Born Birmingham England.
Same school as Jeff Lynn. Raised in same area as Duran Duran & Black Sabbath.
Worked in Theatre - stage & lighting for - Dionne Warwick; Supremes; Buddy Rich; Rose Royce; Odyssey; Commodores; Osmonds; Four Tops; Hollies; Sister Sledge; Martha Reeves etc.
First piano lessons on theatre grand. Drove staff crazy practising scales all day. Helped by artists like Victor Borge.
First writing success - comedy sketches for TV & radio.
As a songwriter he has written with world
famous percussionist Evelyn Glennie OBE. John Hamilton (18 weeks in charts.) & the superb Donna Britton. www.donnabritton.com
Has a song on the Sham Rock CD produced by Grammy award winner, Philip Larson, (Kylie Minogue; Mary J Blige) & features a Paul McCartney song.
Sham Rock had big hit with 'Tell Me Ma.'
My song, Watch Me Now was written for a Whoopi Goldberg film.
Signed to: Warner Chappell; Intl. Music Network; MKM, Faber Music.
Latest News
Just got two songs on the superb new album by San Francisco artist Isaac Angel.
Songs: 'Body Moves.' & 'Forever.'
John Read Bio
John was born and raised in Birmingham England.
He went to the same school as Jeff Lynn of ELO fame, and was raised in the same neighborhood as Duran Duran and just a few minutes away from Black Sabbath. (He has done photography work for a Bill Ward album cover.) (Sabbath drummer.)
He worked in Cabaret Theatre for many years - in charge of stage and lighting for artists such as - Three Degrees; Jack Jones; Dionne Warwick; Supremes; Buddy Rich; Rose Royce; Odyssey; Commodores; Osmonds; Dr Hook; Four Tops; Hollies; Sister Sledge; Martha Reeves - and many more.
His first piano lessons were on the Theatre's Grand Piano on an empty stage, where he would drive the other staff crazy by practising his scales for hours on end.
He often had help from visiting MDs and artists such as Victor Borge.
His first writing success before music took hold, was short scripts and comedy sketches for TV and radio.
An experienced songwriter, but likes to major on the lyrics and co-write with excellent musicians.
As a co-writer he has songs with world famous percussionist Evelyn Glennie OBE.
Also with John Hamiton (18 weeks in the charts.)
Also with the superb Donna Britton. (www.donnabritton.com)
He currently has a song on the latest Sham Rock CD, 'The Album'.
Sham Rock had a massive chart hit with their song 'Tell Me Ma.'
The album is produced by Grammy award winner, Philip Larson, (Kylie Minogue; Mary J Blige) and features songs by Tom Springfield and a spine tingling ballad by Paul McCartney
The song, 'Watch Me Now' is a rockin, foot stomping 'girl power' song that was originally written for a Whoopi Goldberg film, but was dropped at the eleventh hour for a Gospel song.
He has also had 'near misses' with Celine Dion; & Jennifer Rush
John has been signed to: Warner Chappell; The International Music Network;
MKM Germany, Faber Music, Strange Art Music; and others.
He is always looking for collaborations with good, all round musicians,
preferably with some track record.
Styles - Pop; ballad; pop/rock; R&B; pop/country.
E.mail: mayjar@aol.com
Website: www.readsongs.com