Alex Wharton (born 1939), later also known as Alex Murray, was part of the singing duo the Most Brothers with Mickie Most, and later, co-manager and producer of the Moody Blues.[1]
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/produceredit
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.
^ abcRoberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
March 27, 2024
alex, wharton, this, biography, living, person, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, adding, reliable, sources, contentious, material, about, living, persons, that, unsourced, poorly, sourced, must, removed, immediately, from, article, tal. This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page especially if potentially libelous Find sources Alex Wharton news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message Alex Wharton born 1939 later also known as Alex Murray was part of the singing duo the Most Brothers with Mickie Most and later co manager and producer of the Moody Blues 1 Alex WhartonBorn1939ScunthorpeNationalityBritish Contents 1 Singing and acting career 2 Career as manager producer 3 Discography 4 ReferencesSinging and acting career editThe Most Brothers worked in the famous the 2i s Coffee Bar in London s Soho They toured the UK with early rock n rollers Marty Wilde Colin Hicks younger brother of Tommy Steele the Tony Crombie Big Band Cliff Richard the Kalin Twins and Wee Willie Harris In 1957 they recorded on the Decca label 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 Theatre Workshop company in Stratford East London under the direction of the theatre director Joan Littlewood He appeared in the first production of Fings Ain t Wot They Used T Be before transferring to London s West End theatre Wyndam s as understudy to Alfred Lynch in the title role of The Hostage He played a small role in the Arnold Wesker one act play Last Day In Dreamland at 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 amp 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 editWharton 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 edit 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 1961References edit Mickie Most The Telegraph 2 June 2003 a b c Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited ISBN 1 904994 10 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alex Wharton amp oldid 1204760307, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
