Michael Cox

After an audition for Oh Boy! (arranged without his knowledge by his four younger sisters!), Michael was immediately signed up by a very impressed Jack Good. His first song on Oh Boy! (in April 1959) was Ricky Nelson's "Never Be Anyone Else But You".

This was just shortly before Oh Boy! came off the air, to be replaced by Boy Meets Girl.

Although Michael had released a couple of records already (produced by Jack Good for the Decca label) he did not click with the public until he recorded a John D. Loudermilk song entitled "Angela Jones" for Joe Meek's tiny Triumph label. "Angela Jones" put Joe Meek's name firmly on the map and after singing this number on Wham! the record went straight into the charts at #20.

Unfortunately, Triumph could not handle the public's demand for copies and so what could have been Michael's (and Triumph's/Joe Meek's) first #1 record, only achieved #7. Michael Cox had a busy recording career for many years on the Decca, Pye, Triumph, HMV and Parlophone labels , all produced by Joe Meek.

Lack of another 'big hit' got Michael changing direction and after attending drama school he appeared in TV plays, commercials and films.

Near the end of the 1970s he began working the cruise ships where he met his future wife.

This led to appearances in the US and eventual emigration there. In 1981 he and his wife moved to New Zealand (her birthplace) where he continues to work as Michael James.

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THE STRINGBEAT YEARS

  

The Stringbeat Years cover2

Now available!

The Stringbeat Years: Songs accompanied by John Barry

Now available, a 4-CD box-set comprising of 144 tracks, a 24-page booklet (replete with period photographs and comprehensive notes) and including ten bonus tracks (among them the CD debut of the first ever cover version of a John Barry instrumental composition).

Featuring – for the first time – the film versions of ‘Mix me a Person’, ‘The Time has Come’, and ‘What a Whopper’ (slightly shortened). There’s also an unique opportunity to hear the original version of ‘Ah, Poor Little Baby’, making its premiere appearance on CD.

The box-set is limited to 500 copies and is only £16.99 post-free in the UK, so don’t miss out! It is available direct from this website!

£16.99  post-free in the UK
£19.99  anywhere else in the world

Order now!
https://paypal.me/Geoffers007

Let us know if you aren't able to do this and we'll work out another way. 

Track listing

HIT AND MISS: THE STORY OF THE JOHN BARRY SEVEN

HitAndMiss 1000

Thoroughly and painstakingly researched over a number of years, it features contributions from several ex-members of the band and from friends and relatives of John Barry.

Comprising of over 360 pages, it is packed with an array of rare photos of the band, and the singers they often supported, as well as some unique images of memorabilia and documentation from that era; some never previously published, many more seldom seen.

Even if you are not necessarily a devotee of The John Barry Seven per se, the book offers a fascinating historical insight into the British music scene of the period and, more importantly, provides an essential read for anybody remotely interested in discovering more about John Barry’s formative career.

The book’s cover price is £30, but anybody ordering direct from us will receive a 33% discount, reducing the cost to £19.99.

Order now (click this line)!

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