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Mike Sammes

Born 19 February 1928, Reigate, Surrey, UK. Died 19 May 2001 from a winter bad fall he never really recovered from. Known for many backing vocals in British pop music when leading is vocal group '[a=Mike Sammes Singers]'. Mike learned Cello in grammar school, worked a short period for music publisher Chappell & Company and later as arranger. [a=Bill Shepherd], convinced him to form a male vocal group: The Coronets. Shepherd lost interest but Mike fully developed the group of singers in 1955 and the ensemble was soon working four sessions a day, six days a week. They did back-ups for all the major and minor British singers. His formation was also featured in soundtracks, radio work, regularly appeared on the BBC, some variety shows at the London Palladium, guest appearances on tv programs (The Val Doonican Show) and for series title themes (Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Secret Service,…). The Mike Sammes Singers recorded seven albums between 1962 and 1988, appeared in the very first [a=Cliff Richard & The Shadows]' recording session but also in some of [a=Beatles], [a=Olivia Newton-John] and for many other bands' recordings.