Leo Sayer (born Gerard Hugh Sayer, 21 May 1948, Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex[1]) is an English-born singer-songwriter and musician whose singing career has spanned four decades. A distinctive singer-songwriter, Sayer was a top singles and album act on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1970s.[2] His first seven hit singles in the UK all reached the Top 10 - a feat first registered by his one-time manager, Adam Faith.[2] From his first hit with "The Show Must Go On" in 1973 to the present day, Sayer has never been missing from the charts for longer than five successive years.[2]
Life and career
Sayer has had success worldwide with his single and album releases, particularly in Britain and the United States He was initially discovered by David Courtney, who then co-managed him with the singer turned manager, Adam Faith.[1] 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 without The Who in 1973.[1]
That same year, Sayer began his career as a recording artist. At the time of his initial chart breakthrough in the UK, with his debut hit "The Show Must Go On", he wore a pierrot style outfit and make-up and the song shot up to number two.[1] It might have been difficult to throw off the clown's image, which like Gilbert O'Sullivan's short trousers and pudding basin haircut was fine for attracting public attention but not much good for sustaining a musical career.[1] However, Sayer followed up hit after hit.[1]
He had subsequent single hits with "One Man Band" (1974), "Long Tall Glasses" (1975) and "Moonlighting" (1975).
In 1976, Sayer recorded three Beatles songs, "I Am the Walrus", "Let It Be" and "The Long and Winding Road" for the film, All This and World War II.
In 1977, he had a U.S. number one with "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" (a Grammy Award winner for the year's best Rhythm and Blues Song), as well as the romantic ballad, "When I Need You" (1977), which reached number one in both the UK and U.S. Written by Albert Hammond and Carole Bayer Sager, it was Sayer's first UK chart-topper (after three number two hits) and his second successive U.S. number one.[3] It was also the first of two UK chart-toppers in a row for producer Richard Perry.[3]
Sayer also had cover versions of Bobby Vee's Sonny Curtis/Jerry Allison composition, "More Than I Can Say" (his fourth UK number 2 hit and U.S. number 2), and Buddy Holly's "Raining in My Heart" (1979) and "Orchard Road" in 1983. 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 also provided songs for the soundtrack for the English language version of the French-Belgian animated film, Le Chainon manquant (1980). In 1981 he was the voice of Dan the forest ranger in The Raccoons on Ice, the second of four specials serving as a predecessor to the critically-acclaimed Canadian animated series, The Raccoons. He also sang several songs for the special, all of which were included on the 1983 album Lake Freeze
In 1990, he contributed to the last studio collaboration between Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson, Woolfson's solo album Freudiana, performing "I Am A Mirror".[4]
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 Billy Nichols' song "I Can't Stop Loving You" (originally a UK No.6 hit for Sayer) 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. He became an Australian citizen on 26 January 2009 at a naturalization ceremony attended by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.[5]
On 12 February 2006, he made a surprise return to number one in the UK Singles Chart, with Meck's remix of "Thunder In My Heart". It was his first appearance in the UK Top 10 for almost 24 years, and his second UK chart-topper, almost three decades after his first. In 2008 Sayer released a new album in Australia, Don't Wait Until Tomorrow. This album, produced by Garth Porter (from the Australian pop band Sherbet), and released by Universal Music Australia, features selections from his catalog in an entirely new setting, re-arranged with strings and acoustic and jazz instrumentation.[citation needed]
Sayer has appeared in various TV shows including The Muppet Show (on which he sang "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing," "The Show Must Go On," and "When I Need You"), The Wiggles 2008 DVD, You Make Me Feel Like Dancing which features Sayer's hit of the same name, Celebrity Big Brother UK in 2007 and the Australian television 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".
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.[6]
A "Leo Sayer" is cockney rhyming slang for an all day drinking session ("all-dayer").[7]
Discography
Albums
† - Australia release only
Singles
[2]
References
External links
