Guy Fletcher (songwriter)

Mervyn Guy Fletcher OBE (born 1944)^[1] is an English songwriter who, in partnership with Doug Flett, wrote several hits for other artists.^[2] As a singer, he had a small hit in the Netherlands and other European countries with the song, "Mary in the Morning" (1971).^[3]

Fletcher is chairman of PRS for Music (formerly the Performing Right Society).

Life and career

Born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, Fletcher was educated at Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School.^[4]

He worked as a session singer for the record producer Joe Meek, and as a jazz trumpet player. After deciding to turn to songwriting, he met lyricist Doug Flett in 1966 and their long partnership resulted in writing songs for several international artists. They were the first British writers to have a song recorded by Elvis Presley, when "The Fair's Movin' On" appeared on the B-side of his 1969 single "Clean Up Your Own Back Yard".^[5] Other Presley recordings followed, including "Wonderful World", the opening song in the film, Live a Little, Love a Little and "Just Pretend", featured in That's The Way It Is.^[6]

Fletcher and Flett's first UK Top 10 success was with The Hollies' "I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top" (1970),^[7] and they also had hits with songs performed by Cliff Richard, "With the Eyes of a Child", "Sing a Song of Freedom", "Baby You're Dynamite" and "Power to All Our Friends",^{[8][9][10][11]} which was the UK entry for the 1973 Eurovision Song Contest, achieving third place.

Their greatest international success was with "Save Me", a No. 6 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart,^[12] when released in 1983 by Louise Mandrell. "Save Me" was also a Billboard Hot 100 entry for American stars Donna McDaniel and Merrilee Rush in 1977^[13] and was recorded by Helen Reddy for her 1981 album Play Me Out. Fletcher and Flett also wrote hits for Ray Charles ("Is There Anyone Out There"),^[14] Tom Jones^[15] and Joe Cocker ("Lady Put the Light Out")^[16] and the Bay City Rollers ("Dedication").^[17] Fletcher and Flett also discovered, managed and published Chris de Burgh.^[4]

In 1975 Fletcher, former Onyx guitarist Al Hodge and John Hodkinson formed the soft-rock trio, Rogue, who released several singles, including "Cool Clear Air", "Lay Me Down", "Lady Put The Light Out", "Too Much Too Soon", "One to One", and "Borderline", and three albums. Their song "Fallen Angel" was a No. 12 hit in the Netherlands in January 1976; Frankie Valli's recording went to No. 11 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1976,^[18] before being featured in the Broadway show Jersey Boys. The band disbanded in 1979.

In 1985, Fletcher sang vocals on various songs for the BBC Children's TV series Bertha.

Fletcher is chairman of the Performing Right Society^[19] where he has been a director since 1998, and is chairman and managing director of the rights management company, Commercial Arts Ltd.^[20] He was for twelve years chairman of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors,^[4] where he led several campaigns against the erosion of composers' rights. He has won many awards including an ASCAP award in the US and an Ivor Novello Award in the UK,^[4] Fletcher has also written TV music, songs, commercials and music for the stage.

In 2005, he was honoured in HM the Queen's birthday honours list with an OBE for services to British music.

Family

Fletcher has a nephew, also called Guy Fletcher,^[1] who is a longtime co-worker with Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits.

His children are Justin Fletcher, a children's TV presenter; Amity Fletcher, a music promoter; Juliette Fletcher, a ITV South news presenter; and Liberty Fletcher, a community nurse.

Rogue album discography

• Fallen Angels (Epic 69235, 1975)
• Let It Go (Epic 81987, 1977)
• Would You Let Your Daughter (Ariola 5028, 1979)^[21]

References

External links

• Guyfletcher.com Official website
• Guy Fletcher discography at Discogs