Leo Sayer

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Leo Sayer
Birth name Gerard Hugh Sayer
Born 21 May 1948 (1948-05-21) (age 60)
Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England
Genre(s) Pop, pop rock
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, Entertainer
Instrument(s) Vocals, harmonica
Years active 1973–present
Label(s) Chrysalis Records
Rhino Records (US)
Universal Music (Australia)
Website www.leosayer.com
Notable instrument(s)
harmonica

Leo Sayer (born Gerard Hugh Sayer, 21 May 1948, Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex) is an English singer-songwriter and musician, now based in Australia, whose singing career has spanned four decades.

Contents

[edit] Life and career

Sayer has had success with his single and album releases, in both the UK and the U.S. He was initially discovered by David Courtney, who co-managed him with the singer-turned-manager, Adam Faith. Sayer began his music career co-writing songs with David Courtney, including "Giving It All Away," which gave Roger Daltrey of The Who his first hit as a soloist in 1973.

That same year, Sayer began his career as a recording artist. At the time of his initial chart breakthrough in Britain, with his debut hit "The Show Must Go On," he wore a pierrot style outfit and make-up.

In 1976, Sayer recorded three Beatles songs, "I Am the Walrus", "Let It Be" and "The Long and Winding Road" for the documentary, All This and World War II.

His subsequent hits included, "Long Tall Glasses" (1974) and "Orchard Road" (1983). In 1977, he had hits with "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" (a U.S. number one), the romantic ballad, "When I Need You" (1977), which reached number one in both the UK and U.S. Sayer also had remakes of Bobby Vee's Sonny Curtis/Jerry Alison composition, "More Than I Can Say" (his fourth UK number 2 hit, and in the U.S., number 2 pop and number one in the adult contemporary chart), and Buddy Holly's "Raining In My Heart". In the U.S., three of his singles - "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" (1977), "When I Need You," (1977) and "More Than I Can Say" (1980) - were certified gold.

Sayer made an appearance on The Muppet Show during the third season (second show) on which he sang "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing," "The Show Must Go On," and "When I Need You."

He also provided the soundtrack for the English language version of the French-Belgian animated film, The Missing Link (1980).[citation needed]

In 1990, he contributed to the last recording studio collaboration between Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson, Woolfson's solo album Freudiana, performing "I Am A Mirror"[1].

In 2000, "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" was featured in the hit film, Charlie's Angels, and was on the accompanying soundtrack album.

Sayer's debut UK hit, "The Show Must Go On," was covered by Three Dog Night for the U.S. market and reached Number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1974. Phil Collins covered Sayer's song "I Can't Stop Loving You" for his 2002 album, Testify. It reached number one on the U.S. adult contemporary chart.

In 2005, Sayer moved to Sydney, Australia, where he remains based to this day. On 12 February 2006, made a surprise return to number one in the UK Singles Chart, with Meck's remix of "Thunder In My Heart." He has also appeared in the Australian comedy, Stupid, Stupid Man.

Leo Sayer: At His Very Best, a career spanning compilation album, was released in the UK on 6 March 2006. It exclusively features the Meck single, alongside Sayer classics such as, "When I Need You" and "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing".

[edit] Celebrity Big Brother 5

In 2007, Sayer was the fifth person to join the Celebrity Big Brother UK house at the start of the series.

When Jade Goody arrived on Day 3, the House was divided into two groups as part of a task, (the 'masters' and the 'servants'), with Sayer entering the servants' quarters. He participated as a night butler, but eventually rebelled and pretended to be a mute, annoyed over a comment made by Dirk Benedict, suggesting that he always talks over people. However, he eventually relented and began talking to his fellow servants again, but continued his miming in front of the masters and the Big Brother until the task ended. He was at odds with the producers over a number of issues, at one point consulting his contract.

Sayer was nominated for eviction, along with fellow housemates Dirk Benedict and Carole Malone, with Sayer and Malone being joint favourites to leave the House.

Sayer walked out of the Big Brother house on 12 January ostensibly because he was refused a supply of fresh underwear, the same day he was due to face eviction.[2] He broke an outside door with a broomstick, made his way to the outer compound and then tussled with the security guards who were the obstacle between him and freedom, issuing a tirade of abuse in the process.[3]

[edit] 1967 hotel fire

In January 1967, while Sayer was working as a hall porter at the King's Hotel in Hove, he assisted in the rescue of guests from a fire that damaged the first floor of the hotel. He was rescued by builders working on a block of flats beside the hotel.[4]

[edit] MGM Spoof

Sayer was featured in an MGM parody on YouTube with the 20th Century Fox fanfare.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles

  • "The Show Must Go On" - 1973 - UK #2 (U.S. #4 in 1974 for Three Dog Night)
  • "One Man Band" - 1974 - UK #6 / U.S. #96 (1975 release)
  • "Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)" - 1974 - UK #4 / U.S. #9 (1975 release)
  • "Moonlighting" - 1975 - UK #2
  • "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" - 1976 - UK #2 / U.S. #1
  • "When I Need You" - 1977 - UK & U.S. #1
  • "How Much Love" - 1977 - UK #10 / U.S. #17
  • "Thunder in My Heart" - 1977 - UK #22 / U.S. #38
  • "Easy to Love" - 1977 - U.S. #36
  • "I Can't Stop Lovin' You (Though I Try)" - 1978 - UK #6
  • "Raining in My Heart" - 1978 - UK #21, U.S. # 47
  • "More Than I Can Say" - 1980 - UK #2, U.S. #2
  • "Living in a Fantasy" - 1981 - U.S. # 23
  • "Have You Ever Been in Love" - 1982 - UK #10
  • "Heart (Stop Beating in Time)" - 1982 - UK #22
  • "Orchard Road" - 1983 - UK #16
  • "Till You Come Back to Me" - 1983 - UK #51
  • "Sea Of Heartbreak" - 1984 - UK #84
  • "Unchained Melody" - 1986 - UK #54
  • "I Will Fight for You" - 1992 - Germany
  • "When I Need You" (re-issue) - 1993 - UK #65
  • "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" - The Groove Generation featuring Leo Sayer 1998 - UK #32
  • "Thunder in My Heart Again" - Meck featuring Leo Sayer - 2006 - UK #1; Australia #16

[edit] References

  1. ^ Eric Woolfson's FREUDIANA - The Musical. Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
  2. ^ Leo Sayer quits Big Brother house
  3. ^ Celebrity Big Brother 5 UK News - Leo Sayer's Escape In More Detail
  4. ^ My Brighton and Hove | Places | Hotels | Bedford Hotel, King's Road | Fire at the hotel

[edit] External links