Biography

Mike Ratledge was born on May 6, 1943 in Maidstone, Kent, England, UK. He was a composer and actor, known for Crystal Gazing (1982), Riddles of the Sphinx (1977) and Le Désir attrapé par la queue (1967). He was married to Marsha Hunt. He died on February 5, 2025 in the UK.

With his distinctive hairstyle, mustache and trademark dark glasses, Ratledge was, for many, the most easily identifiable member of Soft Machine, with whom he remained from their 1966 debut album through to 1976's 'Softs' album.

He attended the Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys in Canterbury.

He started learning the piano and musical theory as a child and grew up listening exclusively to classical music. It was the only music his headmaster father would allow to be played in the family home.

He learned to play the piano, and with his friend Brian Hopper, whom he had met at Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys in Canterbury, played classical piano and clarinet pieces.

In 1961, he met Daevid Allen, who interested them in playing jazz. Through Cecil Taylor's piano pieces Ratledge became familiar with the music of Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis and John Coltrane.