Alex Wharton
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Alex Wharton | |
---|---|
Born | 1939 |
Nationality | British |
Alex Wharton (born 1939), later also known as Alex Murray, was part of the singing
Singing and acting career
The Most Brothers worked in the famous
with "Whistle Bait" and "Takes a Whole Lotta Loving to Keep My Baby Happy" before disbanding the act in 1958.In 1959 Wharton adopted the name Murray and moved into an acting career with the
Lyric Hammersmith, and interspersed acting in minor film roles (Never Let Go
- 1960), TV parts and commercials with solo record releases on Decca.
He wrote songs with Tony Crombie before working in 1961 as
A&R man at Decca Records, the youngest in the country, at 20, in the post. His first production, "Love is Like A Violin" sung by Ken Dodd, went to #8 in the UK Singles Chart.[2]: 162 It was followed by hits with Mark Wynter; plus Rhet Stoller's "Chariot", which reached #26 in the UK.[2]: 533 Wharton gave much needed work to jazz musicians, at a time when they were out of fashion and struggling to find work, by producing a pioneering stereophonic album, Sweet Wide and Blue, with Stan Tracy (Piano), Victor Feldman (vibes), Lenny Bush (bass), Tony Crombie (drums) and others. He also recorded albums and singles with Mantovani, Winifred Atwell, and several other Decca labelmates before leaving Decca. Portrait of My Love with Matt Monro song was released by Parlophone and peaked at #3 in the UK chart.[2]: 375 He returned to acting and travelled to South Africa
to visit Mickie Most who he helped and encouraged to produce his own records, and taught to handle a mixing desk in the studios there.
Career as manager/producer
Wharton went on to discover and manage the Moody Blues, and produced their single "
Go Now". He promoted it with a music video, produced and directed by him, and filmed on 35mm at the Marquee Club, scoring a #1 UK single and a #10 US hit in early 1965. He produced another chart hit in 1970 with "Friends" by Arrival which peaked at #8 in the UK Top Ten charts. He left the music industry
in 1971. In 1973, Wharton moved to Wales.
Discography
- "Teen Angel"/"Paper Doll", Decca F11203, 1960
- "All On My Own"/"String Along", Decca F11225, 1960
- "When You Walked Out"/"Send For Me", Decca F11345, 1961
References
- ^ "Mickie Most". The Telegraph. 2 June 2003.
- ^ ISBN 1-904994-10-5.