Mike LeRoy
Encyclopedia
Mike LeRoy Successful entrepreneur
- Writer
and singer.
Mike was the singer of the theme song to the 1965 cult classic film, A High Wind in Jamaica
. he also sang 'with a little love' in 1970, which was subsequently used on the Attila the hun sketch of Monty Python's Flying Circus
.
. His father was in the RAF
and his mother was a farmers daughter – His grandfather was the well known farmer and breeder of hunters - Mark Robinson of Driffield
.
His mother and father separated when he was seven and he went to live with his sister - brother and mother in the dales of Yorkshire
(rkengarthdale). The family moved to Croft in Yorkshire when he was eleven and it was there that Mike was awarded one of only two annual scholarships to Richmond School
Yorkshire where he was a boarder until 18 years old.
He entered into RAF aircrew in March 1955 for an eight year term but resigned and left the RAF in March 1957 as he felt that flying was not his aspiration anymore.
His reference from his commanding officer
said ‘ This man should do well in any field of activity which requires his initiative and powers of command’ and when asked what his future plans were he replied ‘I want to be a singer’ !
after the RAF and became a well known troubadour playing his guitar and singing nightly in the clubs and restaurants of Chelsea
and the West End of London
. He was discovered this way and made his first record for Decca
in 1961 under the name of ROY LEE.
He made his first contracted singing engagement in St Helier, Jersey in 1963 where he met his wife and he then went on to record with several labels in the sixties - EMI Columbia - CBS
- MCA - and in 1965 he recorded the title song to the film ‘A High Wind in Jamaica’ for 20th Century Fox
.
During the second half of the sixties Mike owned a bistro
called ‘The Strolling Guitar’ in Hampstead
and in 1969 he acquired and made famous the French Restaurant - night club CHEZ CLEO in Gloucester Road, London
.Whilst owning this Club Mike continued to record and appeared in many TV shows such as Thank Your Lucky Stars
- Lunchbox - Discs A Go Go -
In 1974 he decided to move into the country and start a family and at this time took a break from singing - He settled near Ascot
and took a lease on all the catering facilities at Shepperton Studios
including the Pub and for the next five years, fed up to 1000 people every day.
At the same time he farmed pigs on his land at Ascot and bought property in Northampton
and the North - these interests continued for a decade and then with his two children in mind He bought the famous Stubbington House School
in Ascot and ran it for 10 years before selling it.
In 1991 after finishing a lengthy spell in local government
Mike was granted a COAT OF ARMS by Queen Elizabeth
under approval from the EARL MARSHALL - with his crest and motto ‘OMNIA FACIENDA’
After his two boys had finished their University education he decided to invest again in property and built up an extensive property empire most of which is now disposed of but some houses are still retained and run by the sons who also took over his Ascot Holding and turned it into the famous PALM HILLS Boutique Hotel and conference centre.
During this latter period Mike also developed his writing skills and created the film story and script of THE SNOW PRINCESS which is in development in Los Angeles
with Noble House Entertainments.
With three other film scripts completed and in development Mike decided to write and sing again after requests from his still loyal fan base and at this time is writing and recording his new album.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
- Writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and singer.
Mike was the singer of the theme song to the 1965 cult classic film, A High Wind in Jamaica
A High Wind in Jamaica (film)
A High Wind in Jamaica is a 1965 film, based on the novel of the same name, and directed by Alexander Mackendrick for the 20th Century-Fox studio. It starred Anthony Quinn and James Coburn as the pirates who capture the children....
. he also sang 'with a little love' in 1970, which was subsequently used on the Attila the hun sketch of Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python’s Flying Circus is a BBC TV sketch comedy series. The shows were composed of surreality, risqué or innuendo-laden humour, sight gags and observational sketches without punchlines...
.
Bio
Mike Leroy was born in Lupset, WakefieldWakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
. His father was in the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and his mother was a farmers daughter – His grandfather was the well known farmer and breeder of hunters - Mark Robinson of Driffield
Driffield
Driffield, also known as Great Driffield, is a market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The civil parish is formed by the town of Driffield and the village of Little Driffield....
.
His mother and father separated when he was seven and he went to live with his sister - brother and mother in the dales of Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
(rkengarthdale). The family moved to Croft in Yorkshire when he was eleven and it was there that Mike was awarded one of only two annual scholarships to Richmond School
Richmond School
Richmond School and Sixth Form College, often referred to simply as Richmond School, is a British Comprehensive School. It was created by the merger of three schools, the oldest of which is of such unknown antiquity that its exact founding date is unknown. The first mentions of it in writings,...
Yorkshire where he was a boarder until 18 years old.
He entered into RAF aircrew in March 1955 for an eight year term but resigned and left the RAF in March 1957 as he felt that flying was not his aspiration anymore.
His reference from his commanding officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
said ‘ This man should do well in any field of activity which requires his initiative and powers of command’ and when asked what his future plans were he replied ‘I want to be a singer’ !
Early career
Mike went to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
after the RAF and became a well known troubadour playing his guitar and singing nightly in the clubs and restaurants of Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
and the West End of London
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
. He was discovered this way and made his first record for Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
in 1961 under the name of ROY LEE.
He made his first contracted singing engagement in St Helier, Jersey in 1963 where he met his wife and he then went on to record with several labels in the sixties - EMI Columbia - CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
- MCA - and in 1965 he recorded the title song to the film ‘A High Wind in Jamaica’ for 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
.
During the second half of the sixties Mike owned a bistro
Bistro
A bistro, sometimes spelled bistrot, is, in its original Parisian incarnation, a small restaurant serving moderately priced simple meals in a modest setting. Bistros are defined mostly by the foods they serve. Home cooking with robust earthy dishes, and slow-cooked foods like cassoulet are typical...
called ‘The Strolling Guitar’ in Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
and in 1969 he acquired and made famous the French Restaurant - night club CHEZ CLEO in Gloucester Road, London
Gloucester Road, London
Gloucester Road is a street in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea of London. It runs north-south between Kensington Road and Old Brompton Road at the south end...
.Whilst owning this Club Mike continued to record and appeared in many TV shows such as Thank Your Lucky Stars
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Thank Your Lucky Stars may refer to:*Thank Your Lucky Stars , a 1943 film*Thank Your Lucky Stars , a British television program*Thank Your Lucky Stars , a 1990 album by the British band Whitehouse....
- Lunchbox - Discs A Go Go -
In 1974 he decided to move into the country and start a family and at this time took a break from singing - He settled near Ascot
Ascot
Ascot is Anglo Saxon in origin, and means 'eastern cottage'.-Places:Ascot is the name of several places:In Australia:* Ascot, Queensland, suburb of Brisbane* Ascot Park, South Australia, suburb of Adelaide...
and took a lease on all the catering facilities at Shepperton Studios
Shepperton Studios
Shepperton Studios is a film studio in Shepperton, Surrey, England with a history dating back to 1931 since when many notable films have been made there...
including the Pub and for the next five years, fed up to 1000 people every day.
At the same time he farmed pigs on his land at Ascot and bought property in Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
and the North - these interests continued for a decade and then with his two children in mind He bought the famous Stubbington House School
Stubbington House School
Stubbington House School was founded as a boys' preparatory school, originally located in the Hampshire village of Stubbington, now part of the borough of Fareham.The school was founded, in 1841, by Reverend William Foster, as "Foster's Naval Academy"...
in Ascot and ran it for 10 years before selling it.
In 1991 after finishing a lengthy spell in local government
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
Mike was granted a COAT OF ARMS by Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
under approval from the EARL MARSHALL - with his crest and motto ‘OMNIA FACIENDA’
After his two boys had finished their University education he decided to invest again in property and built up an extensive property empire most of which is now disposed of but some houses are still retained and run by the sons who also took over his Ascot Holding and turned it into the famous PALM HILLS Boutique Hotel and conference centre.
During this latter period Mike also developed his writing skills and created the film story and script of THE SNOW PRINCESS which is in development in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
with Noble House Entertainments.
With three other film scripts completed and in development Mike decided to write and sing again after requests from his still loyal fan base and at this time is writing and recording his new album.
Discography
| Song Name | Year | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Honey Lies | 1961 | Decca |
| 500 Miles | 1964 | EMI Columbia |
| Noone Knows | 1964 | EMI Columbia |
| I forgot what it was like | 1964 | EMI Columbia |
| The Big City | 1964 | EMI Columbia |
| Girl, Girl | 1968 | CBS |
| Don't seek a love | 1968 | CBS |
| Diana | 1969 | CBS |
| Woman in my life | 1970 | CBS |
| With a little love | 1970 | CBS |
| Holly Holy | 1971 | MCA |
| I Love you because | 2010 | Gammaka |
| Common or Garden | 2011 | Mike Leroy Productions |