If it wasn’t for Mike Redway, this website might never have got started.
Mike and Ray worked together in the Oscar Rabin Orchestra and on the BBC Go Man Go programme back in ’62/63 and subsequently sang together on over a dozen Embassy recordings. But they had not seen each other for 45 years. Then, in late 2009, Mike contacted Ray about a meeting with SONY ... which led to the new Embassy CD being produced and provided the impetus for starting this site.
Mike Redway has been busy in the music business for over 50 years. He was born in Leeds in 1939, and with the help of his singer brother, alias Johnnie Leeds, in 1956 he joined the John Fearnley singers. This led to some happy times performing in local working men’s clubs and some not so happy times traveling around Yorkshire in the back of an ancient converted ambulance. But it was all good experience!
Together with Dick Jordan and Jean Phillies, they formed The Demijeans and appeared on BBC radio’s What Makes A Star ... which led to further appearances on shows with such greats as Al Read, Jimmy Clitheroe, Jimmy James and Albert Modley.
In 1962, Mike went to London and joined the Oscar Rabin Orchestra and their singers Barbara Kay and Ray Pilgrim. And Ray introduced him to Embassy ... and over 80 recordings as Redd Wayne, Mike Redway and The Typhoons.
This in turn led to him becoming one of the Mike Sammes Singers, singing on many of the films, hit records and TV shows of the 60’s and 70’s backing stars such Tom Jones, Englebert Humperdink. Andy Williams, Barbra Streisand and Johnny Mathis ... and of course, The Beatles themselves.
He left the session world to concentrate on his career as singer/songwriter. He had several successful radio series and made several albums singing the ballads he loved. The lovely lady in the cover picture of the CD on the right is Marjorie, who recently celebrated her golden wedding anniversa .... that’s 50 years happily married to Mike Redway!.
Mike is still active today as composer and producer. In fact he recently persuaded Ray Pilgrim to go back into the studio and record a couple of new tracks - after a 45-year break from singing - on which Mike sang ALL the backing voices.
See Mike singing "Windmills Of Your Mind"
on the BBC TV show 'One More Time'.
This was sometime between 1969-73
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