The Eagles (UK band)
Encyclopedia
The Eagles were a British
music quartet
active from 1958 until the mid 1960s. They formed in 1958, at the Eagle House youth club in Knowle West, Bristol
.
Led by lead guitarist Terry Clarke (born Terence Clarke, 1947, Reading, Berkshire
), who used a homebuilt custom instrument, the group included drummer Rod Meacham (born Roderick Meacham, 25 March 1943, Bristol, died 21 March 2002, Bristol), bassist Michael Brice, and Johnny Payne on rhythm guitar. Playing primarily instrumental
rock
, they began their career in Bristol playing local venues such as dance halls.
They were launched into the world of professional music in 1962 upon being noticed by composer Ron Grainer
, probably best remembered for his theme to Doctor Who
. Grainer was interested in The Eagles for a film project he was working on, Some People
, about a fictional Bristol band not unlike themselves. The Eagles contributed to the Some People soundtrack, and became Grainer's protégés, recording new versions of some of his film score work like the theme of the Maigret
television series. The Some People soundtrack reached #2 on the EP charts, and remained on the charts for a stay of 21 weeks.
The Eagles were awarded the Duke of Edinburgh
Trophy for their work on the film, and soon after were signed to Pye Records
, at the time among the top three labels in Britain. After releasing the singles "Bristol Express" and "Exodus", The Eagles embarked on a major tour of England along with more established acts Del Shannon
, Stevie Wonder
, Johnny Tillotson
, and Dionne Warwick
.
The tour world lasted much of 1963, during which their debut album, Smash Hits From The Eagles was released in the UK and the United States. The following year brought their most successful single and the one for which they are best remembered today, a vocal rendition of "Wishin' and Hopin'
" backed with "Write Me a Letter". Unfortunately, 1964 also brought a pair of tragedies which ultimately led to the end of the group: Grainer went blind, and Meacham suffered a nervous breakdown. Soon after, in late 1964, the band went their separate ways.
s of the era, and in 1998 Sanctuary Records
released a 61 track double album
set, Smash Hits from The Eagles and The Kestrels, by far the most accessible overview of the Eagles' music today.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
music quartet
Quartet
In music, a quartet is a method of instrumentation , used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts.-Western art music:...
active from 1958 until the mid 1960s. They formed in 1958, at the Eagle House youth club in Knowle West, Bristol
Knowle West, Bristol
Knowle West is a neighbourhood situated on a low plateau in the south of Bristol, England, about from the centre of the city. Most of the area is coterminous with the Filwood ward of Bristol City Council, although a small part of the estate lies within Knowle ward to the east. To the west are...
.
Led by lead guitarist Terry Clarke (born Terence Clarke, 1947, Reading, Berkshire
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
), who used a homebuilt custom instrument, the group included drummer Rod Meacham (born Roderick Meacham, 25 March 1943, Bristol, died 21 March 2002, Bristol), bassist Michael Brice, and Johnny Payne on rhythm guitar. Playing primarily instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, they began their career in Bristol playing local venues such as dance halls.
They were launched into the world of professional music in 1962 upon being noticed by composer Ron Grainer
Ron Grainer
Ronald Erle “Ron” Grainer was an Australian-born composer who worked for most of his professional career in the United Kingdom. He is mostly remembered for his film and television music.- Biography :...
, probably best remembered for his theme to Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. Grainer was interested in The Eagles for a film project he was working on, Some People
Some People
Some People is a 1962 film directed by Clive Donner. It stars Kenneth More and Ray Brooks.-Cast:* Kenneth More as Mr. Smith* Ray Brooks as Johnnie* Anneke Wills as Anne* David Andrews as Bill* Angela Douglas as Terry* David Hemmings as Bert...
, about a fictional Bristol band not unlike themselves. The Eagles contributed to the Some People soundtrack, and became Grainer's protégés, recording new versions of some of his film score work like the theme of the Maigret
Maigret
Jules Maigret, Maigret to most people, including his wife, is a fictional police detective, actually a commissaire or commissioner of the Paris "Brigade Criminelle" , created by writer Georges Simenon.Seventy-five novels and twenty-eight short stories about Maigret were published between 1931 and...
television series. The Some People soundtrack reached #2 on the EP charts, and remained on the charts for a stay of 21 weeks.
The Eagles were awarded the Duke of Edinburgh
Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh is a British royal title, named after the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, which has been conferred upon members of the British royal family only four times times since its creation in 1726...
Trophy for their work on the film, and soon after were signed to Pye Records
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
, at the time among the top three labels in Britain. After releasing the singles "Bristol Express" and "Exodus", The Eagles embarked on a major tour of England along with more established acts Del Shannon
Del Shannon
Del Shannon was an American rock and roll singer-songwriter who had a No. 1 hit, "Runaway", in 1961.- Biography :...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Johnny Tillotson
Johnny Tillotson
Johnny Tillotson is an American singer and songwriter. He enjoyed his greatest success in the early 1960s, when he scored 9 top-ten hits on the pop, country and adult contemporary billboard charts including "Poetry In Motion" and the self-penned "It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'"...
, and Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
.
The tour world lasted much of 1963, during which their debut album, Smash Hits From The Eagles was released in the UK and the United States. The following year brought their most successful single and the one for which they are best remembered today, a vocal rendition of "Wishin' and Hopin'
Wishin' and Hopin'
"Wishin' and Hopin" is a song written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach which was a Top Ten hit for Dusty Springfield in 1964.The song was first recorded by Dionne Warwick and was the B-side of Warwick's single "This Empty Place" in the spring of 1963; the track was also featured on Warwick's debut...
" backed with "Write Me a Letter". Unfortunately, 1964 also brought a pair of tragedies which ultimately led to the end of the group: Grainer went blind, and Meacham suffered a nervous breakdown. Soon after, in late 1964, the band went their separate ways.
After The Eagles
Clarke continued to play with local bands in Bristol until a few years before his death in 2008. Payne returned to Bristol and also continued to play with local bands. The Eagles' music is available on many compilation albumCompilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s of the era, and in 1998 Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world...
released a 61 track double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
set, Smash Hits from The Eagles and The Kestrels, by far the most accessible overview of the Eagles' music today.