Tony Hazzard -

Tony Hazzard (born Oct. 31, 1943) is an English singer/songwriter from Liverpool who released a 1969 album of covers and originals on CBS, followed by the 1971–73 Bronze albums Loudwater House and Was That Alright Then? In 1976, he collaborated with pop vocalist Richard Barnes for a Warner album. During the 1960s, his songs were recorded by Manfred Mann, The Hollies, Herman’s Hermits, Lulu, Cliff Richard, and The Tremeloes.

Background

Tony Hazzard was born Anthony Hazzard on Oct. 31, 1943, in Rainhill, near Liverpool, England. Hazzard received a plastic Columbian ukulele at age eight and learned chords on the instrument. He moved to a second-hand guitar at age twelve and taught himself chord shapes.

Hazzard formed a trio at sixteen with drummer Graham Noun and rhythm guitarist Danny Horgan. His father worked as a senior psychiatric nurse at Rainhill Hospital, where the trio played patient socials and public dances in Reeve Hall. Hazzard entered St John’s College at Durham University in 1962 after Prescot Grammar School. He studied psychology for one year, then shifted his studies to Latin and English.

Hazzard played lead guitar in one Durham group and sang lead in another. His university bands played student functions and local working-men’s clubs. Hazzard also took up songwriting at Durham. University friend Sid Waddell introduced him to BBC story editor Tony Garnett, who heard several originals and urged him to pursue music in London. Hazzard graduated in June 1965 and moved to London with one of his Durham groups. The band secured an Acton residency and recorded demos in London. Garnett bought the musicians a van and introduced Hazzard to Manfred Mann manager Gerry Bron. Hazzard accepted Bron’s offer to pursue a solo career with support from his bandmates.

Herman’s Hermits took Hazzard’s “You Won’t Be Leaving” to No. 20 on the UK chart with a March 1966 Columbia single. Bill Shepherd arranged Hazzard’s first solo session, with Hazzard on voice and twelve-string guitar. Columbia issued “You’ll Never Put Shackles On Me” (b/w “Calling You Home”) in May 1966, followed by television appearances on Thank Your Lucky Stars and Ready Steady Go. Hazzard also cut full-band demos at Regent Sound A with bassist Dave Clague and keyboardist/flutist Colin Wood.

Manfred Mann recorded 1967/68 versions of the Hazzard compositions “Ha! Ha! Said the Clown” and “Fox on the Run.” He also wrote 1968 singles for Lulu (“Me, the Peaceful Heart”) and The Hollies (“Listen to Me”). Hazzard returned to CBS that May with “The Sound of the Candyman’s Trumpet” (b/w “Everything’s Gone Wrong”). The Tremeloes landed a spring 1969 UK hit with “Hello World,” which Hazzard wrote with Cliff Richard in mind. Meanwhile, Bron presented the accumulated demos to CBS, and the recordings became Hazzard’s first album, Tony Hazzard Sings Tony Hazzard.

Discography: