Keith Relf
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| Keith Relf | |
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 Relf in 1966 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Keith William Relf |
| Born | 22 March 1943 Richmond, Surrey |
| Died | 14 May 1976 (aged 33) London, England |
| Genres | Blues, blues-rock, folk-rock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, hard rock |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, harmonica, guitar, percussion, bass guitar, keyboards |
| Years active | 1956–1976 |
| Associated acts | |
Keith William Relf (22 March 1943 – 14 May 1976) was a musician best known as the lead singer and harmonica player of The Yardbirds. After the Yardbirds broke up Relf formed the acoustic duo Together, with fellow Yardbird Jim McCarty, followed by Renaissance, which also featured his sister, singer Jane Relf, then hard rock group Armageddon. Relf also produced tracks for artists such as folk-rock band Hunter Muskett, the acoustic world music group Amber, psychedelic band Saturnalia and blues-rock band Medicine Head, with whom he played bass guitar.
His debut solo single, "Mr. Zero", peaked at No. 50 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1966.[1]
Relf was 33 when he died from electrocution, at his home, while playing his improperly grounded amplifier. At the time, Relf was rehearsing new material for the regrouping of the original Renaissance line-up, called Illusion.
Relf's posthumous 1992 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction with the Yardbirds was represented by his widow April, and son Danny.
Solo singles discography [edit]
Most of Relf's recordings were released under the name of the group he was in at the time. However, an early attempt was made to establish him as a solo artist and two singles came out under his own name in 1966.
- "Shapes In My Mind" / "Blue Sands" – UK Columbia DB8084 / US Epic 10110 – November 1966
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- B-side is an instrumental credited to Relf, but actually performed by The Outsiders (not to be confused with The Outsiders who performed "Time Won't Let Me"). The US single featured the same version as the UK single, US promotional copies (on red vinyl) featured a different mix.
A further single appeared in 1989
- "Together Now" / "All The Fallen Angels" – MCCM 89 002 – 1989
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- US release only. The A-side was recorded in 1968, originally recorded that same year by Together. The B-side was recorded on 2 May 1976, 12 days before Relf's death
References [edit]
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 458. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
External links [edit]
- The Yardbirds official website
- Alex Gitlin's Armageddon page
- Alex Gitlin's Illusion page
- Keith Relf web page
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This biographical article about a British singer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1943 births
- 1976 deaths
- British harmonica players
- English rock singers
- English male singers
- English songwriters
- English singer-songwriters
- People from Richmond, London
- The Yardbirds members
- Accidental deaths by electrocution
- Accidental deaths in England
- Alumni of Kingston University
- British rhythm and blues boom musicians
- British singer stubs
