Mike D'Abo -

Mike d’Abo is an English singer and songwriter, best known as the second vocalist of Manfred Mann. He fronted the band for three albums and multiple singles, including their 1968 transatlantic hit “Mighty Quinn.” He went solo with the 1970 MCA/Uni release d’Abo, followed by the 1972–74 A&M albums Down at Rachel’s Place and Broken Rainbows. In 1976, he teamed with ex-Dave Clark Five singer–organist Mike Smith for the CBS release Smith & d’Abo. His most famous composition, “Handbags and Gladrags,” was popularized by Chris Farlowe and Rod Stewart.

Background

Mike d’Abo was born Michael David d’Abo on March 1, 1944, in Betchworth, Surrey, the son of London stockbroker Edward Nassau Nicolai d’Abo and Dorothy Primrose Harbord. He attended Wellesley House School in Kent and Harrow School. D’Abo entered Selwyn College, Cambridge, with plans to study theology for the priesthood, then changed to economics and left without a degree. College contemporaries remembered his jazz-piano improvisations at social functions connected with Selwyn cricket tours.

D’Abo formed A Band of Angels with fellow Harrow pupils singer–guitarist John Gaydon, guitarist John Baker, bassist Dave Wilkinson, and drummer James Rugge-Price. The group played local dates and attracted an Ember Records scout by March 1964, which led to an extended series of studio sessions. John Barry produced “Me” (b/w “Not True As Yet”), issued by United Artists that April, while the d’Abo–Baker song “Hide ’n’ Seek” appeared on the Decca soundtrack to the pop film Just for You.

A Band of Angels followed with the United Artists single “She’ll Never Be You” (b/w “Gonna Make a Woman of You”) and moved to Piccadilly for “Leave It to Me” (b/w “Too Late My Love”). In early 1966, Piccadilly issued the d’Abo composition “Invitation” (b/w “Cheat and Lie”). The group performed “Invitation” on the BBC program A Whole Scene Going, where keyboardist Manfred Mann and drummer Mike Hugg saw d’Abo on the broadcast. Mann and guitarist Tom McGuinness then watched d’Abo at a club date, and Mann offered him the lead-singer position as Paul Jones prepared a solo career.

D’Abo joined Manfred Mann in July 1966 alongside Mann, Hugg, McGuinness, and bassist Klaus Voormann. He debuted on the Bob Dylan cover “Just Like a Woman” and remained through the albums As Is, Up the Junction, and Mighty Garvey!. D’Abo also developed work outside the group as a songwriter and producer. Chris Farlowe recorded “Handbags and Gladrags,” produced by d’Abo for a November 1967 single. In 1968, d’Abo teamed with Tony Macaulay on the Foundations single “Build Me Up Buttercup.”

D’Abo expanded into theatre with the Mermaid Theatre production Gulliver Travels in December 1968, where he played Gulliver and supplied music for the production. Immediate issued “(See the Little People) Gulliver Travels” (b/w “An Anthology of Gulliver’s Travels – Part Two”) on Feb. 7, 1969, but Fontana asserted contractual rights over d’Abo recordings and forced withdrawal of the single. A companion soundtrack album also disappeared from regular circulation. Manfred Mann dissolved in June, and d’Abo subsequently moved to Uni/MCA for the self-titled album d’Abo.

Discography: