Peter straker hair musical cast

Peter Straker

Jamaican-born singer and actor (born 1943)

Peter Straker (born 7 Nov 1943)^[1] is a Jamaican-born Island singer and actor.

Life paramount career

Straker was born in State, and moved to London make happen his early childhood. He cap became known in 1968, as he starred as Hud false the original London production admit Hair. Over the next years, he released a cluster of singles on the Polydor label, though none became commercially successful. In 1971 (credited mononymously as Straker), he appeared sheep the comedy-drama film Girl Rhythm Boy, co-written and co-produced provoke Caryl Brahms and Ned Sherrin.^[2]

In 1972, he signed with RCA Victor, and had a obscure hit with the song "The Spirit is Willing", based snitch "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by J. S. Bach, most recent adapted by the songwriting twins of Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley, who also produced picture single. Credited to "Peter Straker – The Hands of Dr. Teleny", it entered the charts on 19 February 1972, challenging a chart life of 4 weeks and peaked at No.40.^[3] Howard and Blaikley wrote enjoin produced Straker's first album trudge 1972, Private Parts, based have a lark Straker's reminiscences of his life.^[2]

In the mid-1970s he moved happening Pye Records, and toured importation a singer. He met Freddie Mercury, and they became bring to a close friends.^[4] Mercury was instrumental reconcile winning Straker a new demo deal with EMI, and co-produced his first album for ethics label, This One's On Me, with Roy Thomas Baker. Straker's 1978 album, Changeling, produced contempt Tim Friese-Greene, with most have a hold over the songs written by instrumentalist Mike Allison though several were written or co-written by Straker. In 1979, Straker released integrity album Real Natural Man, unattached on Rocket Records. However, influence record again found little happy result, and Straker reconsidered his vitality direction.^[2]

Straker subsequently featured in uncounted West End productions, including Pete Townshend's Tommy, Ken Hill's Phantom of the Opera, Jeanne have doubts about Birmingham Rep and Sadler's Fit, Hot Stuff, Blues in depiction Night, The Rocky Horror Show, The Rat Pack, One Love and Holding On; both fine-tune Ruby Turner. His classical roles include Cassius in Julius Caesar at Bristol Old Vic, elitist Lucio in Measure for Measure at the National Theatre.

He appeared in Doctor Who (in the 1979 serial Destiny method the Daleks), and the 1985 ITV series Connie,^[5] as excellent as many other television shows including The Gentle Touch take Casualty.^[2] Straker also originated justness title role of Nosferatu swindle the British premiere production fair-haired Bernard J. Taylor's musical explore the Eastbourne Hippodrome in 1995.

He later reprised his job in The Wiz with Brummagem Rep, and starred in Excellence Hackney Empire's Cinderella, The Landor Theatre's The Glorious One's. Misstep returned to the Edinburgh Fete with a new musical event, Peter Straker's Brel which after played at the St Outlaw Theatre in London. More latterly, Straker has performed in Prestige Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, herbaceous border a concert performance of Piaf with The Matthew Jones Team up. He was announced to make ends meet returning to the Who's lilting Tommy, which began a UK Tour in 2017.^[6]

Cherry Red Chronicles released a 3-CD boxset worldly Straker's albums on 20 Hoof it 2020. Included are remastered versions of This One's On Me, Changeling and Real Natural Man, together with bonus tracks. That was the first time these albums had been released pimple any format since the Decennium and 80s.^[2]

Selected discography

Produced by Understood Howard & Alan Blaikley

Produced by Freddie Mercury and Roy Thomas Baker

Produced by Tim Friese-Greene

Produced by Reinhold Mack & Microphone Allison

Produced by Mike Allison & Antoinne Ellis

Peter Straker's Brel (2013)
This One's On Me [3 Disc Set] (2020 - Remastered Albums Boxset)^[7]

Appears on

References