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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZHOWARD & BLAIKLEYUK songwriting team whose success was rivalled only by Lennon & McCartney: Ken Howard (b 26 Dec. '39), Alan Blaikley (b 23 March '40), both from Hampstead, London. Wrote 10 top 10 hits for Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky Mick & Tich '65-8, no. 1 for the Honeycombs ("Have I The Right?''64), hits for the Herd (see Peter Frampton), Lulu, others; first in UK to write a hit for Elvis Presley. Wrote concept LP Ark II '69 for Flaming Youth (Phil Collins' first group). Background as BBC TV trainees stood them well when expanding into stage musicals; first one Mardi Gras '76 ran for six months in London's West End. Kept writing hits through '70s for Bay City Rollers, Petula Clark, Engelbert Humperdinck and others; music for TV films Flame Trees Of Thika '81, By The Sword Divided '83, Miss Marple murder mysteries '85; on anniversary of John Lennon's murder Dec. '85 Howard was responsible for a controversial TV biographical documentary. |