Producer Mickie Most dies in London

Legendary record producer Mickie Most, who worked with artists including The Animals, Lulu, Jeff Beck and Donovan, has died at the age of 64.

Most, real name Michael Peter Hayes, died from cancer at his home in Totteridge, north London, on Friday. His wife Christina, known as Chris to her friends, was at his side.

Reported to be worth £50m (€69m) in last year’s Sunday Times rich-list, Most, who had been suffering with the rare cancer mesothelioma for a year, is credited with producing more No 1 hits world-wide than any other record producer.

His singles have sold more than five million copies, and include the massive hit House of the Rising Sun, recorded by The Animals in the summer of 1964.

Born in Aldershot, Hampshire, in June 1938, Most began his career alongside many other young hopefuls in the Fifties at the Two Eyes Coffee Bar in London, a mecca for up and coming rock n’ roll acts .

His first band, The Most Brothers, scored their first UK success with Marvin Rainwater’s It Takes a Whole Lotta Loving to Keep my Baby Happy.

In 1958, Most, who had two daughters Nathalie and Christalle and a son Calvin, followed his future wife Chris back to her homeland of South Africa where he became the country’s first rock star, scoring hits with his band The Playboys.

In the early Sixties, Most, who had begun to develop his career as a producer, pioneered the success of British music into America.

By 1964 he had won his first Grammy award for his production of bands such as The Animals.

Life-long friend Deke Arlon, the president of Sanctuary Entertainment Group, said: “Mickie’s musical success in the US stemmed from his monthly trips to New York and LA carrying a briefcase full of his latest tapes.

"He knocked on the doors of top record executives and wouldn’t leave until they’d heard his music.

"Introducing R&B to America was no easy feat. It was this determination and belief that contributed to his remarkable achievements.”

In 1969, Most realised another dream with the creation of Rak Records and Rak Music publishing.

He and the famed Peter Grant formed Rak Management which developed the talents of Led Zeppelin.

In the Seventies, Mickie helped produce hits for other star names including The Sweet, Smokey, Mud and Suzie Quattro while working with production team Chinn and Chapman.

In 1977 – well into the Glam Rock era in the UK, Most teamed up with Phil Denny to write the international hit Dance with the Devil for the drummer Cozy Powell.

The pair’s success continued into the early Eighties with artists such as Hot Chocolate, Kim Wilde and Racey.

Many of his songs have been used in recent years, such as Hot Chocolate’s You Sexy Thing, which featured in the hit movie The Full Monty.

Most’s lifetime of achievement led to his name constantly appearing in the Sunday Times top 200 most successful people in Britain and led to an early celebration of his life on This Is Your Life.

He will also be remembered by many for his brutally honest assessments of new talent on the TV show New Faces.

Mr Arlon added: “Mickie was born with the rare gift of being able to pick a hit song to nurture and choose a new talent and then to marry the two thereby creating hundreds of international hits, such as Tobacco Road by the Nashville Teens, I’m Into Something Good by Herman’s Hermits and I’m a Tiger by Lulu.”

Liverpool fan Most was also an accomplished cook, serving culinary treats to guests at his homes in London and the South of France.

Mr Arlon, who met Most at the Two Eyes Coffee Bar in 1959, added: “Chris and Mickie loved entertaining and hosted many parties for their famous friends.

“Sunday lunch with the Mosts was always an event. His sense of humour and storytelling were legendary, as were his collections of motor cycles, boats and cars.

“He was a great friend and support to all he loved, generous to a fault.”

Among Most’s recent achievements was the success of the album by Johnny Hates Jazz, co-produced with the band’s drummer, his son Calvin Hayes.

His youngest daughter Cristalle is at Cardiff University preparing to be a teacher while Nathalie has become a successful publisher at the fore front of the Rak Music empire.

Rak was sold to EMI in the late Eighties but Most continued to make money because he was the first producer in the UK to own the rights to his own records.

He once said the first person to do the same in the US, Phil Spector, produced his all-time favourite song, You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling.

Mr Arlon said: “Chris, his wife for over 40 years, worked side by side with Mickie throughout his career and was a major contributing partner in his success. All of his recording artists and writers remain close friends – a rare tribute to them both.”

Most’s funeral is being held in the West Chapel in Hoop Lane, Golders Green on June 9.