Sad News John Schroder RIP

[Mike]

News passed on by @Rick Cooper 

 British record producer, songwriter and executive John Schroeder passed away on 31 January at the age of 82, after a long fight with cancer. 

wikipedia....

John Francis Schroeder (January 1935[1] – 31 January 2017) was a British pop and easy listening composer, arranger, songwriter and record producer. In 1961, Schroeder won an Ivor Novello Award for co-writing "Walkin' Back to Happiness".

Schroeder worked as an A&R assistant to Norrie Paramor at Columbia Records. He was also a songwriter and, with Mike Hawker, wrote the song "Walkin' Back to Happiness", which in a version by Helen Shapiro reached number one in the UK Singles Chart during 1961.

Schroeder also co-wrote two other hits for Shapiro, "Don't Treat Me Like a Child", a UK #3 and "You Don't Know", which reached #1 in August 1961.

Later he moved to independent British label, Oriole as A&R chief, and whilst he was there he brokered an early licensing deal with Motown for British distribution on the label. It subsequently issued such singles as The Contours' "Do You Love Me" and "Fingertips" by Little Stevie Wonder.

In the mid 1960s, Schroeder moved to Pye and formed the instrumental pop outfit Sounds Orchestral with Johnny Pearson. They had an international hit with their version of "Cast Your Fate to the Wind", which included reaching No. 5 in the UK chart. With this group as well as under several other names, including his own, he released a large number of easy listening covers of popular songs. While many of these saw little critical acclaim upon release, there was a resurgence in interest in them in the 1990s, when they became popular tracks in London dance clubs, and appeared on soundtracks to films such as the Ocean's Eleven franchise.

During his tenure with Pye, Schroeder oversaw their Piccadilly subsidiary label, eventually launching the career (after several false starts) of Status Quo, beginning in 1968 with their first hit, "Pictures of Matchstick Men".

In the early 1970s, John Schroeder started Alaska Records, best known for the label's work with Cymande.The Alaska label was subsequently joined by another founded by Schroeder, Janus Records. In the early 1980s, John Schroeder moved to Canada, living and working there until the early 1990s. He started Centamark International with Gary Bizzo in Vancouver as consultants to the music industry in 1981

He later lived in Surrey, England. His autobiography, Sex and Violins was published in 2009. Two years later, Schroeder again became an author, writing and publishing a second book titled, Cozy Cats Cottage plc

 

[Bruv]

12 hours ago, mike said:

News passed on by @Rick Cooper 

 British record producer, songwriter and executive John Schroeder passed away on 31 January at the age of 82, after a long fight with cancer. 

wikipedia....

John Francis Schroeder (January 1935[1] – 31 January 2017) was a British pop and easy listening composer, arranger, songwriter and record producer. In 1961, Schroeder won an Ivor Novello Award for co-writing "Walkin' Back to Happiness".

Schroeder worked as an A&R assistant to Norrie Paramor at Columbia Records. He was also a songwriter and, with Mike Hawker, wrote the song "Walkin' Back to Happiness", which in a version by Helen Shapiro reached number one in the UK Singles Chart during 1961.

Schroeder also co-wrote two other hits for Shapiro, "Don't Treat Me Like a Child", a UK #3 and "You Don't Know", which reached #1 in August 1961.

Later he moved to independent British label, Oriole as A&R chief, and whilst he was there he brokered an early licensing deal with Motown for British distribution on the label. It subsequently issued such singles as The Contours' "Do You Love Me" and "Fingertips" by Little Stevie Wonder.

In the mid 1960s, Schroeder moved to Pye and formed the instrumental pop outfit Sounds Orchestral with Johnny Pearson. They had an international hit with their version of "Cast Your Fate to the Wind", which included reaching No. 5 in the UK chart. With this group as well as under several other names, including his own, he released a large number of easy listening covers of popular songs. While many of these saw little critical acclaim upon release, there was a resurgence in interest in them in the 1990s, when they became popular tracks in London dance clubs, and appeared on soundtracks to films such as the Ocean's Eleven franchise.

During his tenure with Pye, Schroeder oversaw their Piccadilly subsidiary label, eventually launching the career (after several false starts) of Status Quo, beginning in 1968 with their first hit, "Pictures of Matchstick Men".

In the early 1970s, John Schroeder started Alaska Records, best known for the label's work with Cymande.The Alaska label was subsequently joined by another founded by Schroeder, Janus Records. In the early 1980s, John Schroeder moved to Canada, living and working there until the early 1990s. He started Centamark International with Gary Bizzo in Vancouver as consultants to the music industry in 1981

He later lived in Surrey, England. His autobiography, Sex and Violins was published in 2009. Two years later, Schroeder again became an author, writing and publishing a second book titled, Cozy Cats Cottage plc

 

Thank you for posting this up Mike, very sad news about John Schroeder.

 It brings back memories for me of buying my first ever single which was John Schroeder - I'm Going To Change in the late 1970's off a good friend, I know it isn't the most Soulful of songs but boy it certainly was my first step into getting the taste for Soul music which has never gone away from the night I had that record in my hands.   

  

Edited February 9, 2017 by Bruv

[Daved]

He covered a great version of Bourgie Bourgie too.

[Guest son of stan]

On 2/10/2017 at 08:42, daved said:

He covered a great version of Bourgie Bourgie too.

I think you are confusing him with John Davis and Monster Orchestra.

John Schroeder had Alaska Records in the 70s and put out some amazing, overlooked records,

 

Love that sleazy London in the 70s, British cinema vibe.

Not 100% sure and haven't got all my records to hand, but I think the second one also came out on the b-side of a Manchester City record (not the 'Funky City' one) which shows we've always been class. Lol!

Edited February 11, 2017 by son of stan

[Louise]

I had several dealings with John Schroeder in recent years regarding a publishing connection between one of our Soul Junction projects connected to his time in Canada and found him to be a very modest and humble man. Helpful in every way, the quintessential English gentlleman. A man who could sell sand to a arab with the popularity (even today) of his UK funk band Cymande in America.

Dave

[Pk 22dj]

What a lovely chap John was, I meet up with him a few times years back through Bob MClure who was the sound engineer for The Casino Allstars at the time. He endorsed a Cd that Bob made with us and over a few drinks I got the chance to talk about the old days with him and how things happened in the music game back then. He told me some great tales about working his way up the ladder and with Nita Rossi (Something to give) amonst others. 

Bob left us a few years back and I'm sure there working their magic now up in heaven, god bless you John.

 

Paul Kidd

[Gilly]

Ive had two unreleased songs John did with G Washington (UK)  for some 22 years or so you can hear Johns voice inbetween takes  laughing away. How sad hes gone, thanks for your music