Britain says " Happy Birthday" to an old musician called Manfred Mann

Musician Manfred Mann is 71 years old today.







Things you possibly didn't know about Manfred, that he :

* was born Manfred Sepse Lubowitz in 1940 in Johannesburg in South Africa, studied classical music at the University of the Witwatersrand, worked as a club jazz pianist and 1959, with a school friend, recorded music as 'The Vikings' - South Africa's first 'rock 'n' roll' band.

* strongly opposed to the apartheid system, emigrated to Britain at the age of 21 in 1961 and wrote for 'Jazz News' as 'Manfred Manne', after jazz drummer Shelly Manne.




* met drummer and keyboard player Mike Hugg at Clacton Butlins Holiday Camp and formed a blues-jazz band called the 'Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers', signed with EMI, changed their name to Manfred Mann and from 1964 to 1969 they had a succession of hit records:

1964 : Do Wah Diddy Diddy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30p0PJrHrgE

1964 : 5-4-3-2-1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9CAPrEG5sM

1966 : Semi-detached suburban Mr James
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x36jf4_manfred-mann-semi-detached-suburban_music

1966 : Pretty Flamingo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOvtqmqBiiM&feature=related

1966 : Just like a Woman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yk-LsIaj_M

1967 : Ha! Ha! Said the clown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfmY9z64vg4&feature=related

1968 : The Mighty Quinn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liIQLIx2Onw

1968 : My name is Jack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pbuWH3Qzx4&feature=related












* saw the group split in 1969 and in 1971 formed 'Manfred Mann's Earth Band', which still records and performs to this day.

From 1975 : 'Blinded by the Light' :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcWVL4B-4pI

P.S. Manfred Mann was probably the only group in the 1960's which could get a 'hit' with lyrics like this for 'My Name is Jack' :

My name is Jack and I live in the back of the Greta Garbo home
With friends I will remember, wherever I may roam.

And my name is Jack and I live in the back,
Of the Greta Garbo home for wayward boys and girls.
We all love Jack, we live in the back,
Of the Greta Garbo home for wayward boys and girls.

There goes Fred with his hands on his head cause he thinks he's heard the bomb.
And here comes Superman who really puts it on.
There's lots of fun and I love to run up and down the stairs,
I make as much noise as I want and no one ever cares.

And my name is Jack and I live in the back
Of the Greta Garbo home for wayward boys and girls.
We all love Jack ,we live in the back,
Of the Greta Garbo home for wayward boys and girls.

There's Carl over there with his funny old hair and he's never sad at all.
And when he I grow up I want to run as fast as my friend Paul.
There's the prettiest girl in the whole wide world and her name is Melody Mend.
And here comes Ma with Brother Tom, who's probably my best friend.
Well, Tom is my best friend, my best friend, well, Tom is my best friend.