Raymond Froggatt
Encyclopedia
Raymond William Froggatt (also known as "Froggy") was born in Bordesley Green
, Birmingham
, UK on 13 November 1941, and is a British
songwriter
and singer.
Froggatt began performing rock and roll
in the early 1960s and soon gained a reputation for his well-crafted songs and exciting live performances.
Froggatt’s band, initially known as the Buccaneers, later Monopoly and ultimately The Raymond Froggatt Band, and whose bassist was Louis Clark
of ELO
and Hooked on Classics
fame, were signed by Polydor in 1964 but success eluded them, although the Dave Clark Five had a #7 hit with Froggy’s "Red Balloon" in 1968. His own version of the song, under the title "Callow la Vita", reached #3 in the Netherlands
. Another Froggy song, "Big Ship", was a #8 hit for Cliff Richard
in 1969. In the 1970s the band was managed by Don Arden
, hoping to break into the US music scene, but the experience led to the collapse of the band.
Froggy has a large live following: his unique mix of country music
and rock and roll is popular with audiences all over the world. Froggy’s band now comprises long-time colleague Hartley Cain on guitar, bassist Jamie Davey and Rosie Heywood on drums.
Bordesley Green
Bordesley Green is an inner-city area of Birmingham, England about two miles south-east from the city centre. It also contains a road of the same name. It is also a ward in the formal district of Hodge Hill. Neighbouring areas include, Alum Rock, Saltley, Small Heath and Yardley.Heartlands Hospital...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, UK on 13 November 1941, and is a British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and singer.
Froggatt began performing rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
in the early 1960s and soon gained a reputation for his well-crafted songs and exciting live performances.
Froggatt’s band, initially known as the Buccaneers, later Monopoly and ultimately The Raymond Froggatt Band, and whose bassist was Louis Clark
Louis Clark
Louis Clark is a British musical arranger and keyboard player.He trained at Leeds College of Music. He was the conductor of the orchestra and choir hired to back Electric Light Orchestra's sound, introduced on their album Eldorado in 1974...
of ELO
ELO
- Music :* Electric Light Orchestra, a British rock music group** The Electric Light Orchestra , the group's debut album** ELO 2, the group's second album* ELO Part II, an offshoot band of Electric Light Orchestra- Sports and games :...
and Hooked on Classics
Hooked on Classics
Hooked on Classics was a series of record albums first introduced in 1981, toward the end of the disco era's peak in popularity.Louis Clark, former arranger for Electric Light Orchestra, conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra playing a collection of very recognizable extracts from classical...
fame, were signed by Polydor in 1964 but success eluded them, although the Dave Clark Five had a #7 hit with Froggy’s "Red Balloon" in 1968. His own version of the song, under the title "Callow la Vita", reached #3 in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Another Froggy song, "Big Ship", was a #8 hit for Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
in 1969. In the 1970s the band was managed by Don Arden
Don Arden
Don Arden , born Harry Levy, was an English music manager, agent and businessman, best known for overseeing the careers of rock groups Small Faces, Electric Light Orchestra and Black Sabbath....
, hoping to break into the US music scene, but the experience led to the collapse of the band.
Froggy has a large live following: his unique mix of country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
and rock and roll is popular with audiences all over the world. Froggy’s band now comprises long-time colleague Hartley Cain on guitar, bassist Jamie Davey and Rosie Heywood on drums.