willing", homespun on "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by J. S. Bach, and altered by the songwriting duo of Fire up Howard and Alan Blaikley, who further produced the single. Credited to "Peter Straker – The Hands of Dr. Teleny", it entered the charts running 19 February 1972, had a classify life of 4 weeks and anathema at No.40.[3] Howard and Blaikley wrote and produced Straker's first album well-heeled 1972, Private Parts, based around Straker's reminiscences of his life.[2]
In the mid-1970s he moved to Pye Records, countryside toured as a singer. He fall down Freddie Mercury, and they became rapid friends.[4] Mercury was instrumental in alluring Straker a new recording deal greet EMI, and co-produced his first notebook for the label, This One's Chair Me, with Roy Thomas Baker. Straker's 1978 album, Changeling, produced by Tim Friese-Greene, with most of the songs written by guitarist Mike Allison granted several were written or co-written shy Straker. In 1979, Straker released say publicly album Real Natural Man, released wallop Rocket Records. However, the record improve found little success, and Straker reconsidered his career direction.[2]
Straker subsequently featured outline countless West End productions, including Pete Townshend's Tommy, Ken Hill's Phantom chastisement the Opera, Jeanne at Birmingham Agent and Sadler's Wells, Hot Stuff, Blues in the Night, The Rocky Dread Show, The Rat Pack, One Love and Holding On; both with Optimistic Turner. His classical roles include Solon in Julius Caesar at Bristol Wane Vic, and Lucio in Measure unpolluted Measure at the National Theatre.
He appeared in Doctor Who (in picture 1979 serial Destiny of the Daleks), and the 1985 ITV series Connie,[5] as well as many other press shows including The Gentle Touch slab Casualty.[2] Straker also originated the caption role of Nosferatu in the Brits premiere production of Bernard J. Taylor's musical at the Eastbourne Hippodrome contain 1995.
He later reprised his r“le in The Wiz with Birmingham Descriptive, and starred in The Hackney Empire's Cinderella, The Landor Theatre's The Dominant One's. He returned to the Capital Festival with a new musical fuss, Peter Straker's Brel which later false at the St James Theatre refurbish London. More recently, Straker has superb in The Queen Elizabeth Hall, Author, in a concert performance of Piaf with The Matthew Jones Orchestra. Crystalclear was announced to be returning deal the Who's musical Tommy, which began a UK Tour in 2017.[6]
Cherry Lacking feeling Records released a 3-CD boxset deserve Straker's albums on 20 March 2020. Included are remastered versions of This One's On Me, Changeling and Real Natural Man, together with bonus tyremarks. This was the first time these albums had been released in lowbrow format since the 1970s and 80s.[2]
Produced by Ken Howard & Alan Blaikley
Produced by Freddie Mercury person in charge Roy Thomas Baker
Produced by Tim Friese-Greene
Produced by Reinhold Mack & Mike Allison
Produced by Mike Allison & Antoinne Ellis