Richard Myhill
Richard Myhill | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Richard Myhill Yarrow[1] |
| Born | November 1946 Chorleywood, Hertfordshire |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instrument(s) | Vocals, keyboard, percussion |
| Years active | 1973–present |
Richard Myhill is a British singer-songwriter, musician, composer, producer and arranger, who had a top 20 single in the UK singles charts in 1978, and who worked on Duran Duran tracks in the early 1980s.
Biography
Myhill was the son of a jazz keyboardist, who would sometimes accompany his father in amateur shows, playing a small piano while wearing a Cub Scout uniform. After studying graphics and commercial art at college, he worked producing television adverts, until signed to EMI Records in 1973 as a songwriter, and he released his debut album 21 Days In Soho in 1975. He then left EMI and returned to advertising as a jingle writer, until, in 1977, producer Phil Wainman signed Myhill up to his new Mercury Records sub-label, Utopia.[2]
His first single on Utopia, "It Takes Two To Tango", reached number 17 in the UK singles chart; as of 2025, it is his only chart success,[3] and also earned him a place on the 30 March 1978 edition of Top Of The Pops, which featured him dancing with a dummy.[4] The 7" single was an early example of innovative vinyl, being available in a square format.[5]
In 1981, producer Colin Thurston requested Myhill work on string arrangements for the Duran Duran track "Tel Aviv", which was the first time the band used an orchestra for their recordings.[6] This was followed by string arrangements on the single version of "My Own Way", which also made the UK charts, and some other tracks.[7]
Myhill has been credited on many film and TV soundtracks, including one of the themes for The Chart Show (also used in the NBA Furious Finishes video cassette),[8] and his track "Trans Am Highway" being used as a theme for World Championship Wrestling's television shows in the late 1980s.[9] He has also been the director of his publishing company, Mysongs Limited, since 1973.[10]
Partial discography
Albums:[11]
- 21 Days In Soho (1975)
- Up Front (1983)
- Project (1984)
Singles & EPs:
- "Oh! Doctor" (1974)
- "It Takes Two To Tango" (1978) UK no. 17
- "We've Got Something More" (1978)
- "While London Dances"
- "She Can Can-Can" / "Oh Babe" (1979)
Soundtracks:
- The Frog Prince (composer: additional music, music arranger) (1986)
- Blockbusters (TV series) ("Run Don't Walk") (1987)
- The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck ("Don't Talk-Dance") (1988)
- Prick Up Your Ears (music arranger: song) (1987)
- Rambling Rose ("Sidewalk Stomp Rag") (1991)
- Rocko's Modern Life (TV series) (1994)
- Best Laid Plans (writer: "Faithful & True") (1999)
- Le Gout des Autres (music: "Business International") (2000)
- Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice (video) (writer: "Go Sport!") (2002)
- Spin (writer: "Let Me Baby") (2003)
- The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting (video) (writer: "You Must Be An Angel") (2003)
External links
References
- ^ "Richard Myhill Yarrow". Companies House. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ Watson, Albert (22 April 1978). "Tale of the tango king". Reading Evening Post: 7.
- ^ "Richard Myhill". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "30/3/1978". BBC. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "Mercury Records". Phillips Records. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "String arrangement on "Tel Aviv"". Duran Duran. 16 March 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ Harnell, Steve (5 July 2021). "Making Duran Duran". Classic Pop. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "GB Sign in Richard Myhill - The Chart Show (A) - Music From NBA Films". youtube. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "NWA World Championship Wrestling 1987 Theme". youtube. 29 November 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "Mysongs Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ "Richard Myhill". Discogs. Retrieved 27 February 2025.