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Albert Hammond | |
|---|---|
 Albert Hammond (2015) | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Albert Hammond Sr. |
| Born | Albert Louis Hammond (1944-05-18)18 May 1944 (age 81) London, England |
| Origin | Gibraltar |
| Genres | Pop rock,soft rock |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1960–present |
| Website | alberthammond |
Albert Louis HammondOBE (born 18 May 1944) is aGibraltarian singer, songwriter and record producer. As a songwriter he has collaborated with songwritersMike Hazlewood,John Bettis,Hal David,Diane Warren,Holly Knight,Carole Bayer Sager andRoy Orbison.
Hammond wrote commercially successful singles for singersCeline Dion,Joe Dolan,Aretha Franklin,Whitney Houston,Diana Ross,Leo Sayer,Tina Turner,Glen Campbell,Julio Iglesias,Willie Nelson,Lynn Anderson andBonnie Tyler, and bandsAce of Base,Air Supply,Blue Mink,Chicago,Heart,Living in a Box,the Carpenters,the Hollies,the Pipkins,Starship, andWestlife.
Songs co-written by Hammond include "Make Me an Island" and "You're Such a Good Looking Woman" by Joe Dolan, "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship, "One Moment in Time" sung by Whitney Houston, "The Air That I Breathe", a hit for the Hollies, "To All the Girls I've Loved Before", a Julio Iglesias/Willie Nelson duet, and "When I Need You" by Leo Sayer. In 2015, he received the British Academy'sIvor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection.[1]
Hammond is also a solo singer in his own right. His biggest (and only top 20) USBillboard hit was "It Never Rains in Southern California", #5 in 1972.[2] Other songs of his include "Down by the River", "The Free Electric Band", "I'm a Train", and "When I'm Gone". For a time, he was part ofthe Family Dogg, a vocal band with whom he had the hit "A Way of Life". He has also produced for a number of other artists.
Hammond was born in London, after his family had beenevacuated from Gibraltar duringWorld War II.[3] Shortly after the war, the family returned toGibraltar where Hammond grew up.[3] In 1960, he started in music withGibraltarian band The Diamond Boys, which had no real commercial success but played a part in Spain's introduction to pop and rock music. The Diamond Boys performed at the first nightclubs inMadrid to stage modern bands, alongside Spanish rock and roll pioneers such asMiguel Ríos.
In 1966, Hammond co-founded the British vocal bandthe Family Dogg, reaching number 6 on theUK Singles Chart with "A Way of Life" in 1969,[3][4] taken from thealbum of the same name.
Hammond moved to the United States at age 26 in 1970, continuing his professional music career.[5] However, he had his greatest commercial success in mainland Europe. His successful 1970s singles, released onColumbia subsidiaryMums Records include "Down by the River", "It Never Rains in Southern California", "The Free Electric Band" (his only single to chart in theUK),[4] "Half a Million Miles from Home", "If You Gotta Break Another Heart", "The Peacemaker", "I Don't Wanna Die in an Air Disaster", "I'm a Train" and "99 Miles from L.A."
In 1970, Hammond joined forces withSteve Rowland. Billed as "Steve & Albert", the duo released a single, "Follow the Bouncing Ball" which they heavily promoted, particularly in the UK. They appeared onTop of the Pops andThe Basil Brush Show in the UK, but the single failed to chart.[6]
Hammond also wrote songs for others with frequent collaboratorMike Hazlewood. These include "Little Arrows" forLeapy Lee, "Make Me an Island" (1969) (which Hammond himself recorded in a Spanish disco-style in 1979), and "You're Such a Good Looking Woman" (1970) forJoe Dolan, "Gimme Dat Ding" forthe Pipkins in 1970 (itself a cover from theFreddie and the Dreamers albumOliver in the Overworld), "Good Morning Freedom" forBlue Mink, "Freedom Come, Freedom Go" forthe Fortunes in 1971 and "The Air That I Breathe" which was a hit forthe Hollies in 1974.[3] In 1971, Hammond also sang onMichael Chapman's fourth albumWrecked Again, and worked briefly withthe Magic Lanterns on recordings of his and Hazlewood's songs, and other material.[7]
Written withCarole Bayer Sager, "When I Need You" was first recorded by Hammond on his 1976 albumWhen I Need You. Produced byRichard Perry,Leo Sayer's version made #1 on theUK Singles Chart for two weeks in February 1977.[8] Commercially successful worldwide, it reached #1 in Canada (RPM Top Singles, also for two weeks), and on theBillboard Hot 100 for a week in May 1977.[citation needed]Leapy Lee released a version of "When I Need You" on his first recording since 1970.[9]
In 1991, Hammond co-wrote "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" recorded byDiana Ross, which reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2005, Ross re-recorded the song, this time as a duet withWestlife. Again, the song reached #2 in the UK.[citation needed]
In 2005, he releasedRevolution of the Heart (whereTodd Sharpville was his music director), and the single "This Side of Midnight".[citation needed]
In 2008, Hammond met Kasaan Steigen of the Los Angeles-based Trigger Management who became his personal manager, during which time Hammond collaborated with British singerDuffy. Duffy's resulting album,Endlessly, co-written and co-produced by Hammond, was released in November 2010.[10]
In 2010, Hammond also worked onLegend, a new recording of duets of his most successful singles, featuring artists includingElena Paparizou andBonnie Tyler. It was released on Sony Spain on 23 November that year.[11][12]
In 1979, Hammond married former model, Argentinian Claudia Fernández.[5] His son with Fernández,Albert Hammond, Jr. is a member of rock bandThe Strokes.[13]
In 1987, Hammond's composition withDiane Warren "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" (recorded byStarship) was nominated for anOscar,Golden Globe andGrammy Award.[14] In 1988, Hammond won anEmmy Award for the song "One Moment in Time", a song he wrote along withJohn Bettis forNBC Sports' coverage of the1988 Summer Olympics.[citation needed]
In 2000, he received theOrder of the British Empire (OBE).[3]
On 19 June 2008, Hammond was inducted in theSongwriters Hall of Fame.[15]
In May 2015, Hammond collected theIvor Novello award for outstanding song collection.[16]
In 2023, he received the Ministry of Culture Lifetime Achievement Award.[17]
(in alphabetical order of song title)
(in alphabetical order of song title)
| Title | Language | Writing collaboration with | Artist / band | Year released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Cantaré, cantarás" | Spanish | Juan Carlos Calderón and Anahí van Zandweghe | Hermanos (Various Latin artists) | 1985 |
| "Entre mis recuerdos" | Spanish | Holly Knight andLuz Casal | Luz Casal | 1995 |
| "Sensualité" | French | Shelly Peiken andAxelle Red | Axelle Red | 1993 |
| "Y Tú También Llorarás" | Spanish | Anahi van Zandweghe | José Luis Rodríguez | 1987 |
(in alphabetical order of song title)
