The Independent London Newspaper
First UK single to top US charts was produced here
Published: 27 July, 2012
• I’D like to mention that August 17 will be the 50th anniversary of the release of the record Telstar, performed by the Tornados and produced by legendary record producer Joe Meek at his makeshift recording studio above a shop at 304 Holloway Road, Holloway.
The first UK single to chart at No1 in the US was produced in an Islington flat.
It remained at No1 in the UK for five weeks, and won Joe Meek an Ivor Novello Award.
Joe Meek lived and subsequently committed suicide at the premises in Holloway Road in 1967 after shooting dead his landlady, Mrs Shenton.
Other artists recorded by Joe Meek included Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones and The Honeycombs.
He turned down The Beatles and Rod Stewart.
I’m trying to spread the word and increase awareness among people who may never even have heard of this music innovator, touted by many as the UK’s version of Phil Spector.
To find out more about him, go to the Joe Meek Society website at www.rhis.co.uk/jmas/
DENIS HOARE
NW9
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