Ian Samwell(1937-2003)
- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
Without Ian Samwell, there might have been no Cliff Richard. The
amateur guitarist, who wrote skiffle-style hymns while singing in his
church choir, was in a Soho coffee bar in May 1958 when he heard an
accounts clerk called Harry Webb perform. Ian offered his services as
lead guitar and was accepted. Sir Cliff later admitted: "But for that
meeting with Ian, I might still be Harry Webb, clerk." Ian also became
a song-writer, supplying a B-side called "Move It", which he finished
on the bus on the way to the studio, for Cliff's first single. It went
down so well that it was moved to the A-side and in September 1958 it
entered the top five.
Ian moved out of the band but continued writing songs, including "Dynamite" and "Mean Streak" for Cliff. He also wrote for The Isley Brothers and Kenny Lynch. Ian later became a London ballroom D.J. and then moved into record production, working for Warner Brothers in the Sixties. Ian later moved to California, where he died 12th March 2003 aged 66.
Ian moved out of the band but continued writing songs, including "Dynamite" and "Mean Streak" for Cliff. He also wrote for The Isley Brothers and Kenny Lynch. Ian later became a London ballroom D.J. and then moved into record production, working for Warner Brothers in the Sixties. Ian later moved to California, where he died 12th March 2003 aged 66.
