Keith Hale (born 6 November 1950) is an English
songwriter
A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music ...
,
composer,
record producer
A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure. Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...
,
performer
The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which are the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. Perfor ...
and
music teacher
Music education is a field of practice in which educators are trained for careers as primary education, elementary or secondary education, secondary music teachers, school or music conservatory ensemble directors. Music education is also a res ...
, most notable for his work with
Toyah Willcox
Toyah Ann Willcox (born 18 May 1958) is an English musician, actress, and TV presenter. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Willcox has had eight top 40 singles, released over 20 albums, written two books, appeared in over 40 stage plays an ...
,
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band known as one of the earliest space rock groups. Since their formation in November 1969, Hawkwind have gone through many incarnations and have incorporated many different styles into their music, including hard ...
and
Ginger Baker
Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker (19 August 1939 – 6 October 2019) was an English drummer. His work in the 1960s and 1970s earned him the reputation of "rock's first superstar drummer", for a style that melded jazz and African rhythms and pi ...
.
Biography
The Yorkshire-born musician moved south when he was ten. Whilst in his final year at primary school he won first prize in the Cadbury's National Essay Competition for Schools. As a teenager he moved back to
Hull to join Nothineverappens "Yorkshire's premier psychedelic band". Returning to London he collaborated in "Silly Balls", a mixed-media project designed to maximise audience participation but this proved too unwieldy to be commercially viable. His distinctive keyboard work and songwriting ability led him to being asked to join
Comus
In Greek mythology, Comus (; grc, Κῶμος, ''Kōmos'') is the god of festivity, revels and nocturnal dalliances. He is a son and a cup-bearer of the god Dionysus. He was represented as a winged youth or a child-like satyr and represents ana ...
in 1973. Later projects included his own band Blood Donor,
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band known as one of the earliest space rock groups. Since their formation in November 1969, Hawkwind have gone through many incarnations and have incorporated many different styles into their music, including hard ...
, and
Ginger Baker
Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker (19 August 1939 – 6 October 2019) was an English drummer. His work in the 1960s and 1970s earned him the reputation of "rock's first superstar drummer", for a style that melded jazz and African rhythms and pi ...
, before a long and successful association with
Toyah. More recently, Hale writes and arranges school music productions, teaches keyboards and participates in songwriting workshops.
Career
Comus
Comus
In Greek mythology, Comus (; grc, Κῶμος, ''Kōmos'') is the god of festivity, revels and nocturnal dalliances. He is a son and a cup-bearer of the god Dionysus. He was represented as a winged youth or a child-like satyr and represents ana ...
recorded an album for
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman (musician), Tom Newman. It ...
in 1974 entitled ''
To Keep from Crying
''To Keep from Crying'' is the second album by progressive folk band Comus, released in 1974. It featured a notably different lineup from their other releases, with the violin/viola and woodwind spots replaced by keyboards and a conventional drum ...
''. Hale played keyboards and marimba.
Blood Donor
Determined to pursue his own musical vision, Hale formed Blood Donor
in 1977. It had the then highly unusual line-up of two synthesizer players, two percussionists and a bass player. This group battled against a backdrop of punk rock, supported
J.J. Burnel, and was signed to
Arista Records in 1979. Various producers were used including Steve James and
John Cale although they recorded the first album with
Tonto's Expanding Head Band
Tonto's Expanding Head Band was a British-American electronic music duo consisting of Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff. Despite releasing only two albums in the early 1970s, the duo were influential in the development of electronic music a ...
and
Stevie Wonder producer
Malcolm Cecil
Malcolm Cecil (9 January 193728 March 2021) was a British jazz bassist, record producer, engineer and electronic musician. He was a founding member of a leading UK jazz quintet of the late 1950s, the Jazz Couriers, . Internal disputes between record company and management meant that this album was never released, although two singles were – ''Rubber Revolution''
and ''Rice Harvest''. The latter, featuring a Vietnamese children's choir, is regularly revitalised for Hale's school productions.
Blood Donor
can be seen performing ''Rice Harvest'' in the 1980
ATV documentary ''Toyah'', at
Toyah Willcox
Toyah Ann Willcox (born 18 May 1958) is an English musician, actress, and TV presenter. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Willcox has had eight top 40 singles, released over 20 albums, written two books, appeared in over 40 stage plays an ...
's
Battersea warehouse where they frequently rehearsed.
In 2002, they reunited for a one-off 25th anniversary concert which took place at The Old Market in
Hove
Hove is a seaside resort and one of the two main parts of the city of Brighton and Hove, along with Brighton in East Sussex, England. Originally a "small but ancient fishing village" surrounded by open farmland, it grew rapidly in the 19th c ...
, Sussex.
Hawkwind
In 1980, Hale joined
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band known as one of the earliest space rock groups. Since their formation in November 1969, Hawkwind have gone through many incarnations and have incorporated many different styles into their music, including hard ...
, replacing
Tim Blake
Timothy Blake (born 6 February 1952, in Shepherd's Bush, London) is a keyboardist, synthesist, vocalist, and composer working with Gong, Hawkwind and his Synthesizer and Light performances as Crystal Machine, with the French Light Artist Patr ...
who left during the ''
Levitation
Levitation (from Latin ''levitas'' "lightness") is the process by which an object is held aloft in a stable position, without mechanical support via any physical contact.
Levitation is accomplished by providing an upward force that counteracts ...
'' tour. Together with drummer
Ginger Baker
Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker (19 August 1939 – 6 October 2019) was an English drummer. His work in the 1960s and 1970s earned him the reputation of "rock's first superstar drummer", for a style that melded jazz and African rhythms and pi ...
, Hale left after a well documented band bust up at
Rockfield Studios
Rockfield Studios is a residential recording studio located in the Wye Valley just outside the village of Rockfield, Monmouthshire, Wales. It was originally founded in 1963 by brothers Kingsley and Charles Ward.
Facilities
Rockfield is a two- ...
.
Ginger Baker
Following
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band known as one of the earliest space rock groups. Since their formation in November 1969, Hawkwind have gone through many incarnations and have incorporated many different styles into their music, including hard ...
, Ginger then asked Hale to get a band together for which he enlisted the help of old friends
Billy Jenkins and Ian Trimmer, as well as Blood Donor bassist Rikki Legair. Known as ''Ginger Baker's Nutters'' the band undertook two long European tours and recorded two live albums, ''Live in Milan 1980''
and ''Ginger Baker in Concert''.
The band broke up when Ginger had to leave the UK for tax reasons.
Toyah
Hale co-wrote and co-produced Toyah's first album (and EP/AP) ''
Sheep Farming in Barnet
''Sheep Farming in Barnet'' is the debut studio album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1979 by Safari Records.
Background
The album was produced by Steve James and future band member Keith Hale. The al ...
'' and her first single ''
Victims of the Riddle
"Victims of the Riddle" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released as the band's debut single in 1979 by Safari Records. The song later featured on the band's album ''Sheep Farming in Barnet''.
Background ...
''. In February 1981 her version of Hale's song ''
It's a Mystery
''It's a Mystery'' is the fifteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Seger, released in 1995 (see 1995 in music). As with his prior album, it is credited to the Silver Bullet Band, though many of the tracks feature a wide arra ...
'' reached no 4 in the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
. He then joined
Toyah's band for more touring
and TV work including ''
Warrior Rock: Toyah On Tour'', a double album recorded at the culmination of a 25-date UK tour, during two nights at the
Hammersmith Odeon
The Hammersmith Apollo, currently called the Eventim Apollo for sponsorship reasons, and formerly known as the Hammersmith Odeon, is a live entertainment performance venue, originally built as a cinema called the Gaumont Palace. Located in Ha ...
in July 1982.
Toyah Willcox
Toyah Ann Willcox (born 18 May 1958) is an English musician, actress, and TV presenter. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Willcox has had eight top 40 singles, released over 20 albums, written two books, appeared in over 40 stage plays an ...
had this to say in 2011 – "''So when it comes down to
Warrior Rock, I know it's one of the best live albums ever made! And I’m confident about that and two fingers to everyone else about it really!''".
Space Cadets
Hale, along with former Blood Donor colleagues
John Bentley and Gordon Coxon released one experimental self-titled 'acid-jazz' album in 1988.
Jasper Fish
Nicknamed Jasper Fish by
Ginger Baker
Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker (19 August 1939 – 6 October 2019) was an English drummer. His work in the 1960s and 1970s earned him the reputation of "rock's first superstar drummer", for a style that melded jazz and African rhythms and pi ...
(a reference to Hale originating from a fishing city), he recorded two albums in the guise of Jasper Fish and the Alice Band. Alice is the name of Hale's daughter. Supported
Jools Holland in 1998. Described as 'very much in the
Canterbury
Canterbury (, ) is a cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the primate of ...
style of the '70s'.
Mind Your Head
Project with
Squeeze bass player and former Space Cadet
John Bentley. Performed showcase at Ropetackle, Shoreham, 2 May 2008.
Musical director and music tutor
In the present day, Hale writes and arranges many children's musical productions in the Kent and London area and teaches keyboards and songwriting at Charles Darwin School. He has participated with members of
Squeeze's
Chris Difford
Christopher Henry Difford (born 4 November 1954) is an English singer, musician, songwriter and record producer. He is a founding member and songwriter of the rock group Squeeze.
Musical career
Born in Greenwich, London, Difford has written l ...
's songwriting workshops in Italy.
Discography (selected)
Singles and EPs
* Blood Donor
, "Rubber Revolution" / "Chemical Babies" (Arista ARIRV 262 1979)
* Blood Donor
, "Rice Harvest" / "Something Happened" (Arista ARIST 279 1979)
* Blood Donor
, "Doctor?" / "Soap Box Blues" (Safari SAFE 29 1980)
*
Toyah , "
Victims of the Riddle
"Victims of the Riddle" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released as the band's debut single in 1979 by Safari Records. The song later featured on the band's album ''Sheep Farming in Barnet''.
Background ...
" (Safari SAFE 15 1979)
*
Toyah , "
Sheep Farming in Barnet
''Sheep Farming in Barnet'' is the debut studio album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1979 by Safari Records.
Background
The album was produced by Steve James and future band member Keith Hale. The al ...
" (Safari SAP 1 1979)
*
Toyah , "
Four from Toyah" (Safari TOY1 1981) No. 4
UK
Studio albums
*
Comus
In Greek mythology, Comus (; grc, Κῶμος, ''Kōmos'') is the god of festivity, revels and nocturnal dalliances. He is a son and a cup-bearer of the god Dionysus. He was represented as a winged youth or a child-like satyr and represents ana ...
, ''
To Keep from Crying
''To Keep from Crying'' is the second album by progressive folk band Comus, released in 1974. It featured a notably different lineup from their other releases, with the violin/viola and woodwind spots replaced by keyboards and a conventional drum ...
'' (Virgin 1974)
* Blood Donor , ''The Chappell Tapes'' (Realvision)
*
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band known as one of the earliest space rock groups. Since their formation in November 1969, Hawkwind have gone through many incarnations and have incorporated many different styles into their music, including hard ...
, ''
Levitation
Levitation (from Latin ''levitas'' "lightness") is the process by which an object is held aloft in a stable position, without mechanical support via any physical contact.
Levitation is accomplished by providing an upward force that counteracts ...
'' (Atomhenge 1980)
*
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band known as one of the earliest space rock groups. Since their formation in November 1969, Hawkwind have gone through many incarnations and have incorporated many different styles into their music, including hard ...
, ''
Zones
Zone or The Zone may refer to:
Places Climate and altitude zones
* Death zone (originally the lethal zone), altitudes above a certain point where the amount of oxygen is insufficient to sustain human life for an extended time span
* Frigid zone, ...
'' (Flickknife 1983)
* Space Cadets , ''Space Cadets'' (Space Cadet SPACAD 1 1989)
*
Toyah , ''
Sheep Farming in Barnet
''Sheep Farming in Barnet'' is the debut studio album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1979 by Safari Records.
Background
The album was produced by Steve James and future band member Keith Hale. The al ...
'' (Safari 1C064 1980)
*
Toyah , ''
Anthem'' (Safari VOOR 1 1981) No. 2
UK
*
Toyah , ''
Mayhem'' (Safari VOOR 77 1985)
* Jasper Fish , ''Around the Room in Eighty Days'' (GEMS 1998)
* Jasper Fish , ''Night of the Long Knives'' (GEMS 1999)
* Alice Hale , ''In the Real World''
* Ian M Hale , ''Successor''
Live albums
*
Ginger Baker
Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker (19 August 1939 – 6 October 2019) was an English drummer. His work in the 1960s and 1970s earned him the reputation of "rock's first superstar drummer", for a style that melded jazz and African rhythms and pi ...
, ''Nutters Live in Milan 1980'' (Voiceprint 1981)
*
Toyah , ''
Warrior Rock: Toyah On Tour'' (Safari TNT 201 1982)
*
Ginger Baker
Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker (19 August 1939 – 6 October 2019) was an English drummer. His work in the 1960s and 1970s earned him the reputation of "rock's first superstar drummer", for a style that melded jazz and African rhythms and pi ...
, ''In Concert'' (Onsala ONS2 1987)
Compilation albums
*
Toyah , ''
Toyah! Toyah! Toyah!'' (K-Tel NE 1268 1984)
*
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band known as one of the earliest space rock groups. Since their formation in November 1969, Hawkwind have gone through many incarnations and have incorporated many different styles into their music, including hard ...
, ''
Epocheclipse'' (Castle 1999)
* Hawkwind , ''The Stonehenge Collection'' (Flickknife 2000)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hale, Keith
1950 births
Living people
English composers
English songwriters
English record producers
Musicians from Kingston upon Hull
Hawkwind members
Toyah (band) members