Prog-Watch 920
This week on Prog-Watch I’m digging into some of the vast Musical World of Manfred Mann! From his early days in the ’60s pop band that bore his name, through the jazz explorations of Manfred Mann Chapter Three, to the more progressive sounds of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Manfred has had a long and diverse career! I hope you will join me in exploring some of it!
Manfred Mann was born Manfred Sepse Lubowitz in South Africa on 21 October 1940. He studied music at the University of Witwatersrand and began performing in jazz clubs around this time. Strongly opposed to the apartheid policies of his native country, in 1961 he moved to London. Once there, he began exploring the burgeoning music scene and started writing for a publication called Jazz News under the pseudonym Manfred Mann. (The “Mann” surname came from a favorite jazz drummer named Sheldon “Shelly” Manne.) Within a year or so he had met Mike Hugg and formed a group called The Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers, which eventually evolved into a more pop-oriented outfit. On obtaining a record deal with EMI records the group changed their name to Manfred Mann at the suggestion of their record producer. The band had a succession of hits between 1964 and 1969 before calling it a day. From the ashes rose the more jazz-oriented Chapter Three which released two albums in 1969 and 1970. After Manfred Mann Chapter Three dissolved (due to a variety of reasons, including lack of commercial success and the difficulties of working with such a large brass section) Manfred formed his most long-running and most progressive outfit Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, with guitarist and vocalist Mick Rogers, bassist Colin Pattenden, and drummer Chris Slade. Through various line-up changes (and a short hiatus in the late 1980s/early 1990s) the Earth Band continues to perform and tour.
Music with some meat to it!
Prog-Watch is a weekly podcast and internet radio program dedicated to bringing the listener contemporary Progressive Rock music from around the world. Your big, hairy host, the “Prog-Squatch” wanders the woods of the world, beats the bushes, and digs in the dirt to bring the best Prog back for YOU! Sometimes solo and sometimes with a guest host, the Prog-Squatch will bring you new and interesting artists in each episode, and give you some background info and a taste of their music.