Scott English | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sheldon David English (1937-01-10)January 10, 1937 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | November 16, 2018(2018-11-16) (aged 81) London, England |
| Occupations |
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| Employer(s) | Warner Brothers, EMI |
| Notable work | "Hi Ho Silver Lining", "Brandy", "Bend Me, Shape Me", "Help Me Girl" |
| Style | Pop |
| Spouses | Jacquiline Tames, Elfie Redburn |
| Children | 2 |
Sheldon David "Scott"English (January 10, 1937 – November 16, 2018) was an Americansongwriter,arranger andrecord producer. He is best known as the co-writer of "Brandy" which he wrote withRichard Kerr.[1] The song became a No. 1 hit forBarry Manilow in 1974, with the title changed to "Mandy". English had also released asingle of "Brandy" which reached No. 12 on theUK Singles Chart in November 1971,[2] and entered the US charts in March 1972.
English was born inBrooklyn, New York City.
In 1960, he released his firstsingle, "4,000 Miles Away", onDot Records.[1] In 1964, English had a regionaldoo-wop hit called "High on a Hill",[1] written by Frank Cariola and A. Mangravito.[3] "High on a Hill" has consistently been voted an all-time top song on oldies radio stations in thePittsburgh metropolitan area. It also reached No. 3 in popularity on theSan Francisco Bay Area radio charts,[4] and peaked at #4 in Los Angeles (source: KRLA Top 30 Survey, Feb.-Mar. 1964).
WithLarry Weiss, he wrote "Bend Me, Shape Me", which became a hit for theChicago-based bandthe American Breed, reaching No. 5 on the U.S.Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968 and also becoming a hit in the UK forAmen Corner. The song had been recorded a year earlier bythe Outsiders as an album track onIn (1967).
English and Weiss, whom he met through arrangerClaus Ogerman, became good friends.[5] Together, they penned "Help Me Girl" (1966), which was a hit for two acts in late 1966:Eric Burdon (solo for Decca, a UK No. 14 hit) and the Outsiders. They also pennedLynne Randell's "Ciao Baby" (1967) andJeff Beck's hit "Hi Ho Silver Lining", originally recorded by English groupthe Attack in early 1967.
English produced the song "West Virginia" by the Elves in 1969 (a band later known as Elf) which featuredRonnie James Dio on bass and vocals. He later producedThin Lizzy's eponymous debut albumThin Lizzy (1971).[6][7] He co-wrote the song "Words Don't Mean a Thing" withLynsey de Paul, who released her version of the song on her albumJust a Little Time.[8][9] The song was also featured on the 2008 albumSongs from the British Academy, Vol. 1.[10] A Spanish version was released by Cadafal on their albumEn La Carretera.[11]
In 1998, English was credited as a co-writer with Simon Stirling and Phil Mankiza on theUK entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, "Where Are You?", performed byImaani. In 2014, English appeared onBBC Radio London'sJo Good Show, debuting new song "Holla" which he wrote for WestWay Beats.[12]
English died in England on November 16, 2018, at the age of 81, from complications ofhip surgery.[13]
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