Tony Hicks
Encyclopedia
Tony Hicks is a guitarist and singer who has been a member of the British pop group The Hollies
since 1963.
talent show in 1957. By the early 1960s, Hicks was a respected member of the Manchester
music scene and had become the lead guitarist with Ricky Shaw and the Dolphins. When local rivals The Hollies
needed a replacement for their guitarist Vic Steele in April 1963, Hicks was approached to join the band. Although initially reluctant, Hicks was finally convinced to join after listening to the Hollies through the air vent of the Oasis Club in Manchester (and the fact they had secured a test recording session with EMI's Parolophone label for staff producer Ron Richards, which Hicks duly attended as their new guitarist in April 1963 which resulted in a recording contract
with Parlophone
).
The Hollies soon became one of the most successful bands in Britain with a distinctive breezy pop style which was built around the three-part harmony singing of Hicks (Lower harmony vocals) and band mates Allan Clarke
(Lead vocals) and Graham Nash
(High Harmony vocals) . Hicks contributed his fist solo composition for the group 'When I'm Not There' to an EP release in 1964, plus co-wrote a 'B' side 'Keep Off That Friend Of Mine' with Hollies drummer Bobby Elliott that year. Hicks then joined Clarke & Nash as the group's 'in house' song writing team, who from 1964 to mid 1966 wrote as; 'L.Ransford', before then adopting the 'Clarke-Hicks-Nash' team banner.By the mid 1960s, the threesome had also become responsible for writing most of their songs, including singles hits such as; "Stop Stop Stop", "On A Carousel,", "Carrie Anne
" and "King Midas In Reverse
." Hicks rarely sang Lead vocals on Hollies songs, but was featured vocally on 'Look Through Any Window' (1965), plus sang a verse lead on 'Too Much Monkey Business' (1964), 'Carrie Anne' (a song he commenced for the band in Stavanger, Norway in 1967), and 'Open Up Your Eyes' (1968). Hicks took solo lead vocals on his song 'Pegasus' (1967), plus later the Clarke-Sylvester penned 'Look At Life' (1969), his 'Born A Man' (1973) and much later on 'Hillsborough' (1989) and most recently on Hollies' drummer Bobby Elliott's 'Then, Now, Always (Dolphin Days)' (2009).
In 1966 together with contributions from fellow Hollies members Clarke & Nash, Hicks contributed guitarwork alongside Yardbirds guitarist & sessionman Jimmy Page to The Everly Brothers album; 'Two Yanks In England' which included Everlys cover versions of a number of Hollies songs co-written by Hicks.
In the sixties with Nash performing few guitar duties except for the occasional rhythm-part and some acoustic, Hicks became an integral part of the Hollies sound. Apart from contributing distinctive lead guitar parts, Hicks could always be relied upon to add unusual instrumentation to their sessions such as the banjo
which was a key component of their hit "Stop, Stop, Stop." , plus Greek sounding guitar ('Tell Me To My Face') and fuzz guitar ('Have You Ever Loved Somebody'). When no original material was available, Hicks was always on the look out for potential hits and it was he who discovered the demos of Hollies hits; 'Just One Look' (UK No.2 in 1964), 'I Can't Let Go' (UK No.2 in 1966) and most importantly "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
" (UK No.3 in 1969) which was to become one of the Hollies biggest hits.
Hicks suggested the band do an album of Bob Dylan songs in late 1968, which Nash was against and cited as one of the reasons for his exit from the band (having already sung with Crosby & Stills in the USA), The Hollies replaced Nash with Terry Sylvester and 'Hollies Sing Dylan' (1969) was a No.3 in the UK album charts, tho' it failed to chart in the USA. This was one of the very earliest
'tribute albums' devoted to a single artist by a vocal group.
After Graham Nash's December 1968 departure from The Hollies Hicks began to write more solo songs used as either 'B' sides or album tracks such as; 'Cos You Like To Love Me' (1969), 'Don't Give Up Easily' (1969), 'Dandelion Wine' (1970), and wrote much of The Hollies 1970 album; 'Confessions of The Mind' which included his; 'Too Young To Be Married' (a Number one overseas single in Australia and New Zealand).
Hicks also co-wrote songs with UK singer Kenny Lynch both for The Hollies such as; 'What A Life I've Led', 'Look What We've Got', 'Promised Land', and USA Chart hit single; 'Long Dark Road' , (all 1971), 'Blue In The Morning' (1972), plus 'Faded Images' which was recorded by Liverpudlian singer Cilla Black on her 1971 album 'Images'.
Hicks later co-wrote many Hollies songs between 1974 and 1978 with Allan Clarke & Terry Sylvester,
In 1974 Hicks Produced the self titled group album 'Taggett' on EMI Records in the UK.
In 1990 Hicks co-wrote a song 'Naiomi' for The Hollies with his son Paul Hicks.
In 1993 Hicks added new guitar parts and harmony vocals (with Clarke and Nash) to an 'alternate' version of 'Peggy Sue Got Married' sung by Buddy Holly - credited as; 'Buddy Holly and The Hollies' which led off the 'Not Fade Away' Tribute album to Holly by various artists.
The Hollies continued to have hits beyond the 1960s (they had a UK chart hit with 'Holliedaze' hits medley in 1981, then had a USA Top Thirty hit with a cover of 'Stop In The Name of Love' in 1983, then enjoyed a surprise UK No. 1 single in 1988 with a re-issue of "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother") and the group still performs and records today. However, with the departure on retirement of Allan Clarke in 1999, only Hicks and drummer Bobby Elliott remain from the band's 1960s heyday.
In 2010 The Hollies, who had already won an Ivor Novello Award for outstanding contribution to British popular music, were inducted into the USA Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Hicks and Bobby Elliott were absent from the induction ceremony due to UK touring commitments with the current Hollies band, but both were included as part of the award winning line up.
His son Paul Hicks has worked as an award winning sound engineer at Abbey Road Studios
and having earlier assisted with preparing mixes of several vintage Hollies recordings was then involved with projects by Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney and George Harrison, then several of The Beatles
remastering projects, notably the Anthology
and Let It Be... Naked albums, plus was involved in the recent remastering of the mono versions of The Beatles back catalogue on Compact Disc.
The Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
since 1963.
Career
Tony Hicks first had a taste of fame at the age of 12 as a member of Les Skifflettes when they were featured on the Carroll LevisCarroll Levis
Carroll Richard Levis was a talent scout, impresario and television and radio personality. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, he moved to England in 1935 and joined the BBC. In the 1950s he hosted a talent competition for young people called The Carroll Levis Discovery Show.-References:...
talent show in 1957. By the early 1960s, Hicks was a respected member of the Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
music scene and had become the lead guitarist with Ricky Shaw and the Dolphins. When local rivals The Hollies
The Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
needed a replacement for their guitarist Vic Steele in April 1963, Hicks was approached to join the band. Although initially reluctant, Hicks was finally convinced to join after listening to the Hollies through the air vent of the Oasis Club in Manchester (and the fact they had secured a test recording session with EMI's Parolophone label for staff producer Ron Richards, which Hicks duly attended as their new guitarist in April 1963 which resulted in a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Parlophone
Parlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
).
The Hollies soon became one of the most successful bands in Britain with a distinctive breezy pop style which was built around the three-part harmony singing of Hicks (Lower harmony vocals) and band mates Allan Clarke
Allan Clarke (singer)
Allan Clarke is a retired British singer who was one of the founding members of The Hollies. He retired in 1999.-Career:...
(Lead vocals) and Graham Nash
Graham Nash
Graham William Nash, OBE is an English singer-songwriter known for his light tenor vocals and for his songwriting contributions with the British pop group The Hollies, and with the folk-rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Nash is a photography collector and a published photographer...
(High Harmony vocals) . Hicks contributed his fist solo composition for the group 'When I'm Not There' to an EP release in 1964, plus co-wrote a 'B' side 'Keep Off That Friend Of Mine' with Hollies drummer Bobby Elliott that year. Hicks then joined Clarke & Nash as the group's 'in house' song writing team, who from 1964 to mid 1966 wrote as; 'L.Ransford', before then adopting the 'Clarke-Hicks-Nash' team banner.By the mid 1960s, the threesome had also become responsible for writing most of their songs, including singles hits such as; "Stop Stop Stop", "On A Carousel,", "Carrie Anne
Carrie Anne
"Carrie Anne" is a song written by Allan Clarke, Graham Nash, Tony Hicks and released by British pop rock group The Hollies. The song was recorded on 1 May 1967 and was released as a single in the same month by Parlophone Records in the United Kingdom and Epic Records in the United States. It...
" and "King Midas In Reverse
King Midas In Reverse
King Midas In Reverse is a song by British pop group The Hollies written by members Allan Clarke, Graham Nash and Tony Hicks. It was released by The Hollies as single in September 1967 in anticipation of their album Butterfly. It was released in the UK on the Parlophone label and in the US on the...
." Hicks rarely sang Lead vocals on Hollies songs, but was featured vocally on 'Look Through Any Window' (1965), plus sang a verse lead on 'Too Much Monkey Business' (1964), 'Carrie Anne' (a song he commenced for the band in Stavanger, Norway in 1967), and 'Open Up Your Eyes' (1968). Hicks took solo lead vocals on his song 'Pegasus' (1967), plus later the Clarke-Sylvester penned 'Look At Life' (1969), his 'Born A Man' (1973) and much later on 'Hillsborough' (1989) and most recently on Hollies' drummer Bobby Elliott's 'Then, Now, Always (Dolphin Days)' (2009).
In 1966 together with contributions from fellow Hollies members Clarke & Nash, Hicks contributed guitarwork alongside Yardbirds guitarist & sessionman Jimmy Page to The Everly Brothers album; 'Two Yanks In England' which included Everlys cover versions of a number of Hollies songs co-written by Hicks.
In the sixties with Nash performing few guitar duties except for the occasional rhythm-part and some acoustic, Hicks became an integral part of the Hollies sound. Apart from contributing distinctive lead guitar parts, Hicks could always be relied upon to add unusual instrumentation to their sessions such as the banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
which was a key component of their hit "Stop, Stop, Stop." , plus Greek sounding guitar ('Tell Me To My Face') and fuzz guitar ('Have You Ever Loved Somebody'). When no original material was available, Hicks was always on the look out for potential hits and it was he who discovered the demos of Hollies hits; 'Just One Look' (UK No.2 in 1964), 'I Can't Let Go' (UK No.2 in 1966) and most importantly "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
"He Ain't Heavy... He's My Brother" is a popular music ballad written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell. Originally recorded by Kelly Gordon in 1969, the song became a worldwide hit for The Hollies later that year and again for Neil Diamond in 1970....
" (UK No.3 in 1969) which was to become one of the Hollies biggest hits.
Hicks suggested the band do an album of Bob Dylan songs in late 1968, which Nash was against and cited as one of the reasons for his exit from the band (having already sung with Crosby & Stills in the USA), The Hollies replaced Nash with Terry Sylvester and 'Hollies Sing Dylan' (1969) was a No.3 in the UK album charts, tho' it failed to chart in the USA. This was one of the very earliest
'tribute albums' devoted to a single artist by a vocal group.
After Graham Nash's December 1968 departure from The Hollies Hicks began to write more solo songs used as either 'B' sides or album tracks such as; 'Cos You Like To Love Me' (1969), 'Don't Give Up Easily' (1969), 'Dandelion Wine' (1970), and wrote much of The Hollies 1970 album; 'Confessions of The Mind' which included his; 'Too Young To Be Married' (a Number one overseas single in Australia and New Zealand).
Hicks also co-wrote songs with UK singer Kenny Lynch both for The Hollies such as; 'What A Life I've Led', 'Look What We've Got', 'Promised Land', and USA Chart hit single; 'Long Dark Road' , (all 1971), 'Blue In The Morning' (1972), plus 'Faded Images' which was recorded by Liverpudlian singer Cilla Black on her 1971 album 'Images'.
Hicks later co-wrote many Hollies songs between 1974 and 1978 with Allan Clarke & Terry Sylvester,
In 1974 Hicks Produced the self titled group album 'Taggett' on EMI Records in the UK.
In 1990 Hicks co-wrote a song 'Naiomi' for The Hollies with his son Paul Hicks.
In 1993 Hicks added new guitar parts and harmony vocals (with Clarke and Nash) to an 'alternate' version of 'Peggy Sue Got Married' sung by Buddy Holly - credited as; 'Buddy Holly and The Hollies' which led off the 'Not Fade Away' Tribute album to Holly by various artists.
The Hollies continued to have hits beyond the 1960s (they had a UK chart hit with 'Holliedaze' hits medley in 1981, then had a USA Top Thirty hit with a cover of 'Stop In The Name of Love' in 1983, then enjoyed a surprise UK No. 1 single in 1988 with a re-issue of "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother") and the group still performs and records today. However, with the departure on retirement of Allan Clarke in 1999, only Hicks and drummer Bobby Elliott remain from the band's 1960s heyday.
In 2010 The Hollies, who had already won an Ivor Novello Award for outstanding contribution to British popular music, were inducted into the USA Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Hicks and Bobby Elliott were absent from the induction ceremony due to UK touring commitments with the current Hollies band, but both were included as part of the award winning line up.
Personal life
Hicks has been married to Jane Dalton since 1974.His son Paul Hicks has worked as an award winning sound engineer at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
and having earlier assisted with preparing mixes of several vintage Hollies recordings was then involved with projects by Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney and George Harrison, then several of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
remastering projects, notably the Anthology
The Beatles Anthology
The Beatles Anthology is the name of a documentary series, a set of three double albums and a book focusing on the history of The Beatles. Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr all participated in the making and approval of the works, which are sometimes referred to collectively as the...
and Let It Be... Naked albums, plus was involved in the recent remastering of the mono versions of The Beatles back catalogue on Compact Disc.